The WWA Wake Park World Championships will feature equal podium prize money for the Pro Men and Pro Women podium finishes in both Traditional and Features Only. The top three male and female competitors will be paid out equally as part of the WWA’s long-term plan to continue progressing the sport of wake. The full prize money breakdown can be found HERE.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Thursday, November 1st 
Registration & Rider Check-In*

Friday, November 2nd 
Amateur Semifinal Rounds

Saturday, November 3rd
Open Semifinal Rounds
Pro Quarter and Semifinal Rounds

Sunday, November 4th 
Amateur, Open & Pro Final Rounds

*Riders may check-in the night before or up to one hour before their divisions posted time

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED DAILY EVENT SCHEDULE

WHAT:
2018 WWA Wake Park World Championships Presented by Nautique Boats

WHEN:
November 2-4, 2018

EVENT SCHEDULE:
Click HERE

WHERE:
Mayan Water Complex
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Park teams are able to rent the cable for private sessions before and after hours. To reserve this email pedro.mwc@outlook.com.

ENTRY FEES:
Amateur Divisions – $175
Pro Divisions – $200

The second $50 late fee will begin Monday, October 29th at 5pm EST

Registration will cutoff Thursday, November 1st at 3PM EST

All riders must have current WWA membership to be eligible to compete.
CLICK HERE to sign up for your WWA membership.

VENUE

Mayan Water Complex

Carr. Tulum

Quintana Roo, Mexico

Miyoshi City, Tokushima, Japan (September 2, 2018) – 5X Wakeboard and 4X Wakesurf boat of the year, the Super Air Nautique G23 pulled the world’s greatest to victory in the final day of competition at the 2018 Nautique WWA Wakeboard World Championships presented by Rockstar Energy. With World titles, Wakeboard World Series and Nautique Wake Series overall titles on the line, today’s competition was filled with amazing moments on beautiful Ikeda Lake.

The remaining Amateur final rounds kicked off the day with some stellar amateur performances. Maggie Kofke (USA) earned her first WWA World title after throwing multiple airs and 180s for a top score of 91.67 in the Jr. Girls division. The Jr. Boys Beginner final round saw Hudson Haynie (USA) take the top podium spot and first WWA World title landing many technical tricks for a score of 90.00.

Reed Hansen (USA) kept it smooth this weekend with his line of 360s to take home the Pro Wakeskate WWA World title with a score of 96.00. Brian Grubb (USA) took second, scoring 77.67 with multiple wake to wake shuvs. Finishing off the podium in third, Tony Iacconi scored 48.33.

“It’s pretty nostalgic to look back over all of the world’s we’ve experienced, whether individually or together as a wake family,” said 10x WWA World Champion Reed Hansen. “This year has been an awesome experience being welcomed in by the Japanese culture, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings.”

Luca Kidd (GBR) was the man to beat this season, taking the Jr. Pro Men’s WWA World title and Nautique Wake Series overall Jr. Pro title, bringing his technical perfection to the water at each event. Putting down an 87.00 with a wrapped H/S B/S 540 and a nose grab H/S F/S 720, everything came together for Luca sending him to the top of the standings. The Ditsch brothers representing from Argentina rounded out the podium with Kai Ditsch (ARG) placing second scoring 80.00 points, landing a big T/S B/S 540. In third, Ulf Ditsch (ARG) gave it everything he had finishing with 75.67.

Nautique rider Meagan Ethell (USA) put together a stand up run in the Pro Women’s Final, leaving the crowd cheering and taking the win with an 89.00. Her first pass consisted of a huge whirly and tootise roll before coming back on pass two with a KGB and T/S off axis 540, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that she had just won the World title, Wakeboard World Series overall title and Nautique Wake Series overall title. In second Bec Gange (AUS), scored 83.33 with a stylish indy tantrum to blind, followed by Zahra Kell (AUS) and rounding out the podium in a very close third, Zahra Kell (AUS) threw a switch H/S 540 for a score of 73.33.

“It’s awesome to be crowned World Champion here in Miyoshi City, Japan and I can’t believe how quickly the season flew by this year,” commented Nautique team athlete Meagan Ethell. “All the ladies really progressed the sport this year, and the wake behind the Super Air Nautique G23 proved to be nothing but the best yet again.”

