FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2006

WWA Office Manager Kayla Anderson Takes First at the WWC’s 4th of July Explosion

4th of July isn’t complete without fireworks, watermelon, summer heat, and of course wakeboarding! The World Wakeboard Center (WWC) held their annual 4th of July Explosion on Lake David, Groveland and it was an event not to miss. The whole town seemed like it was part of the action based on the excellent turnout of spectators and participants. All day there were skateboarding, volleyball, and basketball tournaments going on while Lake David was pure butter for the riders. A stage was set up with bands playing all day and tents were selling slushies and funnel cakes. It was a great family-oriented event complete with outstanding wakeboarding.
          What made the 4th of July Explosion so special is that there were a lot of old and new riders. Pro Wakeboard Tour rider Ryan Anderson tied with Reed Hansen for first place in the outlaw division (even though Reed hasn’t been on a wakeboard in months), WWA Nationals rider Melony Chojnacki won the girl’s wakeboarding division and 10-year-old Jason Soven won the groms division. For some of the WWC students, this was their first contest and I witnessed 19-year-old Samantha Patterson (future intern of Alliance Magazine) from Northern California take third in the women’s division. Even organizer Joni Hansen competed, taking second in the Veteran’s division (although I still don’t believe she’s old enough to enter). In a headstand contest, Mr. Jim Powers beat out Mrs. Michelle Soven with a time standing on his head around 10 minutes.
          What is especially exciting about this day is that the World Wakeboard Association’s very own Office Manager Kayla Anderson won the amateur wakeskate division in her first competition ever in Florida. Kayla said, “I really didn’t expect to do so well because the others riders had great passes. Thad Roberts was doing surface 3’s and Cody Rivet was popping one-wake 180’s really well, way better than what I can do. I just started landing frontside shuvs consistently and I landed my first one in this competition. It helped that we got three falls, a long pass, and that the lake was perfect.” In the pro wakeskate division, Matt Manzari had a stand-up pass but Reed Hansen won hands-down after landing a 360 kickflip.
          The day ended in a town fish fry and fireworks exploding into the night. Last year Supra pitched in prize money for the pro wakeskate event that they hope to have again next year. The Hansen’s would like to thank Supra, Water Sports of Central Florida, City of Groveland, Peter Fleck, Trevor Hansen, WWA and the Hansen’s World Wakeboard Center staff who worked hard to judge, announce, drive, safety, dock start, food and beverage runs… and of course Joni who does everything.

RESULTS:
Grom

1. Jason Soven
2. Chandler Coons
3. Enrique Maza (Mexico)

Boys

1. Mark Nagrai
2. Jonathan Cox
3. Eric Merbach

Girls

1. Melony Chojnacki
2. Mallory Henry
3. Britta Izthar

Novice

1. Joey Yarbrough
2. Parker Stiles
3. Ryan Day

Intermediate

1. Jennifer Barker (Canada)
2. Kayla Chojnacki
3. Samantha Patterson

Old School

1. Guy Bouchard
2. Joni Hansen
3. Rob Quarteo (Netherlands)

Advanced

1. Daniel Powers
2. Ben Kaiser
3. David Patterson

Outlaw

1. TIE between Reed Hansen and Ryan Anderson
2. Julian Cohen

Am. Wakeskate

1. Kayla Anderson
2. Cody Rivet
3. Thad Roberts

Pro Wakeskate

• Reed Hansen
• Matt Manzari
• Ben Kaiser