Amateur Riders Go Huge
2006 Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Friday, August 25, 2006

Nine amateur divisions stormed Lake Andrea today in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin just outside of Kenosha and the final matches were heavy, showcasing an improved, high level of wakeboarding from the grassroots riders of America.

The largest participation event in wakeboarding, the Air Nautique WWA National Championships pulls riders for five days straight and is known as the barometer of assessing the true pulse of mainstream contemporary wakeboarding and wakeskating. Junior Mens also began today with over 40 riders competing in 9 different heats with results to come Saturday.

The Mens I (18-24) division has always been one to watch while many of these rippers have gone on to become heavy hitters in the pro ranks. Today, it was Ben Carley's time to shine, scoring 58.33 points on his way to victory. His KGB (back roll with a handle pass backside 360) and Crow Mobe (toeside front flip with a frontside 360) were moves that are respectable even at a pro mens level.

The event sponsors, along with World Sports and Marketing also set up many off-the-water activates for the riders and staff, including a heated basketball tournament on Thursday night. Team Nautiques beat defending champs Team Ops (Tour operations crew) as well as Team So Cal (Southern California riders) for the victory. Led by Kevin Durham, it appears as if Nautiques' new factory is able to pump out fine-quality boats and high-end hoopsters at the same time. Saturday's shenanigans will include a Wisconsin style fish fry and the main event. Dodgeball!

The Air Nautique by Correct Craft is the exclusive tow boat of the WWA Wakeboard Nationals, which also has the support of the following sponsors: Fox Riders Co., Verizon Wireless, U.S. Air Force, Rip It, Circuit City, Hyperlite Wakeboards, Oakley, Reef, Gator Boards, CWB, Ogio, G-3, and Wakeworld.com.

Celebrating more than 80 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a family-owned manufacturer of internationally acclaimed competition-caliber water-ski and wakeboard boats as well as boats for recreational enjoyment. Correct Craft Inc. is known for superior-quality products, cutting-edge technology and innovative hull designs.

FRIDAY, 25 August 2006 - Nationals - Milwaukee, WI

Girls (13 and under) - Finals
1 Raimi Merritt USA 51.33
2 Holland Finley USA 50.67
3 Patty Hicks USA 46.89
4 Taylor McCullough USA 37.67
5 Nikki Wilhoite USA 23.33
6 Megan Ethell USA NS

Masters (30-39) - Finals
1 Mike Van Patten USA 66.67
2 Damien Klaas USA 66.00
3 Jeff Barton USA 61.67
4 Chris Full USA 57.67
5 Billy Garcia USA 39.00
6 Aaron Grace USA 38.33

Veterans - Finals
1 Matt Vermillion USA 52.78
2 Jeff Powell USA 38.33
3 Jeff Roman USA 26.11
4 Mark Norwell USA 23.11

Men's 1 (18-24) - Finals
1 Ben Carley USA 58.33
2 Rusty Scott USA 56.89
3 Zack Luckett USA 53.44
4 Rob Mueller USA 47.00
5 Chris Harvey USA 28.33
6 Leif Lacey USA DQ

Amateur Wake Skate - Finals
1 Lance Duffett USA 73.33
2 Darrin Wahl USA 56.67
3 Grant Roberts USA 50.00
4 Collin Gee USA 33.33

Pro Women Wakeskate - Finals
Heat 1
1 Renee Jaquess USA 60.00
2 Stephanie Wamsley USA 40.00
3 Stef Tor CDN 23.33

Junior Women - Semi Finals
Top 2 Riders advance to next round !
Heat 01
1 Shawna Hoffman USA 51.00
2 Maggie Jaicomo USA 41.44
3 Lauren Jewett USA 32.22
4 Brittney Arruda USA 23.33
5 Chauntel Spears USA NS

Heat 2
1 Victoria Kulp USA 41.67
2 Corrie Dyer USA 37.67
3 Megan Blaschka USA 33.44
4 Kayla Chojnacki USA 25.00
5 Kelsey McClintick USA 19.00

Boys (10-13) - Semi Finals
Top 2 Riders advance to next round !
Heat 1
1 Daniel Powers USA 75.33
2 Ben Kaiser USA 70.56
3 Brian Waskevich USA 66.67
4 Kyle Barmoy USA 52.22
5 Justin Powell USA 36.67

Heat 2
1 Mitchell Connell USA 62.22
2 Braxton Tomlinson USA61.11
3 Spencer Connell USA 55.44
4 Justin Payton USA 47.67
5 Tim Coniglio USA 31.33
6 Daniel Pate USA 21.67

Heat 3
1 Steel Lafferty USA 63.33
2 Michael Dowdy USA 43.44
3 Jordan Genster USA 40.00
4 Cale Middleton USA 33.67
5 Chad Payton USA 30.44

Heat 04
1 Jacob Valdez USA 66.11
2 Gunnar Shuler USA 60.00
3 Cooper Swink USA 49.11
4 Pierce Homsey USA 40.56
5 Gus Shuler USA 33.22

Men's 2 (25-29) - Finals
1 Justin Harrelson USA 61.67
2 Austin Langston USA 54.17
3 Jayson Rishling USA 46.67
4 Joseph Lemburg USA 43.33
5 Tim Warner USA 40.00
6 Chad Lowe USA 36.67
7 Robby Davis USA 30.83
8 Mark Dougherty USA 28.89
9 Rob Tupper USA 20.00

Junior Men (14-17) - Quarter Finals
Top 2 Riders advance to next round !

Heat  1
1 Phillip  Aslinger USA 42.22
2 Dustin  Shows USA  35.89
3 Alex  Scagliotti USA  35.00
4 John  Jeffries    USA  25.56

Heat  2
1 A.J  Racinelli USA  56.67
2 James  Feid    USA  45.56
3 Ben  Allbright   USA  45.00
4 Tony  Carroll    USA  28.89

Heat  3
1 Kyle  Alberts USA  60.00
2 Alex  Graydon USA  49.44
3 Ryan  King       USA  48.33
4 Trever  Marquette USA 34.44

  Heat  4
1 Eddie  Valdez USA  55.56
2 Ryan  Mocerino USA 55.00
3 James  Hindes  USA  43.33
4 Joel  Wagner    USA  30.00
5 Robert  Sichel   USA  20.00

Heat  5
1 Ryan  Anderson USA 58.89
2 Jeff  Baker     USA  34.44
3 Steven  Cahail  USA  25.00
4 John  Zdeblick  USA  20.00

Heat  6
1 Alex  Hamrick USA  67.78
2 Kirby  Liesmann USA  52.78
3 Johnny  Tobaben USA 33.33
4 Witt  Finley       USA  20.00

Heat  7
1 Rhett  Whatley USA 63.33
2 Julian  Cohen USA  53.89
3 Alex  Walton     USA  43.33
4 Joshua  Chabator USA 42.22

Heat  8
1 Jimmy  LaRiche USA 53.33
2 Andrew  Shearer      USA 36.67
3 Larry  Taylor    USA  35.56
4 Lee  Wagner    USA  29.44
5 David  Krause  USA  12.22

Heat  9
1 Adam  Errington USA 50.00
2 Christopher  Perrone USA  29.44
3 Jay  Bechtel     USA  25.00
4 Austin  LeMaster USA 20.00
5 Caleb  Willis     USA  NS

Amateur Women - Finals
1 Tara  Benzel     USA  50.56
2 Erica  Burk       USA  35.00
3 Gilian  Farr       USA  31.11
4 Kara  Austin     USA  20.00