Vans Wakeboarding Pro Final results

Bonifay and Soven Battle for Vans Pro Title

Portland, Oregon (June 20, 2004) - Danny Harf set the bar high on Saturday in the Pro Men's Quarterfinal round of the Vans Wakeboarding Pro, the first stop in the Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding Series at Portland's Blue Lake Park. Harf's quarterfinal round was good enough to win most finals. That's most, not all finals. In Sunday's Pro Men's final, Harf duplicated his run, but was only good enough for third place because the rest of the Pro Men's field stepped it up as well. In the end, Parks Bonifay ruled the day, especially the sliders linking three technical hits on the A-frame slider with enough wake tricks and his famous double half-cab on the double up to win in Portland for the third year in a row.

Phillip Soven, the 15-year-old phenom who had won two pro events in a row, just missed winning his third in a row. Soven finished second with a run highlighted by a Dumdum, Switch toeside 720, Method Skeezer 540 and a Whirlybird 540. The difference between the two runs really came down to the double up. Soven opted for a 540 while Bonifay landed the half cab. While Soven's wake ticks placed him above Bonifay, Bonifay's slider usage was more innovative. In his first pass Bonifay back-lip transitioned on and off the A-frame slider. His second pass was a transition backside 360 back-lip off the A-Frame. With Soven's wake score and Bonifay's slider score pretty much canceling each other out, the double up was the deciding factor.

Harf's run again featured a Nuclear Whirlybird, a Toe-side Nuclear roll to blind, a 720 and a handle-pass KGB. But Harf missed the 900 on the double up which could have made things interesting, maybe tilting the scales to Harf.

In the Pro Women's final it was all Dallas Friday, taking her fourth win in five events this season and second win in two weeks. Melissa Marquardt made a rare trip to the podium on Sunday, finishing in second place and 2004 Indmar Performance Award-winner Emily Copeland Durham finished third. Eugene native Megan McNeil was the top local finisher for the women, finishing seventh.

In the Vans Triple Crown Pro Wakeskate Series, 2004 Series' Champion Brian Grubb took the top spot for the first time this season. Grubb was joined on the podium by Brandon Thomas (second) and Aaron Reed (third). Portland native Collin Wright finished just off the podium in fourth-place. The Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding, the largest wakeboarding series in the sport, consists of three championship-caliber events: Vans Wakeboard Pro June 19-20 Fox Sports Net - July 15, 4 pm (Portland, OR) WWA Wakeboard Nationals August 19-22 Fox Sports Net - Sept. 16, 4 pm (Indianapolis, IN) WWA Wakeboard Worlds Sept. 30-Oct. 3 Fox Sports Net - Oct. 26, 4 pm (Orlando, FL) The Vans Triple Crown(tm) Series is made possible through the support of Ford Trucks, Right Guard, Mountain Dew, NBC Sports and Fox Sports Net.

The Vans Triple Crown Series features the world's top athletes participating in premier venues throughout North America for the top prize purse in each of six action sports: Skateboarding, Wakeboarding, BMX, Freestyle Motocross, Surfing and Snowboarding. Additional promotional support provided by: MasterCraft, Perfect Pass, Hyperlite, Liquid Force, Gator Boards, CWB, Jobe, Double-up, Blindside, JoyRide, O'Brien, Cassette Wakeskates, 484 Wakeskates, Billabong, Reef, Body Glove, UGP, Epiphone Guitars, OJ Props, Chipper Beef Jerky, Bare Wetsuits, buywake.com, Love Sac, Capix Helmets, Indo Boards, Straight Line, Nevin, ten-80, Toyo Tires, KMC Wheels, Verizon Wireless, Execute, Wakeworld, Wakeboarder, Monster Tower, Say I Won't and One Percent Design.

Local sponsors include: Portland Oregon Visitors Association and Oregon Sports Authority. Wake Boarding, published by World Publications, is the official magazine of the Pro Wakeboard Tour. Wake Boarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.

Patrick Wampler
Public Relations Representative
World Publications
407-571-4622 (office)
407-405-0124 (cell)
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Winter Park, FL 32789