Playa del Carmen, Mexico (October 20, 2019) – The top professional wakeboard and wake park athletes came to the water on Saturday along with remaining Amateur semifinal and final rounds at the 2019 Nautique WWA Wakeboard and Wake Park World Championships presented by Rockstar Energy. Mayan Water Complex provided the greatest conditions imaginable, paired with the tropical backdrop as the world’s best riders amazed the crowd during every heat. The world-class Super Air Nautique G23 provided riders the ability to perform at the top of their game in every division. After the day’s competition riders and families made their way back to the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo where they were greeted with an authentic Mayan dancers performance before stepping back in time during the 30 Years of Wake Anniversary celebration, honoring the two individuals who spurred the movement for organized wakeboarding back in 1989. The global achievements of this year’s athletes were then celebrated during the Amateur Awards banquet, awarding several first time World titles.
Blind athlete Scott Leason (USA) got things going on the boat lake first thing in the morning on Saturday in the Adaptive Standing division. Giving it everything he had, Leason came away with his first WWA Wakeboard World title throwing T/S and H/S 180s for a final score of 82.33.
Over on the cable in the Traditional final, Loic Deschaux (FRA) dropped hammers in every part of the course earning his 90.60 score with his S mobe 540 off the flats and a T/S B/S 180 to B/S lip slide pretzel out for the World title. Liam Brearley (CDN) made it a close match throwing a huge T/S B/S 900 off the kicker for a score of 83.90, followed by Joe Battleday (GBR) rounding out the podium with 82.50. Defending Champ Julia Rick (GER) took the win with her consistent, dominating performances in the Pro Women’s Traditional final earning herself her seventh WWA World title. Rick threw down a T/S B/S 270 transfer F/S 270 and a massive front to blind in the flats for a perfect final score of 100.00 solidifying herself as the best female wakeboarder in the world. Lisa Baloo (Rus) claimed second place excelling on all the rails with a final score of 83.00, followed by Sanne Meijer (NED) in third with 81.40.
The Jr. Pro riders brought the heat to the cable of the Mayan Water Complex with a fiery final round for the Traditional park riders. Mikayo Mundy (AUS) came away with the World title throwing a massive front mobe to the flats and a pete rose off the kicker earning the winning score of 89.30. Stefan Hahn (AUT) put down a variety of technical rail hits for landing in second with 88.80, followed by Parker Swope (USA) in third with 87.70.
The Jr. Pro Men were on fire behind the industry-leading Super Air Nautique G23 and Saturday’s semifinal rounds gave the crowd some of the best performances seen thus far. Joey Gallagher (USA) threw down a tail grab KGB for the heat on win and a score of 53.33, followed by Haydon Bru (AUS) in second with 49.33.Fynn Bullock-Womble stomped a H/S B/S 720 for the win in heat two to score 86.00, followed by Thomas Herman (USA) who will advance on with 81.33. Heat three went to Jamie Huser (SUI) who showed his signature style with a switch T/S F/S 720 scoring 82.67, followed by Tyler Worrall (USA) in second with 76.67. Noah Wildman (USA) took down heat four to score 86.67 landing a double back roll for a score of 86.67, followed by Jake Hill (USA) in second with 70.67.
In the Pro Men Features semifinal, Liam Brearley(CDN) claimed his spot in Sunday’s final with a 270 in to shifty rewind on the rooftop rail and a H/S B/S 900 off the kicker for a 94.10 in heat one. James Windsor cleaned up in heat two throwing both T/S and H/S B/S 900s off the kicker for a score of 91.30. Joe Battleday (GBR) clinched the final spot out of heat three with a T/S B/S 180 to 270 lip slide to 270 out for heat winning score of 97.20. Claiming the final spot in Sunday’s final round was Guenther Oka (USA) in heat four utilizing his diverse skill set to lay down a big ollie up to T/S B/S 180 to cab 360 out on the last feature of the section for a textbook 100.00 point score.
