Playa del Carmen, Mexico (November 2, 2018) – The Mayan Water Complex greeted riders with sunshine and perfect conditions for day one of the WWA Wake Park World Championships presented by Nautique Boats. World-class features paired with the pressure of competing against the world’s best, provided quite a show for the crowd for the first day in paradise. A shift in intensity from weeks of preparation and a journey to the Yucatan Peninsula gave way to the competitive spirit of the world’s best wake park athletes as they battle it out with world titles on the line.
In the Masters Men’s Traditional semifinal, Robin Leonard Jensen (DEN) threw down to finish in the top spot with a massive inside back mobe off the flats earning him a perfect 100.00 point first place score. Stephen Lee (USA) followed behind him second with a score of 85.40, and also advancing to the finals Gavin Fisk (CDN) in third with 84.60. Andreas Voss (GER) gave it his all in the Veteran Men’s Traditional semifinal coming away with the heat win and throwing a super stylish nose grab s-bend for a final score of 97.50.
Axel Paget (FRA) dominated the Boys Traditional division today annihilating the kickers and winning both his quarterfinal and semifinal heats. In the semifinals, Axel started out with a T/S B/S 720 out of the gates, to then seal the deal with a switch crow mobe off the final kicker for a final score of 97.90. Lukas Flahaut (FRA) came in second and advancing to the finals throwing a krypt for a final score of 92.10. Brett Powell (USA) took the win in heat two, another rider who also dominated both his quarterfinal and semifinal heats, proving that Sunday’s final round will be the ultimate wake park showdown. Powell earned his first place score of 97.90 with a H/S B/S 720 followed by H/S front flip out in the flats. Also advancing to the finals, Barrett Swope (USA) came in second dominating the rail section for an 86.70 final score.
In the Men’s Traditional semifinal heat one, Bruno Ulott (BRA) took the top spot with a nearly textbook front to fakie for a final score of 100.00. Jordi Arenas (MEX) threw down to finish in the second with 90.00 and advancing to the finals. Fidel Magdalena (MEX) came away with the win in heat two with a big 313 for 95.80, followed by Sandro Furtado Brlenic (SWE) in second with 92.10.
The Jr. Women’s Traditional division saw the girls put on their best performances of the season in today’s semifinal. Piper Harris (USA) landed a huge raley, putting her on top with a heat winning score of 90.00. Melanie Staaf (SWE) scored 89.50 barely missing the top spot and sticking a H/S F/S 540 for second. Eira Jansson (SWE) took third place with a score of 77.80, followed by Clara Dandenell (SWE) in fourth scoring 75.60 and advancing to the finals.
The Pro Wakeskate Division saw the top finishers putting down some inventive runs to utilize everything that Mayan Water Park has to offer. Andrew Pastura (USA) turned it up with a kickflip and a big spin to front board on the picnic table for a heat winning score of 90.00. Sam Langley (USA) took the second place spot stomping a 3 shuv to score 70.00. Riding every rail with switch and regular shuv its, Cole Kraiss (USA) earned 60.00 and third place finish, followed by Andy Kolb (GER) with 50.00 points and advancing to finals.
The Adaptive Standing division followed suit with the ever-impressive Aaron Cutler (USA) making his competition debut throwing his signature H/S F/S 540, to earn a final score of 100.00 in today’s semifinal. Parker Swope (USA) laid down a switch Pete Rose in the Jr. Men Traditional division, earning a score of 92.50 in semifinal heat one. Gavin Giglio (USA) brought some stiff competition throwing a H/S 900 finishing second with 90.50 and advancing to Sunday’s finals. The talented Albin Randow (SWE) threw a stylish 90210 taking heat two with 97.50, followed by Riley Dillon (CDN) in second with 86.90.
The Pro Women continue to showcase their progressive level of riding, with every event bringing out the best of the best. In semifinal heat one, Anna Nikstad (USA) rode away in first, dominating the course with spins, technical rail hits and a style of her own finishing with an 89.50 score. Jamie Lopina (USA) hit a solid switch B/S 360 off the kicker taking second with 86.50 points. Julia Rick (GER) looked flawless in heat two earning a perfect 100.00 point score with a massive 313 and B/S 540 off the kicker. Carro Djupsjo (SWE) went right out the gates with a H/S back mobe off the kicker landing her a second place finish and an 86.50 score.
“The chance to compete here at the 2018 WWA Wake Park World Championships is an aspiration for these athletes and we are honored to partner with Nautique Boats and the Mayan Water Complex to make this year’s event the best one yet,” said WWA Executive Director Corrie Wilson. “We have already seen some amazing riding on day one and the competition will only get better as we head into the weekend.”
Finishing out the first day with a bang, Wake Nation Houston currently holds down the top spot in the Overall Team Competition with 560 points, followed by Orlando Watersports Complex in second with 540 points and Mayan Water Complex in third with 505 points.
For a full list of results Click Here.
Day two of the 2018 WWA Wake Park World Championships presented by Nautique Boats begins at 10:00 a.m. CT on Saturday, November 3rd with Pro Men’s division debuts and a mix of Features quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
To view the daily schedule Click Here.
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About Nautique Boat Company: Celebrating 94 years of excellence in the marine industry, Nautique is a subsidiary of Correct Craft and has been on the waters of the world with a passion for innovation since 1925. Nautique is known to push the envelope of possibility on the water, and our owners have come to expect nothing but the absolute best. The Ski Nautique has been reinvented as the lightest ski boat on the market, the G-Series has won numerous awards for wakeboard boat and wakesurf boat of the year while unlocking new possibilities in wakeboarding and wakesurfing, and our GS Series has given families endless days on the water without compromise. Through our Nautique Cares initiatives we’re dedicated to not only making a difference on the water, but to people in need around the world. The world’s best ski boat, world’s best wake boat, and a company that cares. To learn more visit Nautique.com.
About The WWA:Developed for riders by riders, the World Wake Association stands as a global network of passionate representatives dedicated to the growth of towed boardsports. Since 1989 our mission and values remain true to the core of our community. Our position as the authority on competitive standards has been earned through consistent development; sanctioning and producing more than 6,000 worldwide events and counting. We are the only organization solely focused on the best interests of the sport, spearheading a collective movement on the journey to discover where wake takes you. The WWA owns and operates the WWA Wakeboard World Series, WWA Wake Park World Series, WWA Wakeboard National Championships, WWA Wake Park National Championships, WWA Wakeboard World Championships, WWA Wake Park World Championships, WWA Wake Park Triple Crown, WWA Pro Card and WWA Rider Experience. For more information on the World Wake Association, check out: TheWWA.com.