Harley Clifford (AUS) had a great afternoon, proving that under pressure and as a true champion he has everything it takes to bring it home. Showing the locals of Miyoshi City what wake is all about, Clifford threw a double indy tantrum and KGB to the flats to capture the 2018 World title with a score of 96.67. In second, Nautique athlete Tony Iacconi (AUS) pulled out all the stops, landing a huge switch front mobe to the flats and a nose grab front mobe 540 to score 94.00. Cory Teunissen (AUS) placed third with 91.33 points after annihilating his run, landing an indy T/S double back roll.

“I’m super stoked to win the WWA World Title this year, all the boys rode really well this week and it was a really tight race,” said 8x WWA Wakeboard World Champion Harley Clifford. “I was lucky enough to muscle the courage to finish the run after my fall today on the last event of an amazing season and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for our sport.”

Harley Clifford (AUS) also took home the 2018 Nautique Wake Series overall title with three first place finishes this season. Grabbing the fourth title win, Clifford was also crowned the 2018 WWA Wakeboard World Series overall champion. 2018 being one of the most competitive years of the sport, riders were forced to continue bringing new and perfected tricks to every event in an attempt to keep up with wakeboarding’s rapid progression.

“We are proud and thankful for such a widely successful event here in Japan at the Nautique WWA Wakeboard Worlds,” said Nautique President Greg Meloon “The G23 performed perfectly and provided the world’s best wakes, while the best rider’s from around the globe put on a show and took home World Championship titles. Congrats to all the winners!”

For a full list of results from of the 2018 Nautique WWA Wakeboard World Championships presented by Rockstar Energy Click Here.

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 2018 WWA Wakeboard World Series Click Here.

# # #

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 ski boat on the market, the G-Series has won numerous awards for wakeboard boat and wake surf boat of the year while unlocking new possibilities in wakeboarding and wake surfing, 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: 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 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.

(Loudon, TN) July 1, 2018 – The 2018 Malibu Factory Smoky Mountain Pro presented by Rockstar Energy took over the Tennessee River this weekend with a battle for the banjo. Men and women from nearly 10 countries made the trip to Loudon, Tennessee, the birthplace of all Malibu boats, to go head to head for a spot on the podium. Pulled by the best-in-class Malibu M235, the riders were eager and the stakes were high. As stop #4 of the WWA Wakeboard World Series (WBWS), crucial ranking points were on the line in addition to the $47,500 in prize money up for grabs.

The contest commenced on Saturday with Pro Women’s Quarterfinals first off the dock. Dallas Friday (USA), Meagan Ethell (USA), and defending Factory Pro champion Nicola Butler (USA) each won their heats with progressive runs and score-boosting style. The Pro Men’s Quarterfinals brought huge air and impressive execution to Watts Bar Lake. Tony Iacconi (AUS), Shota Tezuka (JPN), 2017 Factory Pro winner Nic Rapa (AUS), and current WBWS leader Harley Clifford (AUS) each came out on top of their heats to advance to the next round.

Sunday’s action was open to the public and local fans flocked by both land and boat to catch a glimpse of the competition. The event offered a unique opportunity for Malibu factory staff and their families to see their boats in action right at the source, pulling some of the world’s best wakeboarders.

“It’s really cool because these guys (Malibu staff) make all these great boats that we get to ride behind so to have it in their backyard is awesome,” said Malibu team rider, Oli Derome. “A lot of the employees are out here today and get to see what they work for and what we like to do. It’s a great combination for everyone.”

With fan-focused onshore activities such as face painting, inflatable slides, complimentary ice cream, and giveaways from Malibu Boats and Rockstar Energy, the pros stayed focused as semifinals began. For the Women’s Semifinals, Nicola Butler (USA), Dallas Friday (USA), and Meagan Ethell (USA) again came out on top of their heats looking like a strong three for finals. Shota Tezuka (JPN), Tony Carroll (USA), Nic Rapa (AUS), and Tony Iacconi (AUS) battled their way to the top spot in each of their heats, securing a place in the finals.

The Women’s finals presented a fully stacked top six riders. Taking full advantage of the massive M235 wake, the women went big, got risky, and put it all on the table. Meagan Ethell (USA) came out on top with a score of 91.33, featuring a super clean nose grab frontside 540, roll to blind, and Moby Dick. Jamie Lopina (USA) stole second place with back to back heelside 540s and a crowmobe scoring an 86.67. Dallas Friday (USA) came in third place with big, clean tricks in her signature style, earning a final score of 83.33.