The Pro Women’s semifinal saw many remarkable performances in Mexico, setting the bar for Sunday’s final round. Erika Lang (USA) came away with heat one win boosting off the wake of the Super Air Nautique G23 throwing a H/S front flip with a nose grab for a final score of 86.00, ahead of Sanne Meijer (NED) in second with 79.67. Heat two was owned by Tarah Mikacich (USA) throwing a wrapped KGB for 74.67, alongside Jamie Lopina (USA) advancing to the final round in second with 71.00 points. Nautique team athlete Zahra Kell (AUS) came away with the top spot in heat three with a super clean dum dum for the winning score of 85.33, ahead of Emi Kihara (JPN) in second with 48.67. Meagan Ethell (USA) put down a dominating run throwing a moby dick for a score of 87.67, followed by Otoha Kawahara (JPN) in second with 57.00.
Aaron Cutler (USA) claimed his second consecutive Adaptive Standing world title with wrapped mute F/S 360 off the kicker for a perfect 100.00 point score. The Swedish Wake Team cleaned up in the Jr. Women finals with Clara Dandenell (SWE) coming out on top throwing a stalefish tantrum for a 90.00 total score. Eira Jansson (SWE) showed full composure throughout her entire run earning a second place finish with 88.00 points, just ahead of Melanie Staf (SWE) in third with 83.80 points.
Daniel Grant (THA) killed it in the Pro Wakeskate division, closing out his inventive run with super technical flat water tricks and switch and regular B/S 360s off the kickers for 90.00 points. Maurizio Marassi (ITA) hit an impressive kick flip to F/S big spin for a second place finish of 80.00, followed by Victor Salmon (BEL) in third with a 70.00 point score.
The Pro Men’s semifinal heats stacked up to their unstoppable reputations, sending the crowds cheers echoing throughout the Mayan Water Complex. In heat one, Nautique athlete Tony Iacconi (AUS) scored 86.67 throwing a H/S B/S 720 for the heat win, followed by Tyler Higham (USA) in second with 82.33. Taking the top spot in heat two, we saw Shota Tezuka (JPN) take the win with a massive method and a double half cab roll to score 85.00, ahead of Nic Rapa (AUS) in second with 79.33. Roswell athlete Cory Teunissen (AUS) won heat three with a 91.67, putting down a mute mobe 540, followed by Massi Piffaretti (ITA) in second with 76.67. In heat four, Cobe France (AUS) secured his spot in the finals with a wrapped nose grab 3 to 1 to score 87.67, ahead of Harley Clifford (AUS) in second with 84.00.
The Jr. Men’s division wrapped a full day of the world’s best riding on the pristine turquoise waters known to the Mayan Water Complex. Igor Colombo (ITA) brought home the win in the Jr. Men’s division throwing down a crow mobe and a whirly behind the Super Air Nautique G23 for a final score of 83.00. Pablo Monroy (MEX) followed up in second with 72.00, followed by Jimmy Schmidt (USA) in third with 69.00.
For a full list of results from day three of the 2019 Nautique WWA Wakeboard World Championships presented by Rockstar Energy Click Here.
For a full list of results from day three of the 2019 Nautique WWA Wake Park World Championships presented by Rockstar Energy Click Here.
Day three of the 2019 Nautique WWA Wakeboard and Wake Park World Championships presented by Rockstar Energy begins at 9:00 a.m. CT on Sunday, October 20thstarting with boat finals before closing out the event on the cable.
To view the daily schedule, Click Here.This event is FREE for all spectators and families.
Dedicated to progressing the sport from the ground up, the Nautique Wake Series puts riders first, developing the stars of tomorrow and showcasing the top athletes of today with every major event held behind the Super Air Nautique G23. The Nautique Wake Series is the only event series that gives riders of all ages, gender and skill level the opportunity to compete at an elite level. level.
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For more information on the 2019 WWA Wakeboard World Series Click Here.