(April 19, 2018) Amateur riders kicked off their Nautique Wake Series season today at Mayan Water Complex for day one of the 2018 Nautique Wake Open presented by Rockstar Energy. Greeted with ideal conditions and the perfect wake behind the Super Air Nautique G23, competitors in every division put down impressive performances to battle through the semifinal rounds. Reunited with friends from around the world, it was all smiles on the dock and on the water with the entire wake family together for an epic start to the 2018 season.
The Jr. Boy’s Beginner division hit the water first and showed everyone they have been hard at work during the off-season. This talented group of young shredders impressed the crowd, going bigger than ever with new tricks and stand up runs. Marco Colombo (ITA) posted the highest score of the day with big airs and stomped 180’s that earned him 78.00. Hudson Haynie (USA) scored 67.33 to finish second with a stylish T/S indy grab and a big wake jumps followed by Cooper Lewis (USA) in third with a score of 50.00.
In the Adaptive Standing division, Aaron Cutler (USA) threw down for a score of 90.00, landing a backroll, tantrum and T/S 180.
Jr. Women’s rider Hollie Waldrop (USA) brings it every time she hits the water. Staying true to form, Waldrop put down a stand-up run that included a tantrum, F/S 360 and a switch scarecrow for a winning score of 80.00. In second, Elle Christensen (USA) landed a backroll, T/S frontroll, and a tantrum to score 78.33. Third place went to Andrea Macias (MEX) who brought intensity to the water landing a backroll along with switch and regular H/S 180’s.
“You really can’t beat getting to ride behind the Super Air Nautique G23 in competition. The wake is always perfect and you know everyone is going to kill it. I’m stoked with how I rode today and look to do it again on Saturday. Until then, it’s time to take some laps on the cable and watch everyone else throw down,” said Holly Waldrop.
The Jr. Men kicked it into high gear to close out the day, giving everyone a glimpse at what’s possible behind the award-winning Super Air Nautique G23. Pablo Monroy (MEX) took the win in heat one with a big whirlybird and a Cab 540 for a score of 70.00. In heat two, Crew Christensen (USA) had two stand-up passes, landing a tail grab frontroll and a nose grab H/S 540 scoring 70.00 for the win. Heat three saw Michael Williams (USA) finish on top scoring 74.33 points with a T/S 540 and a big mute roll to revert.
Tomorrow is sure to deliver another incredible day of action as the world’s top pro riders hit the water behind the 5X Wakeboard and 4X Wakesurf Boat of the Year, the Super Air Nautique G23. Adding to the excitement, nine amateur divisions will all come down to their final runs with hopes of adding a Nautique Wake Open title to their name. Fans and riders will enjoy the world-class facilities at Mayan Water Complex throughout the weekend including two full-size cables set right here in beautiful Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.The 2018 Nautique Wake Open serves as the second stop of the Nautique Wake Series and kicks off the North American leg.
“What an amazing start to the Nautique Wake Series season. This event is always like a family reunion and it was great to see everyone here so fired up and ready to go. The riders have really stepped it up this year and it was hard to take your eyes off the water with everyone bringing something new to their runs. Thank you to our incredible partners for their continued support in working with us to deliver the opportunity for riders in every division to experience competing at events of the highest caliber all around the world,” said WWA Executive Director Corrie Wilson.
The second day of the Nautique Wake Open begins at 9:00 a.m. CST on Friday, April 20th featuring nine amateur division finals, Jr. Pro semifinals, Pro Men quarterfinals ls, Pro Women semifinals, and Pro Wakeskate semifinals.
CLICK HERE to download results from day 1 of the Nautique Wake Open.
CLICK HERE to view the daily schedule.
Dedicated to progressing the sport from the ground up, the Nautique Wake Series puts riders first, developing the stars of tomorrow and showcasing the top athletes of today with every major event held behind the Super Air Nautique G23. The Nautique Wake Series is the only event series that gives riders of all ages, gender and skill level the opportunity to compete at an elite level.
For more information on the Nautique Wake Series Click Here.
For more information on the WWA Wakeboard World Series Click Here.
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About Nautique Boat Company: Celebrating 93 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 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 Rockstar: Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles – from Athletes to Rockstars. Available in over 25 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in over 30 countries, Rockstar supports the Rockstar lifestyle across the globe through Action Sports, Motor Sports, and Live Music. For more information, visit: www.RockstarEnergy.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 wakesports. 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 12,500 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 www.thewwa.com.