The Men’s Finals came in hot with doubles, double-ups, and a broken board as the final round of the day began. Nic Rapa (AUS) stole the show and won the finals despite increasing wind and chop. His two stand up passes including a double indy toeside backroll, double cab roll, and both frontside and heelside 900s earned him a clean 94.00. Harley Clifford’s (AUS) double tantrum and nose grab back mobe 540 led him to a score of 89.67. The Aussies swept the podium as Tony Iacconi (AUS) sealed third place. He finished strong with a huge double cab roll and backside 720 after falling first trick, with a score of 87.67.

The Malibu Factory Smoky Mountain Pro results led to a shuffling of the WWA WBWS overall rankings. Meagan Ethell (USA) moved into first place while Jamie Lopina (USA) moved up two spots with her podium finish, putting her in fifth place overall for the women. For the men, Tony Iacconi (AUS) moved up one spot into fourth place. Nic Rapa (AUS) increased his ranking by two spots into second place and Harley Clifford (AUS) remains the leader of the series. This weekend’s shakeups prove that with two stops to go, the race for the Title is far from over.

The 2018 Factory Pro brought good weather and great times for all who attended. Malibu Factory Pro barrels, banjos, and prize money were awarded to the top athletes after a full day of power and progression.

Click HERE to view the final results.

All photos by Rodrigo Donoso.

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About Malibu: Malibu Boats, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, four of every ten performance sports boatsworldwide. Malibu sells the Wakesetter, M235 and Response models — as well as the Axis Wake Research brand — through a global dealer network. With approximately 675 Malibu employees worldwide, over 1,200 with Cobalt and four manufacturing facilities in California, Tennessee, Kansas and Australia, Malibu builds boats to help you live a #lifewithoutlimits on the water. (NASDAQ: MBUU) | @malibuboats | #thetruthisonthewater

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.

Loudon, TN (June 28, 2018) – The World Wake Association (WWA) and Malibu Boats are proud to announce the return of the Malibu Factory Smoky Mountain Pro presented by Rockstar Energy on Sunday, July 1st. For the second consecutive season, top Pro Men and Pro Women riders will hit the Tennessee River behind the world-class Malibu M235 for the hometown crowd at Malibu’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Loudon, TN. With fans packing the shoreline and coming by boat for a front row seat on the water, the energy is sure to be high as champions are made once again at the birthplace of Malibu’s legendary innovation.

“We are beyond excited to continue our partnership with WWA for the Malibu Factory Smoky Mountain Pro. I believe there is no better way to share this lifestyle than experiencing it firsthand with engaging activities for the entire family. Not to mention the opportunity to watch talented men and women take on the legendary M235 wake and show exactly what we mean by The Truth is On the Water!” said Jack Springer, CEO of Malibu Boats.

The Malibu Factory Smoky Mountain Pro will serve as the fourth stop of the WWA Wakeboard World Series (WBWS), attracting an international field of elite riders making their mark on the sport and chasing the overall 2018 WBWS title. Fans will enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with activities for all-ages and the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Pros during autograph signings, product giveaways and more. Stay up-to-date with scores, event news, and highlights from the action on all WWA and Malibu Boats social media channels.

WATCH THE FINALS LIVE ON MALIBU’S FACEBOOK PAGE THIS SUNDAY, JULY 1

What: Malibu Factory Smoky Mountain Pro

When: Saturday, June 30 | 11:00AM – 4:00PM
Sunday, July 1 | 11:00AM – 4:00PM
Main Event | Pro Finals | 2:00PM
Full Schedule: Click Here

Where: Malibu Boats Factory
5075 Kimberly Way
Loudon, TN 37774

FREE Digital Ticket can be claimed before the event HERE! No need to print, just show the ticket on your phone. Adults $10 / Child $5 at Gate.

Free Ice Cream, Inflatable Slide, Face Painting, Free Rockstar Energy Drinks & A Chance to Meet the Pros!

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About Malibu: Malibu Boats, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, four of every ten performance sports boatsworldwide. Malibu sells the Wakesetter, M235 and Response models — as well as the Axis Wake Research brand — through a global dealer network. With approximately 675 Malibu employees worldwide, over 1,200 with Cobalt and four manufacturing facilities in California, Tennessee, Kansas and Australia, Malibu builds boats to help you live a #lifewithoutlimits on the water. (NASDAQ: MBUU) | @malibuboats | #thetruthisonthewater

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.

Five Features Only events, four Traditional Cable stops, three continents, two titles and only one rider claims it all. The World Wakeboard Association’s Wake Park World Series took over the globe this year by having the largest field of riders ever throughout the entire world. Riders from all 6 inhabitable continents participated in this year world series stops. Over twenty nationalities were represented this season throughout the series. Since inception in 2007, the amount of riders has increased every year, making 2015 the best season to date.

The 2015 Features Only series kicked off in March for the grand opening of Miami Watersports Complex. Daniel Grant, from Thailand, found himself in his normal spot on top of the podium. The 2^nd stop of the Wake Park World Series took us back to MWC, but this time with two Professional Men national titles on the line. Tom Fooshee swept both categories and now was in the drivers seat with just three events remaining. For the next stop, the WWA series headed west to the lone star state for the Malibu Houston Pro. Wakeboarding’s own paparazzi favorite Chandler Powell, snagged himself a double victory dominating like his girlfriend had been doing on Dancing with the Stars. From there, we traveled all the way to the Middle East for the big daddy of them all, the WWA Wake Park World Championships. Australia represented well as Aaron Gunn took the Features Only World Title while Germany’s Dominik Guehrs earned his second World Championship in Traditional. The 2015 Wake Park World Series came to a close in Phuket Thailand at International Wake Park. Sebastian “Busty” Dunn followed Chandler and Tom’s ways by sweeping both professional categories to close out the season.

The 2015 WPWS Professional Men’s Features Only crowned Tom Fooshee, his first ever Features Only overall title. Joining him on the podium was John Dreiling in second and Chandler Powell in third overall. The Professional Men’s Traditional cable category also saw Fooshee claiming the overall title, this one however was the 7^th time in his career for Traditional Cable. Runner up, Chandler Powell gave Tom fierce competition all season long as they battled it out for the championship. Rookie Jake Pelot surprised everyone by finishing third overall. Look for each of these riders and plenty more to be even hungrier for a 2016 WPWS overall title next year.

Each and every year the series continues to grow and evolve to accommodate rider’s needs by each stop being hosted at the world’s best wake parks. The World Wakeboard Association President Shannon Starling’s life has been devoted to the association’s involvement in the best wakeboard events on the planet. “The WPWS is the premier event series in the world in wake park riding. We make sure to only bring the series to parks that can give riders the best possible course and give the audiences the best show there is to see in cable wakeboarding. Tom Fooshee has made his mark in wake by dominating the series since it originated in 2007, adding another two titles this year to his impressive resume. Year after year he has shown the world that he deserves his nickname as the King of the Cable”. Says Starling.

Tom Fooshee reflects after winning both overall titles. “Winning these two overall titles this year was something extra special to me. I had made some serious changes to my life this year with winning this overall series being the goal and purpose behind it all. The riding in the series has progressed far beyond where I ever thought it would be. There are so many different riders that are each very capable of winning each series stop. I would like to thank my wife, my family, all my sponsors that have my back, and all the friends and coworkers of mine that have helped me reach the level I am at.  I cannot wait for the WPWS in 2016 as it continues to get bigger and better every year. God bless!”

The 2015 wakeboard season comes to a close this year with a banger of a season. The WWA would like to congratulate Tom Fooshee and all the other riders that participated in the WPWS on a successful season. The 2016 WPWS schedule is being set as we speak and we are excited to announce the schedule as soon as possible. See you all in 2016!

Lake Alfred, Fla. (December 21, 2015) – Highlights from the action-packed 2015 WWA Malibu Evolution Pro Series Presented by Rockstar Energy is set to air this Sunday, December 27 at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.

The 2015 Malibu Evolution Pro Series was able to break through barriers to do something no other wake series has been capable of doing by creating one elite series, allowing these exceptional wakeboarding athletes to showcase their skills in unique destinations across the globe. Next Sunday, NBC Sports Network will take viewers on a journey to all three Tour stops, providing an up close and personal view of all the winning runs. Tour stops included visits to international locales such as Cancun, Mexico and Tokyo, Japan, with the series ending round held stateside in Houston, Texas.

The WWA partnered with Malibu Boats to create a new standard in professional wakeboarding with wakes tailored to the rider’s preference. These clean and consistent wakes allow the best men and women wakeboarders in the world to showcase the highest level of talent in the market.

Make sure you tune in or set your DVR so you don’t miss your chance to see the young and talented Steel Lafferty and Malibu team rider, Dallas Friday amaze the crowds as they flip and carve across the globe in the fight for the 2015 pro men and women Malibu Evolution Pro Series Championship. The show airs at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 27 on the NBC Sports Network.

