Michigan is welcoming the 2008 Malibu Open to the Quake on the Lake water sports festival in July. 

(Merced, CA) – It only seems fitting to join a state known for its lakes and performance vehicles with an event like the Malibu Open. Michigan is the perfect setting for this premier international water ski and wakeboard competition. The supercharged boats, distinguished athletes and world record performances will come together, July 18-20, in the mecca of boating recreation. Pontiac Lake will host this water sports double-header featuring not only the Malibu Open but of one of the nation’s premier hydroplane events, Quake on the Lake. And if that’s not reason enough to attend, proceeds from this fund-raiser will directly benefit a local children’s charity.
 
“We are excited to be partnering with the organizers of Quake on the Lake to create this unique, high-energy water sports festival in Michigan,” expressed Lani Farmer, Team and Event Director for Malibu Boats. “We feel like this venue and these partners will enable us to better the Malibu Open just like we better our boats every chance we get.”
 
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Malibu Open showcases the top slalom skiers, jumpers and wakeboarders in the world. World records have fallen during 7 of 9 Malibu Opens. This year athletes are looking to commemorate the 10-year milestone with more amazing performances.
 
Participating Malibu Open male athletes will have the opportunity to compete in slalom, jump or wakeboard events, while the women tear it up in either slalom or wakeboard. Skiing disciplines will be pulled by the World record-breaking Malibu Response LXi while the wakeboarding portion of the competition will be pulled by Malibu’s Wakesetter VLX.
 
Pontiac Lake in Oakland County, Michigan will host the Malibu Open as well as Quake on the Lake July 18-20, 2008. The Festival will take place between White Lake and Waterford townships at the Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area.
 
Over the past 8 years, “Quake on the Lake” has gained a reputation as one of the premier summertime events in Michigan. Since the inaugural event, over 140,000 people have witnessed world-record racing performances from the top teams in the business.
 
The Malibu Open/Quake on the Lake festival will be an affordable family event and fund-raiser. Proceeds from this fund-raiser will directly benefit a local children’s charity, The Rainbow Connection. This organization helps make dreams come true for terminally ill children in Michigan.
 
Visit the Malibu Open web site for more information http://www.malibuseries.com.
 
For more information about the Quake on the Lake visit http://www.quakeonthelake.org
 
For more information about the Rainbow Connection visit http://www.rainbowwishconnection.org

The Malibu Open has been designated as an official World Series stop by the WWA.

(Merced, CA) – The Malibu Open joins Wakestock and three other World Wakeboard Association sanctioned stops in the WWA World Series of events. After Team Malibu’s Phillip Soven swept the series in ‘07, the Malibu Open could prove to be a big factor in the 2008 WWA World Series outcome. Witness these key Malibu Open wakeboard performances first hand, July 18th - 20th in Oakland County Michigan at Pontiac Lake.

“Malibu has been a long time supporter of the WWA and WWA World Series with Wakestock,” Explained Shannon Starling, President of the World Wakeboard Association. “It only made sense that the Malibu Open, which has been outside of the US for the past few years, was made a part of the World Series.” Starling concluded, “The standards are always set high for the Open and the WWA hopes to add to that with the World Series elite.”

Rider points earned in the wakeboarding segment of the Malibu Open will be factored into the World Series standings. The Malibu Open will account for 20% of the World Series points. Rider sessions thrown down at the Malibu Open could help determine the next WWA World Series champ. And considering the WWA continues to give the largest payout for an international series, $200,000 total, there are a couple hundred thousand reasons to attend the Malibu Open and cheer on your favorite rider.

If you are in the Michigan area to attend the Malibu Open, why not make the short trip up to Toronto, the following weekend for Wakestock. July 24th - 27th, 2008 in Toronto Islands, Canada the WWA World Series action will continue with Wakestock, the largest wakeboard competition in the world.

Michigan’s Pontiac Lake will host this water sports double-header featuring not only the Malibu Open, but one of the nation’s premier hydroplane events, Quake on the Lake. And if that and the World Series affiliation are not reasons enough to attend, proceeds from this fund-raiser will directly benefit a local children’s charity.

Visit the Malibu Open web site for more information http://www.malibuseries.com/malibuopen.html.

For more information about the WWA World Series visit http://www.thewwa.com.

For more information on Wakestock visit http://www.wakestock.com.