Orlando, Fla. - With qualifying rounds and the team draft out of the way, the 2009 Air Nautique Wake Games, presented by ROCKSTAR took off today at the Orlando Watersports Complex in Orlando, Fla. with several amateur divisions finishing the contest, setting all ten teams up with base points for the team challenge.
With eight of the 20 divisions in the books, Team Soven took the lead early in the team challenge. Team Adkison trails in second-place with Team Webb in third. All ten teams will continue to vie for points in tomorrow's finals, where 12 divisions will battle it out behind the boat for individual division trophies and points for their respective teams. The team with the highest score will take home the title and prize money.
In the pro divisions today, several riders threw down oustanding runs to lead their heat, advance in the contest and wow the crowd. Rusty Malinoski (Humboldt, Sask.) of the Pro Men division, as well as Nicola Butler (Bournemouth, England) and Orlando native Dallas Friday in the Pro Women's division scored particularly well.
The Air Nautique Wake Games, presented by ROCKSTAR concludes tomorrow, Sunday, April 26, where several pro and amateur divisions will finish out the contest and a new team will be crowned the winner.
The Air Nautique Wake Games presented by Rockstar is a four-day carnival of water-sports action, but not all of the action takes place on the water. On land, fans will experience tons of great food and music, athlete autograph signings, chances to win freebies and shopping at the most cutting-edge stores offering water-sports equipment including boats, wakeboards, wakeskates, sunglasses and the latest in wakeboarding and surfing fashions.
Tickets are available online at allisports.com and at the gate: $10.00 (GA); $5.00 (ages 6-12); Free (ages 5 & under). The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Air Nautique Wake Games, presented by Rockstar is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla. The Wake Games have the support of the following sponsors: Correct Craft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Fox, the U.S. Air Force, Central Florida Toyota, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Oakley, Reef, Fuel TV and Allisports.com.
The Air Nautique by Correct Craft is the exclusive tow boat of the Wake Games. Celebrating 84 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft Inc. is the producer of the Nautique line of boats. The manufacturer of Nautique is known for delivering superior quality product, cutting-edge technology and exceptional service experiences.
Rockstar is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, Rockstar is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars. Rockstar Energy Drink is available in eleven amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango Orange Passion Fruit, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, and Roasted Light Vanilla. Rockstar Energy Shots are available in Wild Berry and Tropical Punch flavors. Rockstar Energy Drink is available at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, and throughout the United Kingdom.
Media PartnersTo catch all the high-flying, rail-sliding, water-sports action of the King of Wake series, tune in to FUEL TV - the official television partner of the King of Wake. WakeBoarding, published by Bonnier Corp., is the official magazine of the King of Wake series. Read about all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and news.
King of WakeViewed as the world's elite pro wakeboarding circuit, the King of Wake series has attracted the sport's top athletes from throughout the globe. With more than $300,000 in prize money over the eight-event season, athletes compete during the course of the year to be named the "King of Wake" - an award based on points accumulated at each stop of the series. Events include the Wake Games, the WWA Wakeboard National Championships, the WWA Wakeboard World Championships and all five stops on the Pro Wakeboard Tour. The King of Wake is organized by World Sports & Marketing - the leading wake events producer since 1988.
Alli, the Alliance of Action SportsAlli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, AMA Motocross Championship, King of Wake series and the Free Flow Tour; Alli Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at allisports.com.
Teams
Team Soven
Phillip Soven
Harley Clifford
Robert Soven
Chase Gregory
Megan Blaschka
Jeff Barton
Jason Soven
Daniel Roig
Ben Indiana
Austin Hair
Team Malinoski
Rusty Malinoski
Jimmy LaRiche
Erik Ruck
Brian Grubb
Taylor MucCullough
Emilee Wright
Glen Fletcher
Matt Kirk
Hunter Hansen
Tyler Warroll
Team Rathy
Aaron Rathy
Olivier Derome
Robbie Carter
Nick Taylor
Nicola Butler
Kim Polhamus
Ricky Gonzales
Jarrod Askew
Kade Kayci
Robby Holihan
Team Webb
JD Webb
Kyle Alberts
Adam Wensink
Jen GilanFarr
Delanie Parker
Melissa Marquardt
Ian Rabon
Zac Zimmerman
Patrick Mulvaney
Forest Risner
Team Adkison
Andrew Adkison
Scott Stewart
Mitch Bergsma
Ashley Leugner
Brittany Fletcher
Zane Schwenk
Matt Vermillion
Joshua Twelker
Holland Finley
Ferrin Kelsch
Team Watson
Shawn Watson
Danny Thollander
Lewis Link
Hayley Smith
Brandon Thomas
Chris O'Shea
James Loisel
Nick Galotifore
Sigrid Bachler
Kyle Green
Team Errington
Adam Errington
Ketih Lidberg
Keenan Allan
Dallas Friday
Aaron Reed
Shane Bonifay
Ryan Anderson
Noah Flegel
Tarah Mikacich
Matt Hayden
Team Hansen
Trevor Hansen
Kyle Rattray
Phillip Aslinger
Tim Pitchske
Jenacee Jackson
Lacey Menkin
Tony Carroll
Nicholas Brown
Kat Laird
Reed Hansen
Team Hutton
Bryan Hutton
Nick Weinacker
Clayton Underwood
Amber Wing
George Daniels
Corey Bradley
Greg Necrason
Andrew Shearer
Mitch Langfield
Steel Lafferty
Team Murray
Shaun Murray
James Hindes
Aaron Perkins
Raimi Merritt
James Balzer
Josh Sanders
Daniel Powers
Brandon Poser
Ryan Harris
Danny Burnstein
Results
Pro Men Quarterfinals (top two riders in each heat advance)
Heat #1
1. Clifford, Harley (AUS) - 95
2. Murray, Shaun (USA) - 93.5
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3. Derome, Olivier (CAN) - 81.5
Heat #2
1. Hutton, Bryan (USA) - 93.5
2. Ruck, Erik (USA) - 92.25
===
3. Stewart, Scott (USA) - 84.25
Heat #3
1. Hansen, Trevor (USA) - 94
2. Hair, Austin (USA) - 93.75
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3. Lidberg, Keith (USA) - 82.25
Heat #4
1. Errington, Adam (USA) - 100
2. Wensink, Adam (USA) - 85.75
===
3. Alberts, Kyle (USA) - 84.25
Heat #5
1. Bonifay, Shane (USA) - 95.75
2. Watson, Shawn (USA) - 89.75
===
3. Carroll, Tony (USA) - 84.5
Heat #6
1. Adkison, Andrew (USA) - 94
2. Sanders, Josh (AUS) - 88.5
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3. Hindes, James (USA) - 87.5
Heat #7
1. Webb, JD (USA) - 94
2. O'Shea, Chris (AUS) - 90.25
===
3. Bradley, Corey (USA) - 85.75
Heat #8
1. Rathy, Aaron (CAN) - 95.75
2. Rattray, Kyle (CAN) - 91.25
===
3. Carter, Robby (USA) - 83
Heat #9
1. Malinoski, Rusty (CAN) - 100
2. Weinacker, Nick (USA) - 84.25
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3. Schwenk, Zane (USA) - 63.75
Heat #10
1. LaRiche, Jim (USA) - 93
2. Soven, Phillip (USA) - 92.75
===
3. Thollander, Danny (USA) - 66.25
Pro Women Semifinals (top two riders in each heat advance)
Heat #1
1. Friday, Dallas (USA) - 100
2. Wing, Amber (AUS) - 90
===
3. Benzel Mikacich, Tarah (USA) - 80
Heat #2
1. Merritt, Raimi (USA) - 96.5
2. Marquardt, Melissa (USA) - 89.25
===
3. Jackson, Jenacee (USA) - 68.25
Heat #3
1. Butler, Nicola (UK) - 100
2. Smith, Haley (AUS) - 87.25
===
3. Leugner, Ashley (CAN) - 48.75
Pro Wakeskate Semifinals (top two riders in each heat advance)
Heat #1
1. Hansen, Reed (USA) - 73.33
2. Reed, Aaron (USA) - 58.33
===
3. Balzer, James (CAN) - 48.33
4. Gregory, Chase (USA) - 33.33
Heat #2
1. Taylor, Nick (USA) - 73.33
2. Grubb, Brian (USA) - 63.33
===
3. Thomas, Brandon (USA) - 46.67
4. Daniels, George (USA) - 33.33
Jr. Pro Men Semifinals (top two riders in each heat advance)
Heat #1
1. Galotifore, Nick (USA) - 86.25
2. Lafferty, Steel (USA) - 84.25
===
3. Soven, Bob (USA) - 82.5
4. Powers, Daniel (USA) - 78.25
5. Anderson, Ryan (USA) - 68.75
Heat #2
1. Langfield, Mitch (AUS) - 91.75
2. Aslinger, Phillip (USA) - 84
===
3. Askew, Jarrod (AUS) - 83.25
4. Burnstein, Danny (USA) - 72.5
5. Shearer, Andrew (USA) - 68.5
Jr. Men Finals
1. Twelker, Joshua (USA) - 66.67
2. Kirk, Matt (USA) - 45
3. Allan, Keenan - 33.33
Girls (13 and under) Finals
1. McCullough, Taylor (USA) - 60
2. Parker, Delanie (USA) - 40
3. Fletcher, Brittany (USA) - 36.67
Women's Wakeskate Finals
1. GilanFarr, Jen (USA) - 60
2. Menkin, Lacey (USA) - 46.67
3. Roig, Daniel (MEX) - 30
Veterans (40 and over) Finals
1. Vermillion, Matt (USA) - 66.67
2. Kelsh, Faron (USA) - 48.33
Masters (30-39) Finals
1. Barton, Jeff (USA) - 66.67
2. Indiana, Ben (USA) - 47.22
3. Poser, Brandon (USA) - 40
Junior Women (14-18) Finals
1. Finley, Holland (USA) - 70
2. Blaschka, Megan (USA) - 58.89
3. Wright, Emily (USA) - 37.22
Masters Women (30 and over) Finals
1. Bachler, Sigrid (GER) - 61.67
2. Laird, Kat (USA) - 53.33
3. Polhamus, Kim (USA) - 32.44
Amateur Wake Skate Finals
1. Risner, Forrest (USA) - 66.67
2. Perkins, Aaron (USA) - 53.33
3. Hayden, Matt (USA) - 46.67
4. Mulvaney, Patrick (USA) - 30