# # #

About Malibu Boats
Malibu Boats is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, owning over a third of the worldwide market share. Malibu sells the Wakesetter and Response models—as well as the Axis Wake Research brand—through a global dealer network. With some 450 employees and three manufacturing facilities, in California, Tennessee, and Australia, Malibu builds boats to help you live a #lifewithoutlimits on the water. [NASDAQ: MBUU] | @malibuboats  |  #evolutionproseries

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

Find us at:
www.Facebook.com/Rockstar  ~  www.Twitter.com/RockstarEnergy  ~  
www.Instagram.com/RockstarEnergy  ~  www.YouTube.com/Rockstar

About the WWA

The World Wakeboard Association is the global leader in wake sports sanctioning. 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. With 27 affiliate countries worldwide, the WWA is a rider-formed organization dedicated to promoting and growing wake sports worldwide. It is the primary source for riders, event organizers and competitive standards. For more information on the WWA and its events, check out www.thewwa.com

Australia’s own 17 year old Sebastian “Busty” Dunn cleans up every single Professional Men’s division at the #WPWS finale in Phuket Thailand’s International Wake Park.

Earning his first ever professional victory couldn’t of been any sweeter for Busty Dunn as he wins Professional Men’s Traditional Cable, Professional Men’s Features Only, and to top it off the big air kicker contest.  Busty claims first place with the best rail hits on International Wake Park’s features along with a heelside 1260 that was “bolts”!  “Words cannot explain how stoked I am right now.  Not only to win my first ever professional victory, but to win it in all categories.  All the world’s best riders are here and they all were riding so good and to have my entire family here to be a part of this win makes it extra special.” Says Dunn.

Professional Men’s Traditional featured the eight man head to head format that created the best competition we have ever seen.  Israel’s own Guy firer pulled out the upset in the first round by beating current overall points leader Tom Fooshee.  Firer continued to work his way all the way through to the super final against Dunn where the heavy hammers were dropped.  Guy’s toeside backside five mute grab rewind backside one eighty was laid down, but wasn’t enough to beat Dunn’s run which included a perfect heelside backside 1080.

The final event of the day was an eight minute Professional Men’s Features Only competition that gave the crowd what they showed up to watch.  Tech, style and big air were all found in this final.  The man of the weekend, Busty Dunn took first with some unreal hip transfer hits, kicker tricks and of course some of the best pressed out rail slides.  Rounding out the podium was Tom Fooshee from USA in 2^nd and Guy Firer in 3^rd.

To no surprise, Busty Dunn wasn’t the only professional to sweep both categories.  Julia Rick from Germany also won both Professional Women’s Traditional Cable along with Women’s Professional Features.  Rick pulled out her signature backside 720 first trick off the dock in traditional which was quite risky, but stomped it to prove that she was on her way to a first place win.  Julia has completed what no other rider has done, with an entire year of nothing but first place finishes.  The two time WWA Wake Park World Champion was flawless in her riding all year and has showed everyone how high the level is in women’s professional.

On the wakeskate side of the event, a rider more or so known for his wakeboarding surprised the crowd with a first place finish.  James Windsor from Australia did a perfect switch frontside bigspin off the flats along with a heelside 360 off the kicker and ollied onto the highest portion of “bottle opener rail” backside boardslide.  Windsor also found his way onto the podium in Professional Men’s Traditional Cable with a 3^rd place finish.  At only 20 years old, expect to see Windsor on as many podiums as possible on the 2016 WWA Wake Park World Series.

WWA President Shannon Starling  had wanted to bring the series finale to Phuket Thailand for many of reasons. “2015 WWA Wake Park World Series has brought us to the best parks in the world allowing all the riders to show everyone what can performed on a wakeboard.  To cap off the series at International Wake Park couldn’t of been any better.  Thailand has become such a wakeboard hot spot and International Wake Park delivered exactly what we wanted to end the series with a major bang!” commented Starling.

And that’s a wrap for the 2015 wakeboard season.  The entire year was the most fun yet!  We have gone all over the United States, then went over to U.A.E. and then finished off in Asia with this event.  We would like to thank all the sponsors of this event along with the entire International Wake Park Staff.  See you all for another amazing year of wakeboarding in 2016 in the WWA Wake Park World Series!

About the WWA
The World Wakeboard Association is the global leader in wake sports sanctioning. 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. With 27 affiliate countries worldwide, the WWA is a rider-formed organization dedicated to promoting and growing wake sports worldwide. It is the primary source for riders, event organizers and competitive standards. For more information on the WWA and its events, check out www.thewwa.com

Abu Dhabi, UAE (November 6^th, 2015) – The world’s most diverse park riders were named new World Champions at the most progressive wake park event in the world. