The top wake athletes from throughout the globe hit the waters of the Orlando Watersports Complex in Orlando, Florida, on April 29 for the opening rounds of the 2010 Air Nautique Wake Games, presented by ROCKSTAR. The four-day pro-am contest kicked off with qualifying rounds for the Pro Men, Pro Women and Pro Wakeskate divisions.
Those advancing past the opening rounds today earned an invitation to the Team Draft and will move on to the next round of the contest within their respective division.
At the Wake Games draft on April 30, 10 preselected captains will select qualifying athletes to field a team. Athletes will contribute points toward a team score based on their individual placement within their respective division. The team with the highest total score will take home the team title.
Nearly 50 wakeboarders competed today in the Pro Men’s division qualifiers. Only the top two riders from each of the 10 heats qualified through to the Draft and on to Saturday’s quarterfinals. Rookie sensation Bob Soven posted the high score of the day with a 78.33.
The Pro Women’s division featured four heats of four, with only the top two riders from each heat advancing. Raimi Merritt, Amber Wing, Nicola Butler and defending Wake Games champ Dallas Friday each led their respective heat today.
The Pro Wakeskate division had 10 shredders qualify through today. All 10 wakeskaters will head to the Draft tomorrow evening, and Brian Grubb is still on the hunt to pull the five-peat at the Air Nautique Wake Games.
The Air Nautique Wake Games, presented by ROCKSTAR, will continue on April 30 with 15 amateur divisions hitting the water before the Team Draft later that evening.
To catch all the high-flying, rail-sliding, water-sports action of the 2010 Air Nautique Wake Games, presented by ROCKSTAR, on television, tune in to FUEL TV on June 29 at 8 p.m. EST.
The Air Nautique Wake Games, presented by ROCKSTAR, is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Florida and has the support of the following sponsors: Correct Craft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Fox, Oakley, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, PCM Marine Engines, FUEL TV and Allisports.com.
