The morning kicked off with multiple divisions taking the water for their semifinals and last chance qualifiers, ultimately forcing riders to put it all on the line in order to capture a position and eligibility to compete in the final showdown. A handful of brilliant performances were thrown down off of the unique course design at OWC in the Pro Wakeboard semifinals. Pedro Caldas (OWC) took the win in Heat 1, while Guenther Oka (IND) led the way in Heat 2. Joe Battleday (JB Ski – GB) grabbed the third and final heat win of the day with a variety of technical flips and twists. Tomorrow’s finals are going to be filled with mind-blowing rides as the top qualifiers prepare to go head-to-head.
In the Amateur Wakeskate finals, there was no lack of effort to go huge and consistency was going to be one of the deciding factors for judge’s to determine the overall winner. Gavin Stuckey (OWC) repeatedly pulled off trick-after-trick using every obstacle the course had to offer and held on earn the national championship. A strong run by Trent Stuckey (OWC) helped him secure the runner-up position, narrowly edging out Brendon Thibodeau (Action), who rounded out the podium in third.
“Watching tonight’s awards in traditional cable riding was cool to see because they show where wakepark riding began for nearly all of its competitors,” said WWA Executive Director Corrie Wilson. “As popular as the features only has become, it’s awesome that there are two equally definable disciplines for all ages in the sport.”
Beginner Wakeboard division hosts some of the newest athletes to the wakepark scene, however, there is no shortage of thrilling action as they shred across the parks ramps and railings. The highest score went to Beau Porter (Hexagon) who held down the number one position. Zach Montez (TSR) and Ashlyn Overland (Roseland) finished in the second and third spots, respectively. Battles raged in Novice Wakeboard as Barrett Swope (Wake Nation) and Samuel Lewis (Quest ATX) went all out for their chance to become crowned champion. In the end, Swope outdueled Lewis, while Jacob Johnson (Hydrous) landed on the box in third.
A star-studded field emerged for the Intermediate Wakeboard finals and the large crowd on hand lined the shoreline to catch the spectacular performances with one of the deepest fields in the sports history. Despite the stiff competition, Fynn Bullock Womble (Hexagon) nailed an impressive run to take the win, just ahead of Gavin Stuckey (OWC) in second. A hard-fought effort credited Gavin Giglio (OWC) with third. The Advanced Wakeboard finals featured some of the more experienced riders on the tour, which meant that technical tricks and massive air was guaranteed to be taking place. Trent Stuckey (OWC) stole the glory with his flashy style en route to the championship, followed by Spencer Baron (TSR) and Josh Harris (OWC) in second and third.
The day was closed out with both the Nautique Boats Grom Attack Kicker Contest and the Rockstar Energy Big Air Kicker Contest. 12 Groms and 12 Pro riders were chosen to show off their best kicker hit as the highlight event of the day. Grom Spencer Barron found himself atop of the podium with stylish mute roll to blind. In the Rockstar Energy kicker contest it was Rockstar team athlete Cody Hesse that landed bolts on a Double Cab Mobe to clearly take the win and cash prize home.
The final day of the Nautique WWA Wakepark National Championships will resume at 8am EST on Sunday, August 7 as riders fight for their chance to become crowned national champions. Join us at Orlando Watersports Complex to witness the intense competition on the water along with on-site displays from Nautique boats, Rockstar Energy Drinks and more!
Click Here to view the points and rules for the 2016 Point Chase
As the organizer and sanctioning body of the 2016 Nautique WWA Wake Park National Championships presented by Rockstar Energy, the World Wakeboard Association would like to thank all of its partners for their support in making the event possible, including Nautique Boat Company and Rockstar Energy Drink.
To view the full results from Saturday Click Here
About Nautique Boat Company: Celebrating 91 years of excellence in the marine industry, Nautique is a subsidiary of Correct Craft and has been on the waters of the world with a passion for innovation since 1925. Nautique is known to push the envelope of possibility on the water, and our owners have come to expect nothing but the absolute best. The Ski Nautique 200 has changed waterskiing with 19 world records, the G-Series has won numerous awards for wakeboard boat and wakesurf boat of the year while unlocking new possibilities in wakeboarding and wakesurfing, and our Sport Series has given families endless days on the water without compromise. Through our Nautique Cares initiatives we’re dedicated to not only making a difference on the water, but to people in need around the world. The world’s best ski boat, world’s best wake boat, and a company that cares. To learn more visit Nautique.com.
About Rockstar: Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles – from Athletes to Rockstars. Available in over 25 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in over 30 countries, Rockstar supports the Rockstar lifestyle across the globe through Action Sports, Motor Sports, and Live Music. For more information, visit: www.RockstarEnergy.com
About The WWA: The World Wakeboard Association is the global leader in wake sports sanctioning. The WWA owns and operates the WWA Wakeboard World Series, WWA Wake Park World Series, WWA Wakeboard National Championships, WWA Wake Park National Championships, WWA Wakeboard World Championships, WWA Wake Park World Championships, WWA Wake Park Triple Crown, WWA Pro Card and WWA Rider Experience. With 27 affiliate countries worldwide, the WWA is a rider-formed organization dedicated to promoting and growing wake sports worldwide. It is the primary source for riders, event organizers and competitive standards. For more information on the WWA and its events, check out www.thewwa.com