For Immediate Release                                  

Contact: Dean Turcol

Director of Communications

407-405-0097

Dean.Turcol@worldpub.net

WWA Wakeboarding World Championships

Presented By Malibu Boats

Local Rider Falls Short at WWA Wakeboarding World Championships in Fort Worth

Fort Worth, TX – Dustin Shows, from nearby Granbury, Texas, fell short in his quest for a championship in his home area today at the No Fear WWA Wakeboard World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. The 18-year-old finished fourth today with a score of 49.78, missing the cut.

Competing in the junior men’s division, Shows looked forward to today’s semifinals after his second-place finish in yesterday’s quarterfinals. Shows had a good run going in his first pass, hitting the sliders well and “feeling good,” before overrotating his last trick of the pass, a crow mode, and falling.

“After that fall, I knew I had to make it up in the second pass, so I started with the most difficult trick in my career, a swirley, which I hit perfectly, but then on the very next trick, I slipped up on a toe-side 720 and fell,” said Shows. Shows, who’s only been wakeboarding for five years, says despite today’s finish, he’s already looking forward to next year. 

One world title was decided today in the Men II, the division set for riders 25 to 29. The USA’s Justin Harrelson took the world championship with a score of 68.78, beating two riders from Japan, Kazuyuki Tsujimoto and Yusuke Omura.

            The spotlight turns to the pro men’s competition tomorrow with the top riders in the world all converging on Forth Worth for a shot at the world championship. Top international riders to watch out for include Australia’s Josh Sanders, Brett Eisenhauer and Daniel Watkins. That triumvirate from the land down under have pushed themselves into the elite status in wakeboarding, and any of them could take the title. A fast riser from Canada is Rusty Malinoski. Built like a linebacker, Malinoski has burst on the scene with powerful moves that make him a threat for the title.

            On the American side, defending world champion Phillip Soven has to be considered the favorite in the event. A Team Malibu and No Fear rider, Soven is spectacular on the water and capable of putting together a run that no rider American or otherwise can beat. Other Americans to watch include Andrew Adkison, who won two years ago, the last time the event took place in United States. Adkison also won the first major championship of 2006, topping the field at the Pro Wakeboard Tour opener in Atlanta in April. Former world champions Shaun Murray (’03) and Erik Ruck (’02) will also be competing.

The No Fear WWA Wakeboard World Championships presented by Malibu Boats is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Florida. The Worlds has the support of the following: No Fear, Malibu Boats, Indmar, Verizon Wireless, U.S. Air Force, Circuit City, Sobe, Hyperlite Wakeboards, CWB, Liquid Force, Gator Boards, Wakeworld.com, Wakeboarder.com and One Percent Design.

Wake Boarding, published by World Publications, is the official magazine of the WWA Wakeboard World Championships. Wake Boarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.

Friday’s Results:

Mens II Finals

1. Justin Harrelson                    USA                68.78

2. Kazuyuki Tsujimoto  JPN                 56.67

3. Yusuke Omura                     JPN                 42.56

4. Austin Langston                    USA                35.56

Junior Men Semifinals (top 2 in each heat advance to finals)

Heat #1

1. Ryan Anderson                     USA                70.00

2. Jimmy LaRiche                     USA                65.56

3. Phillip Aslinger                      USA                52.78

4. Dustin Shows                       USA                49.78

5. Julian Cohen             USA                48.11

6. Kirby Liesmann                    USA                36.67

Heat #2

1. Alex Hamrick                       USA                60.00

2. Eddie Valdez                        USA                48.89

3. James Hindes                       USA                46.22

4. James Feid                           USA                40.56

5. Jeff Baker                             USA                32.78

6. AJ Racinelli                          USA                29.56

Heat #3

1. Alex Scagliotti                      USA                49.44

2. Rhett Whatley                       USA                47.78

3. Adam Errington                    USA                41.11

4. Ryan Mocerino                     USA                36.11

5. Jarrod Askew                       AUS                41.39

6. Mitchell Langfield                 AUS                30.00

Junior Women Semifinals (top 2 in each heat advance to finals)

Heat #1

1. Caitlin Blaauw                      AUS                73.33

2. Megan Blaschka                   USA                58.67

3. Victoria Kulp                        USA                48.33

4. Lauren Jewett                       USA                34.44

Heat #2

1. Shawna Hoffman                  USA                60.00

2. Maggie Jaicomo                   USA                47.44

3. Corrie Dyer                          USA                34.78

For the late scores of the boys and pro women’s quarterfinals, check back later this evening on www.kingofwake.com in day three results in the worlds section.