She has not won a contest at Sparks Marina since 2005, but today four-time X Games gold medalist Dallas Friday proved she is long overdue for a win, after posting a perfect score of 100 points during her run today in the Pro Women’s division semifinals at the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in the greater Reno area of Sparks, Nev.
Dallas Friday, 22, of Orlando, Fla., is considered the most decorated pro female wakeboarder in the world, winning some of the most prestigious contests in her sport, but has struggled to ride away with a win at Sparks Marina over the past few years.
“I’ve just had a string of bad luck in Reno; I’ll get hurt or the wind will pick up right before I ride. Something weird always happens,” said Friday. “But today went really well, I just felt dialed in and was happy with the way I rode. I’m stoked for finals.”
Friday took first place in her five-woman semifinal heat today to advance on to tomorrow’s finals. The Florida native enters the Pro Women’s division finals as the top-seeded rider, but faces a strong field of competitors, including the defending Queen of Wake titlist Nicola Butler and former wakeboard world champion Amber Wing.
The six-woman final hits the water tomorrow, Sunday, August 16 at 2:30 p.m.
The Pro Men’s division also hit the water today, where more than 30 riders competed to qualify in to tomorrow’s quarterfinals. Riders battled it out in ten heats, with only the top two riders in each heat advancing on to the quarterfinals. Among the 20 quarterfinalists are Harley Clifford, Aaron Rathy, Phillip Soven and Andrew Adkison, who are all in contention for the overall Pro Tour title. Clifford, Soven and Aussie Dean Smith all posted 100-point runs today. Quarterfinals begin at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow morning.
In the Jr. Pro Men’s division, ten riders battled it out on the water today in two heats of five, with only the top two riders from each heat advancing on to tomorrow’s finals. Among the four finalists is Bob Soven, who posted the high score of the day with a 96.50. Should Soven take first in the Jr. Pro Men’s finals, he will become the first rider ever to sweep the five-stop amateur series.
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour wraps-up its final day of action in Sparks tomorrow, Sunday, August 16 from 10:30am to 3:30pm.
