Sophie Geohagan doesn’t let anything stand in her way when it comes to chasing her passion, and the 6-year-old proved just that recently when she took home the 2016 Alabama INT Mini Outlaw wakeboarding state championship at Lake Guntersville

“It was a lot fun,” Sophie said. “It was really good to see all of my hard work pay off.”

At a very young age, Sophie was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia in her left eye and is completely blind in that eye. Meaning when she goes heel-side, she can’t see what’s in front of her.

“When she goes heel-side over the wake, she can’t see at all,” her mother Whitney Geohagan said. “That can be intimidating for anyone.”

Sophie had strong season in the Alabama INT Mini Outlaw division, placing in the top three at every stop in her first year of competition.

The Alabama INT wrapped up it’s season with two final stops at Lake Guntersville. There Sophie put on another strong showing to claim the 2016 Alabama INT Mini Outlaw wakeboarding state championship.

“I got to do all of the tricks that wanted to do,” Sophie said. “My favorite part was that I made a boy cry after I beat him.”

After winning the state championship, Sophie will now go on to compete in the INT Eastern Regional championship against other state champions and state runners-up.

Sophie said that she is excited about the opportunity to compete in the regional championship.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Sophie said. “I’m excited to meet new people and wakeboard in a new spot. It will be fun going up against new competition.”

Sophie said that she has been working on some new tricks for the regional championship.

“I’ve been learning how to do a 180 and half cab,” Sophie said. “It takes a lot of hard work and practice to learn new tricks.”

The INT Eastern Regional will be held Sept. 30 through Oct. 1, in Lillington, N.C., at Colbe’s Ski School.

While excited about the opportunity, Sophie said that she is also a bit nervous.

“I’m just going to go up there and try to win the regional championship,” Sophie said. “I’m a little nervous that it might be a little cold, though.”

Sophie said that a good friend is the one that has taught her everything about wakeboarding.

“I want to thank Colten Meeks for training me and everything else he has done for me,” Sophie said. “He taught me how to wakeboard and also taught me all of my tricks.”