Auburndale, FL (May 18, 2021) – This past weekend the Malibu Boats Rider Experience traveled above the Mason Dixon Line and into the Chesapeake Bay river system for the 3rd stop of the 2021 event series. Wakeboarders and wakesurfers from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia and further destinations converged at the historic Mount Harmon Plantation for two days of fun-filled action on the Sassafras River. Hosted by the amazing crew from Chessie Marine, the weekend kicked off Shreddin’ Saturdays with the help of Guenther Oka, Tarah Mikacich, Chad Sharpe, and Luca Kidd. Through the expert instruction of these professional riders, families received the best possible experience on the river. With three different Malibu boats in the water at all times, each and every rider got ample time to practice their contest runs, learn new skills and demo new product.
Off the water, attendees were able to check out the full line-up of 2021 Hyperlite wakeboard and wakesurfers, and practice their balancing skills with the help of Lakesurf Balance Boards. With the innovative technology of EZ Drive Thrusters on display, boat owners were able to learn about after-market additions available for making their on-water experience even more enjoyable.
Sunday morning brought out all the competitors for the Regional Championships North, and many amazing dads who wanted to celebrate Father’s Day by either watching their children compete, or by taking time to compete for themselves. With perfectly calm water and blue skies all day long, the conditions were absolutely perfect for a full day of competing. Starting with younger divisions, the spectators watched the Boys Beginner Division and the Girls Beginner Division take to the water first. Ten year old Isabella Dann entered and won her very first wakeboard contest ever by showcasing her one-wake jumps into the middle of the wake. Long-time WWA competitor Ryder Dylan took the win in the Boys 10-13 Division by landing a handful of inverts and spins. Other notable divisions of the day were the Jr. Men, won by the always enthusiastic Carson McDaniel, and the Masters Division in which midwest rider Corbin Blanton took the win. And the highlight of the day was Dave May taking the win in the brand new Surfin’ Dads Division to cap-off his ideal version of Father’s Day.
As always, the main event of the WWA and Malibu Regional Championships was the Jr. Pro Women and Jr. Pro Men. This weekend saw the greatest number of Jr. Pro riders of any Regional Championship so far! Through hard-fought battles in the semifinal rounds, 4 finalists in both divisions took to the water to see who would finish on the podium. In the Jr. Pro Women, fifteen year old Avery Ruegsegger (MN) put down an impressive run of 5 inverts that would land her in 3rd place. Kitt Smith (MO) impressed the judges with her combination of a heelside backroll to revert followed by a switch heelside backroll and it was enough for 2nd place. And yet again, Jr. Pro Series leader Kira Lewis (FL) would execute a near flawless run highlighted by an indy tantrum and a wrapped KGB. For the Jr. Pro Men, Kansas native Brett Powell stuck a skeezer and a switch heelside mobe to start his run, but a fall on his switch heel 720 would land him in 3rd place, his highest finish this season. Parker Swope (TX) locked in his moby dick and a pete rose to secure him a 2nd place finish. But once again, nobody could dethrone series leader Jamie Huser (SUI) and his awesome maneuvers like his whirlybird 540 and his toeside crail backroll to blind.
As the 5-part series continues, the Malibu Rider Experience South heads to Ocala, FL next month as they host Shreddin’ Saturday and the Regional Championships South on July 10-11. We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new riders throughout the 2021 season!