Strong Current Challenges Wakeboarders to Adapt at Nautique WWA Nationals
Minneapolis, Minn. – The top wakeboarders in the United States took to the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis today to continue vying for national titles at the 2011 Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink. While all of today’s five skill-level divisions competed on the same body of water, the Jr. Pro Men’s category was forced to alter their traditional competition format, due to the strong current of the mighty Mississippi.
“It was really different and really challenging,” said Jr. Pro Men’s division rider Daniel Powers. “We had to do all wake tricks, which was difficult because the water was so choppy.”
Jr. Pro Men riders, like Powers, normally have to incorporate rail-based tricks on floating pieces of apparatus, in addition to their wake-based tricks, during their competition run. But the strength of the River’s current forced tournament officials to remove the apparatus from the water, as equipment safety anchors could not be secured.
“We tried multiple times to set the anchors, but they refused to remain in place,” said Chief Judge Chris Bischoff. “If the anchors aren’t secure then the equipment isn’t safe, and we’re not willing to put our competitors at risk like that. They’ll just have to adapt to an all wake format.”
The 12 riders in the Jr. Pro Men’s division were split into three heats of four during today’s semifinal round, with only the top two riders from each heat advancing onto Sunday’s finals.
Powers, who is featured in the August issue of Sports Illustrated and was projected to be one of the division’s finalists, saw an early exit from the competition today, due to several uncharacteristic falls.
“It was really rollie out there; pretty much everyone was falling,” said Powers. “It is what it is, but I wish I did better.”
Among the division’s six finalists are Jacob Valdez, Freddie Wayne, Mike Dowdy, Kyle Evans, Gordon Harrison and Shota Tezuka. The six-man final for the division’s national title is scheduled for Sunday, July 31 at 9:30 a.m.
The Nautique WWA Nationals will continue with several other divisions tomorrow, July 30, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.
The 2011 Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink is free to the public during all five days of competition. For those who cannot attend the event in person, just “like” the King of Wake’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/prowakeboardtour) to watch all the live streaming footage.
The 2011 Nautique WWA Nationals will also air on the VERSUS television network at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Friday, July 29 – Day 3 of 5 Results:
Jr. Boys Beginner Division
Final Round – Heat #1
1 Kevin Duffy 88.33
2 Andrew Scheafer 76.67
3 Thomas Herman 60.00
4 Ryan O’Toole 58.33
Jr. Boys Division
Final Round – Heat #1
1 Tyler Worrall 63.33
2 Kade Kasey 48.33
3 Carter Mathter 41.67
Jr. Pro Men Division
Semifinal Round – Heat #1
1 Jacob Valdez 80.00
2 Kyle Evans 71.67
3 Joshua Twelker 61.67
4 Robbie Houlihan 43.33
Jr. Pro Men Division
Semifinal Round – Heat #2
1 Mike Dowdy 78.33
2 Gordon Harrison 65.00
3 Pierce Homsey 56.67
4 Kyler Green 45.00
Jr. Pro Men Division
Semifinal Round – Heat #3
1 Shota Tezuka 71.67
2 Freddie Wayne 63.33
3 Tony Iacconi 61.67
4 Daniel Powers 53.33
Boys Beginner Division
Semifinal Round – Heat #1
1 Bryson Hancock 70.00
2 Mitch Allen 60.00
3 Michael Buss 46.67
4 Andy Birch 40.00
5 Zach McCauley 33.33
6 Chris Birch 23.33
Jr. Women Division
Semifinal Round – Heat #1
1 Gianna Dinatale 66.67
2 Katelyn Fenner 56.67
3 Delanie Parker 46.67
4 Julie Bray 30.00
Jr. Women Division
Semifinal Round – Heat #2
1 Tori Koch 81.67
2 Rachel Orgill 71.67
3 Mallorie Henry 60.00
4 Hannah Green 46.67
5 Rosy Bray 28.33
