“It’s incredible to have the Malibu Punta Cana Pro and Wakepark World Series apart of the grand opening here at RAD Wakepark,” said WWA Executive Director Corrie Wilson. “The facility and its amenities are first-class and the best wakeboard athletes in the world are extremely excited to be hanging out at one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.”
The quarterfinals for the Wakepark Traditional division boasted an impressive list of heavy hitters who raved about the brand new RAD Park. In Heat 1, five-time Wakepark World Series Champion Tom Fooshee demonstrated why he has been a force to be reckoned with for many years as he led the way with a 97.00. A strong showing by Ian Smith earned him the second spot with a 76.00, just ahead of John Dreiling’s 71.50 in third.
Guenther Oka has been on a tear as of late, performing flawlessly at nearly every event he enters and carried the confidence from the opening round of the WPWS to steal the glory in Heat 2 with a 96.25. Jake Pelot executed a variety of technical tricks to take the runner-up position with an 81.25, followed by Yonel Cohen’s 77.50.
In the Wakepark Features Only quarterfinals, Dreiling bounced back from a third place in his Traditional qualifier to prevail for the top spot in Heat 1 with a 93.70. Pelot edged out Malibu team rider Massi Piffaretti to grab the final transfer position with a 78.70. The crowd lined the shoreline for Heat 2 as Oka continued to impress those in attendance and rode spectacular to earn a 100.00. Behind Oka, Cody Hesse’s 81.85 was good enough to advance with a second.
“The week is off to a fantastic start here at the Punta Cana Pro by grabbing the win in both of my quarterfinal heats today,” said Guenther Oka. “I’m looking forward competing at the all-new RAD Wakepark the rest of the weekend and using its unique design to take my riding to the next level against the best riders in the world.”
Fooshee used every inch of the course as he meticulously navigated the obstacles and used his veteran experience to outduel the competition for his second qualifier win of the day in Heat 3 with a 97.60. Smith relied on consistency to score an 84.55 for second. The fourth and final heat of the day produced some of the best action as Cohen went head-to-head with JD Webb. At the completion of the heat, Cohen emerged with the highest score of 96.40, narrowly edging out Webb’s 85.45.
The second day of the Malibu Punta Cana Pro is set to kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 8 at Cap Cana Marina as wakeboarding stars hit the water for the first time this week, followed by wakepark at 4:30 p.m. at the all-new RAD Wakepark.
$60K in prize money is up for grabs as Professional riders hit the water throughout the weekend. To view the complete prize money breakdown Click Here.
As the organizer and sanctioning body of the 2016 Malibu Punta Cana Pro presented by Rockstar Energy, the World Wake Association would like to thank all of its partners for their support in making the event possible, including Malibu Boats and Rockstar Energy Drink.
Click Here to view more details on the 2016 Malibu Evolution Pro Series.
For more information on the 2016 Wakeboard World Series Click Here.
Results
Malibu Punta Cana Pro by Rockstar Energy
RAD Wakepark – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Friday, October 7, 2016
Traditional – Wakepark Quarterfinals: Heat 01
- Tom Fooshee – 97.00
- Ian Smith 76.00
- John Dreiling – 71.50
- Austin Hair – 65.50
- Guenther Oka – 96.25
- Jake Pelot – 81.25
- Yonel Cohen – 77.50
- Ricardo Conte – 55.00
- John Dreiling – 93.70
- Jake Pelot – 82.60
3. Massi Piffaretti
Features Only – Wakepark Quarterfinals: Heat 02
- Guenther Oka – 100.00
- Cody Hesse – 81.85
3. Austin Hair – 73.15
Features Only – Wakepark Quarterfinals: Heat 03
- Tom Fooshee – 97.60
- Ian Smith 84.55
- Ricardo Conte – 61.15
- Romain Colagrande – 55.15
- Yonel Cohen – 96.40
- JD Webb – 85.45
- Danny Thollander – 73.15
- Hayes Wheeles – 30.25
About Malibu Boats
Based in Loudon, TN, Malibu Boats is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, selling one out of every two worldwide through a global dealer network. Malibu also designs and manufactures as the Axis Wake Research brand. With more than 500 employees and three manufacturing facilities, in California, Tennessee, and Australia, Malibu builds boats to help you live a #lifewithoutlimits on the water. [NASDAQ: MBUU] | @malibuboats | #evolutionproseries
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