By World Sports
Soven, Butler Win World Titles –
Hansen Makes History
Indianapolis, Ind. – Fans lined the shores of The Precedent in northern Indianapolis today to catch the finals rounds of action at the 2011Rockstar Energy Drink WWA Wakeboard World Championships, presented by Supra. The sport’s top pros laid it all on the line in an exciting showdown to see who will be the 2011 world champion.
Capping off the 18th annual event was the Pro Men’s division, with its five-man final, The finale was led by top seed Harley Clifford and four former world champions, including Andrew Adkison, Rusty Malinoski, Phillip Soven and defending titlist Dean Smith.
All five pros threw down impressive runs, but it was Phillip Soven who made the biggest impact on the water to take home the 2011 world title – his third of his career.
The 22-year-old Florida native’s run was highlighted by his Crow 540, Whirlybird 720 and Toe-side 900, which earned the now three-time world champion a score of 90 points.
Harley Clifford and Dean Smith rounded out the Pro Men’s podium, respectively.
The WWA Worlds also served as the final stop in the 2011 WWA Wakeboard World Series, which crowned Harley Clifford its winner today. Clifford’s second-place finish was good enough to win the four-stop points race and its cash prize.
Phillip Soven and Adam Errington rounded out the top three in the Series, respectively.
In addition to the two titles handed out today in the Pro Men’s division, former world champion Dean Smith won the Indmar Double Up Contest today with his massive Hootchie to Back-side 360.
In the Pro Women’s division, the top professional female riders in the world faced off in a six-woman final for the world title. All eyes were on top seed Amber Wing to see if the 28-year-old Aussie would win her fifth straight contest in the Queen of Wake series and reclaim the world title she won in 2007.
But with two uncharacteristic falls in her final run, Wing fell to second place, putting defending world champion Nicola Butler at the top of the contest podium.
The English standout had a stand-up run today that included a Moby Dick and a Roll to Blind to give Butler the winning score of 91.67 and her third world title in four years.
“I’ve been training like crazy at OWC for this contest,” said Butler. “It’s the best contest to win and I’m stoked to keep the title for another year.”
In the Pro Wakeskate division, four-time defending champion Reed Hansen made history today, winning his fifth consecutive world title – the most back-to-back wins in the 18-year history of the WWA Worlds.
“Yesterday I had a little set back, so I knew I had to put something together today,” said Hansen. “With the rain and being second off the dock, I changed up my run, but after my first fall, I went back to the original plan.”
The Groveland, Fla. native landed three 360 variations, a Switch Big Spin and a Late Shove-it in his first pass, plus two 180 variations to earn the winning score of 70 points.
Stu Shinn and Grant Roberts rounded out the top three, respectively.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 – FINAL RESULTS:
Pro Men – Final #1
1. Phillip Soven USA 90.00
2. Harley Clifford AUS 85.00
3. Dean Smith AUS 75.00
4. Rusty Malinoski CAN 65.00
5. Andrew Adkison USA 55.00
Pro Women – Final #1
1. Nicola Butler GBR 91.67
2. Amber Wing AUS 86.67
3. Raimi Merritt USA 81.67
4. Melissa Marquardt USA 71.67
5. Anna Hajek USA 63.33
6. Miku Asai JPN 48.33
Pro Wakeskate – Final #1
1. Reed Hansen USA 70.00
2. Stu Shinn USA 60.00
3. Grant Roberts USA 46.67
4. Brian Grubb USA 41.67
Jr. Pro Men – Final #1
1. Shota Tezuka JPN 89.75
2. Joshua Twelker USA 81.75
3. Dylan Prideaux AUS 80.75
4. Kyle Evans USA 71.75
5. Gordon Harrison USA 69.50
6. Freddie Wayne USA 56.50
Pro Women Wakeskate – Final #1
1. Jen Gilanfarr USA 48.33
2. Setsuko Ito JPN 36.67
3. Amanda Gagnon CAN 31.67
Masters – Final #1
1. Mike Vanpatten USA 76.67
2. Steve Jones USA 68.33
3. Kevin Michael USA 58.33
4. Brent Anderson USA 36.67
Men I – Final #1
1. Taylor Kress USA 70.00
2. John Zdeblick USA 58.33
3. Luciano Rondi Neto BRA 50.00
4. Scott Morgan USA 38.33
Pro Men – Semifinal #1
1. Rusty Malinoski CAN 70.00
2. JD Webb USA 65.00
3. Danny Thollander USA 60.00
4. Andrew Shearer USA 50.00
Pro Men – Semifinal #2
1. Dean Smith AUS 75.00
2. Adam Errington USA 60.00
3. Kyle Rattray CAN 56.67
4. Joey Bradley USA 50.00
Pro Men – Semifinal #3
1. Andrew Adkison USA 90.00
2. Shaun Murray USA 85.00
3. Olivier Derome CAN 80.00
4. Shawn Watson USA 60.00
Pro Men – Semifinal #4
1. Phillip Soven USA 90.00
2. Steel Lafferty USA 80.00
3. Austin Hair USA 70.00
4. Scotty Broome AUS 50.00
Pro Men – Semifinal #5
1. Harley Clifford AUS 90.00
2. Jimmy LaRiche USA 75.00
3. Bob Soven USA 70.00
4. Adam Wensink USA 60.00
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