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16 riders competed today at The Projects outside of Orlando, Florida for the wake title at the Rockstar Rail Jam. The level of wakeskating was off the charts and the Nautique 210 delivered the perfect wake, with Robby Jacques at the control of the Zero-Off GPS speed control.
Stuart Shinn started off the day with one of the more impressive runs, stomping a wake-to-wake shove, however he was unable to make it past the second round. Andrew Pastura was another standout.
The final four consisted of Reed Hansen, Nick Taylor, Brandon Thomas and Brian Grubb. Hansen and Taylor were able to hold off the veteran wake champions and advance into the head-to-head final.
Taylor’s run was heavy with a toeside backside 180, backside 360, switch Madonna 180, switch 360, Benihanna, toeside 360 and a heelside stalefish late backside 180. Hansen came out and pulled a switch 360, regular 360, toeside backside 180, heelside backside 180, backside 360, flats 360 shove and kickflip, toeside 360 and a finger flip, pulled today for the first time in competition. He also just missed a 540 at the end of his second pass, then landed a shifty off the double up into the flats, riding away to his first-ever Toe Jam wake title.
“I didn’t think I was going to ride that good,” Hansen said. “I was surprised that Grubb didn’t crush us all. The riding level has been stepped up a lot with the all the different variations. It’s an honor to compete at the Toe Jam on this level.”
Saturday’s action will go back to The Projects park for the Rockstar Rail Jam Final where tomorrow two finalists will earn an invitation to the Byerly Toe Jam Series Final presented by O’Neill on September 18-20.
The Projects Wakeboard and Wakeskate Camp
19454 East Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32820
This stop of the Toe Jam is made possible with the help of Rockstar Energy Drink, Sea-Doo, O’Neill, Nike 6.0, Liquid Force, Arnette and Air Nautiques. For more info, go to byerlytoejam.com.
