Check out the photo gallery here.
Home country favorites Rusty Malinoski and Aaron Rathy charged through to upset wins over defending champions Phillip Soven and Keith Lidberg in the Wakestock 2008 Malibu Expression Session and Billabong Rail Championship events, respectively. The wins capped an unbelievable four days of intense action both on and off the water at Wakestock, an event known equally for its challenging, world leading rails and demanding party schedule.
The hotly contested Wakestock Malibu Expression Session presented by Gordon Bay and Paris Marine, part of the WWA World Series, featured Malinoski, Soven, Rathy and Andrew Adkison in a four-man, super charged final. Malinoski, Soven and Rathy each stood up strong runs and double-ups making the scoring tight. Malinoski stuck a Backside 7 off the double-up, while Soven stomped a Toeside 9 and Rathy hit a Heelside 9. The difference though was Wakestock’s big, technical rail course, which played to Malinoski and Rathy’s strengths. Both posted smooth, impressive rail scores over the three massive 100-foot sliders.
Malinoski was able to stay close to Soven with big wake tricks to take the win by a decisive 12.5 point margin, while Soven nosed out Rathy by three points. Andrew Adkison struggled with a fall off of the big Double-Kinked A-Frame rail and was never able to get back into contention. Thailand’s “Bomb”, Jaemjan Padwat, tied for fifth with American Trevor Hansen while Australians Dean Smith and Daniel Watkins tied for seventh to round out the top eight.
The Wakestock Billabong Railslide Championship presented by SBC Wakeboard Magazine featured Aaron Rathy in his second final four appearance of the weekend, up against rail course destroyer and the three-time defending champion Keith Lidberg, the hard charging JD Webb and the ultra-smooth Colin Harrington. Lidberg had been ruling the Wakestock rails all through the preliminary rounds, but in the finals struggled to hold his slides over the entire length of the big rails. That left the door open for Rathy, Harrington and Webb. In the end it came down to two-pass consistency on the five rail course which demanded a three foot ollie onto the 100-foot Roof Top Step-Up rail; Rathy was just that much more consistent than the others to grab his first ever Wakestock Rail title, followed by Harrington, Webb and Lidberg. Shane Bonifay and Raphael Derome tied for 5th and Rusty Malinoski and Jimmy Lariche tied for 7th to round out the top eight.
Wakeskaters had two dedicated events to contest at Wakestock for the first time: the Billabong Wakeskate
boat contest presented by Monster Energy, and the Oakley Wakeskate Pool Jam. The Oakley
Wakeskate Pool Jam presented by SBC Wakeboard Magazine was once again the most innovative event of the weekend incorporating an all-new pool and rail layout designed by Pat Panakos from aBox Productions and featuring the world debut of the new Sesitec System 2.0 portable cable system from Germany. This year’s Oakley Pool launched wakeskaters down a three-rail, 10-stair set into the main water course. The reversible System 2.0
cable system pulled the riders 500 feet across the water course and then back to the pool, allowing for a series of additional flatwater wakeskate tricks after stomping the rails.
The Oakley Wakeskate Pool Jam contest consisted of four different, $1250 best trick contests, all uniquely rider judged. Reed Hansen stomped a Backside Lipslide to win best trick on the challenging Down-Flat Rail. Chase Gregory landed a Backside Boardside to Switch Frtside Boardslide to 90 out to win best trick on the Step-Down Ledge. Ben Horan styled out a locked-in Backside Noseslide to win best trick on the Down Rail. Matt Manzari stomped a Varial Flip down the 10-set staircase to win the best trick down the Stair Gap.
The Billabong Wakeskate four-man final featured defending Wakestock champion Brain Grubb up against Reed Hansen, the 2007 Wakestock champion, DannyHampson, who is enjoying a strong come-back year and Stuart Shinn, one of the sport’s rising talents. Despite being the first rider off the dock, Shinn threw down an incredibly technical run including a wake-to-wake Heelside Shuv-it to Mute, a wake-to-wake Heelside Late Shuv and wake-to-wake Frontside 360 and a wake-to-wake Backside Bigspin for the last trick in his run. Hampson, Hansen and Grubb all had falls in their runs and ended up fourth, third and second respectively.
The TELUS Music Stage presented by Monster Energy delivered what had to be Wakestock’s most exciting and diverse music line-up ever. Highlights included; cousins RZA and GZA of the Wu Tang Clan, one of the most critically acclaimed and celebrated hip hop groups of all time; Florida’s reunited post-hardcore legends Hot Water Music; Cavalera Conspiracy, the new project by brothers Igor and Max Cavalera of Sepultura fame; and Canada’s pop rock superstars Metric.
Wakestock’s famed music and party program was elevated by Monster Energy this year. Monster threw down for two swank pro athlete receptions featuring killer DJs Matt The Alien and
Vinyl Ritchie, the Monster Girls, Monster boat shuttles and limos and plenty of flow with food and drinks. Add to that three Bud Light After-Parties, plus the Bud Light Bikini Contest, and it was all-time on the party front at Wakestock this year. The highlight party, Wakestock’s annual Bud Light Boarder’s Bash went down at Toronto’s biggest nightclub, the Sound Academy conveniently located on Toronto Harbour allowing access by boat for a number of party-goers.
For amateur athletes, Wakestock featured the Malibu Amateur Wakeboard Championship, Canada’s biggest am event presented by Billabong, Gordon Bay and Paris Marine; and the Island The Ams Skateboard Contest also one of Canada’s biggest, presented by Milk, RGX, Eye Weekly and SBC Skateboard Magazine. Ams also enjoyed autograph sessions throughout the weekend from the Billabong Pro Wake Team, Oakley Pro Wake Team and Liquid Force Pro Wake Team.
Wakestock will be broadcast nationally in Canada in a one hour Much Music special next month.
Stayed tuned to wakestock.com for exact times.
WAKESTOCK 2008 MALIBU PRO EXPRESSION SESSION
WWA WORLD SERIES
MENS PRO FINALS
1 Rusty Malinoski CAN 97.50 Hyperlite, Fox, Mastercraft, Ogio, Body Glove, Roswell, Rockstar, Kicker
2 Philip Soven USA 85.00 Malibu, Liquid Force, Body Glove, Protec, Rip It
3 Aaron Rathy CAN 82.00 Oakley, Hyperlite, Xcel, Nautique
4 Andrew Adkison USA 75.50 Oakley, CWB, Mastercraft, Rip It
5-tie Trevor HansenUSA CWB, Lost, Jet Pilot, Supra, Roswell, Ogio
5-tie
Padiwat Jaemjan THAI TE Wake N SKi, Concrete, 1080 Sportswear
7-tie Daniel Watkins AUS Monster Energy, O’Brien, Tige, Rip Curl, Reef, Arnette
7-tie Dean Smith AUS Ronix, Rip Curl, Smith, Nautique, Skull Candy
WOMEN’S PRO FINALS
1 Amber Wing AUS 100.00 Oakley, Liquid Force
2 Barrett Perlman USA 87.50 Liquid Force, Surf & Off Shore, Pita Pit, O’Town,Kurtis
3 Erika Langman CAN 78.00 O’Neill, Liquid Force, Dragon, Shoreline
4 Ashley Leugner CAN 74.50 O’Brien, Jetpilot, StraightLine, Offaxis Boardshop.
Men’s Pro Semi Finals
(top two advance to finals)
Heat #1
1 Andrew Adkison USA Oakley, CWB, Mastercraft, Rip It
2 Aaron Rathy CAN Oakley, Xcel, Hyperlite, Nautique
3 Padiwat Jaemjan THAI TE Wake N SKi, Concrete, 1080 Sportswear
4 Dean Smith AUS Ronix, Rip Curl, Smith, Nautique, Skull Candy
Heat #2
1 Rusty Malinoski CAN Hyperlite, Fox, Mastercraft, Ogio, Body, Glove, Roswell, Rockstar, Kicker
2 Phillip Soven USA Malibu, Liquid Force, Body Glove, Protec, Rip It
3 Trevor Hansen USA CWB, Lost, Jet Pilot, Supra, Roswell, Ogio
4 Daniel Watkins AUS Monster Energy, O’Brien, Tige, Rip Curl, Reef, Arnette
WAKESTOCK 2008 BILLABONG PRO RAIL CHAMPIONSHIP
MEN’S PRO FINALS
1 Aaron Rathy CDN 60.00 Oakley, Xcel, Hyperlite, Nautique
2 Collin Harrington USA 50.00 Liquid Force, Quiksilver, Mastercraft, Freestyle
3 JD Webb USA 41.67 Hyperlite, Reef, Nautique, Dragon, Red Bull
4 Keith Lidberg USA 23.33 J Star, O’Neill, Freestyle, Nautique, Republic, The Projects
5-tie Shane Bonifay USA 50.00 Monster Energy, Liquid Force, Mastercraft, Jet Pilot, Spy
5-tie Raphael Derome CAN 46.67 Malibu, Billabong, Von Zipper, Liquid Force
7-tie Jimmy Lariche USA 43.33 Monster Energy, Hyperlite, Nautique, Spy
7-tie Rusty Malinoski CAN 40.00 Hyperlite, Fox, Mastercraft, Ogio, Body Glove, Roswell, Rockstar,
Kicker
—————————————————————————-
Semi Finals
(top two advance to finals)
Heat #1
1 Collin Harrington USA 80.00 Liquid Force, Quiksilver, Mastercraft, Freestyle
2 Aaron Rathy CAN 63.33 Oakley, Hyperlite, Xcel, Nautique
3 Shane Bonifay USA 50.00 Monster Energy, Liquid Force, Mastercraft, Jet Pilot, Spy
4 Rusty Malinoski CAN 40.00 Hyperlite, Fox, Mastercraft, Ogio, Body Glove, Roswell, Rockstar,
Kicker
Heat #2
1 JD Webb USA 66.67 Hyperlite, Reef, Nautique, Dragon, Red Bull
2 Keith Lidberg USA 60.00 J Star, O’Neill, Freestyle, Nautique, Republic, The Projects
3 Raphael Derome CAN 46.67 Malibu, Billabong, Von Zipper, Liquid Force
4 Jimmy Lariche USA 43.33 Monster Energy, Hyperlite, Nautique, Spy
WAKESTOCK 2008 OAKLEY WAKESKATE POOL JAM
BEST TRICK
Down-Flat Rail Backside Lipslide Reed Hansen USA Ronix, Fox, Supra, WWC
Step-Down Ledge Backside Boardslide to Switch FS Boardslide to 90 Out Chase Gregory USA
Sattelyte, Sweet Water, Adio
Down Rail Locked-In Backside Noseslide Ben Horan USA Oak Wakeskates, Nike
Stair Gap Varial Flip Matt Manzari USA Gator, Nike, O’Neill
WAKESTOCK 2008 BILLABONG PRO WAKESKATE
Presented by Monster Energy
MEN’S PRO FINALS
1 Stuart Shinn USA 73.33 CWB, Rusty
2 Brian Grubb USA 66.67 Malibu, Billabong, Von Zipper, Hyperlite, Protec, Red Bull
3 Reed Hansen USA 56.67 Ronix, Fox, Supra, WWC
4 Danny Hampson USA 36.67 Oakley, Liquid Force, DVS
5-tie Nick Taylor USA Oakley, Integrity, Nike 6.0 , O’Neill
5-tie Chase Gregory USA Sattelyte, Sweet Water, Adio
7-tie James Balzer CAN Liquid Force, Body Glove, Nike 6.0, Von Zipper
7-tie Jeff Engen USA Xcel, Sattelyte, DSO Eyewear
———————————————————————–
Semi Finals
(top two advance to finals)
Heat #1
1 Reed Hansen USA Ronix, Fox, Supra, WWC
2 Stuart Shinn USA CWB, Rusty
3 Nick Taylor USA Oakley, Integrity, Nike 6.0 , O’Neill
4 James Balzer CAN Liquid Force, Body Glove, Nike 6.0, Von Zipper
Heat #2
1 Brian Grubb USA Malibu, Billabong, Von Zipper, Hyperlite, Protec, Red Bull
2 Danny Hampson USA Oakley, Liquid Force, DVS
3 Chase Gregory USA Sattelyte, Sweet Water, Adio
4 Jeff Engen USA Xcel, Sattelyte, DSO Eyewear
