Page 30 - Laker Connection Spring 2012

28 THE LAKER CONNECTION
alumni profile
For recent Clayton State University graduate Michael Ratti, the last several months have been like, “living the dream of a lifetime.”
The 24-year-old Ratti, a national champion water skier and instructor, is living in Dubai and training a team of United Arab Emirates (UAE) skiers in the sport of free-style standup jet skiing, his love and specialty. An accomplished jet-ski performer, Ratti captured the U.S. National Title for Amateur Freestyle in 2007, and the U.S. National Title for Pro Freestyle in 2008.
The training program is in prepara- tion for what will be the world’s first and largest national jet-ski display team for the Critical National Infrastructure Au- thority (CNIA) in Abu Dhabi. Ratti de- scribes the CNIA as comparable to our Coast Guard. His job is to train the group of students to become a team of acrobatic performers and put on shows similar to those of the Blue Angels of the U.S. Navy.
“Growing up, I would fantasize about riding at a professional level with all sorts of achievements, in foreign countries, with a fleet of skis varying in style and performance, a support team, and more,” says Ratti. “Now I have all of that, and I’m being paid for it! I can’t even begin to describe what a surreal feeling it is. It’s just a testament to the fact that you can achieve any goal in your life no matter how crazy or unattainable it may seem to you or others.”
MICHAEL RATTI Living the Dream in Dubai
By Gid Rowell
Along with having the opportunity of doing what he loves, his experience is enhanced even further since it’s taking place in an amazing city with an unbe- lievable backdrop and setting on the Ara- bian Peninsula. Ratti is provided a high-rise apartment in the heart of down- town Dubai, home of renowned architec- ture and some the world’s tallest buildings. Between his jet-ski training sessions, he has the opportunity to race across the Arabian Desert on motocross for fun.
“The cultural experience of living and working in another country has been indescribable,” says Ratti. “We pass herds of wild camels, massive sand dunes and a palm tree lined oasis on our way to work and while riding motocross in the desert. It is an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Since graduating from Clayton State in 2010 with a degree in liberal studies, Ratti has been busy. While attending the University, he became interested in com- munications and worked at the Bent Tree newspaper and interned at H Magazine in Henry County. From there, he par- layed his publishing experience with his passion of jet skiing to create his own publication, Pro Rider Watercraft maga- zine. So far, he has published three edi- tions with a distribution of 4,000 copies that circulate as far as Great Britain and Australia.
“My goal is to produce one of the best personal watercraft magazines in
the country and the world,” he says. “I would like for the magazine to become so successful that I may invest heavily in the sport through event productions and promotions that will lead to international television exposure, success, and revital- ization of the sport of jet-ski racing and freestyle.”
Ratti, who developed his interest of jet skiing from his father Peter who grew up on beaches of New Jersey, says that hehopestobeapartofateamthatisre- sponsible for making jet skiing reach the popularity level of sports like super cross.
Along with the support of his family, Ratti credits Clayton State for his early success.
“I was inspired and driven by the enthusiasm and nurturing of my profes- sors; they truly cared about their stu- dents and their success. Mr. (Alan) Xie helped me to explore my artistic abilities, and even helped to arrange for my art to be displayed in the Clayton State Cygnet at the university and in art displays in other universities. Dr. (Ronald) Jackson and Dr. (Todd) Janke enlightened my mind, logic, and perspective on life in a way beyond description,” he says.
As for his future plans, Ratti hopes to one day return to Clayton State for a second bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and then a master’s degree. For now, he plans to continue to develop his career in jet skiing from a training, performing and publishing perspective.