Best of the Business in Wakeboarding and Wakeskating Take Home Top Honors at the 2015 Wake Awards
ORLANDO, Fla. (September 10, 2015) – Every year the best riders around the globe descend upon Orlando, Fla., at the Surf Expo to find out who are the best in wake at WAKEBOARDING’s annual Wake Awards. Fans and pros alike gather to find out who and what will be celebrated as the most noteworthy accomplishments of the past 365 days.
Web videos had a major surge in 2015 with an emphasis on creative riding and new ways to showcase what wakeboarding is all about. There was plenty of progression on the boat, wake park, and winch aspects of the sport and the riders left nothing out in terms of creativity, both off the wake and in the park.
“We love celebrating what’s gone down in the past 365 days in the wake community every year,” said Shawn Perry, editor-in-chief of WAKEBOARDING Magazine. “It’s a chance for our entire industry to get together and celebrate accomplishments, give each other high fives and show appreciation to the riders who put their bodies on the line all in the name of pushing the sport forward.”
The list of winners in their respective categories include:
Best Women’s Rider – Meagan Ethell
Check Out Award – Guenther Oka
Best Wake Park Rider – Daniel Grant
Best Rail Rider – Raph Derome
Best Photographer – Rodrigo Donoso
Best Web Video – Raph Derome / Jonathan Ferguson – Beyond Perception
Best Wakeskater – Danny Hampson
Industry Icon Award – Pat Panakos
Best Video – Prime – Sean Kilgus
Best Wakeboarder – Harley Clifford
Indmar Trick of the Year, Wakeskate – Reed Hansen
Indmar Trick of the Year, Women’s – Carro Djupsjo
Indmar Trick of the Year, Men’s – Cody Hesse
The hallmark industry event that kicks off the Surf Expo at the Orange County Convention Center was open to the public and boasted an evening filled with athletes mingling amongst the audience, cocktails that flowed and more. Dano Amir, one of the sport’s best known announcers, presented the awards.
The Wake Lounge, presented by JL Audio, provided an added benefit to guests that included interactive games and video viewing.
Sponsors for the Wake Awards include Malibu Boats, Indmar, Surf Expo, WSIA, JL Audio, Acme Marine, Sesitec System 2.0, Rockford Fosgate, SP Gadgets, PTM Edge by Protomet and Wakeboarding Magazine.
For more information, visit Wakeboardingmag.com
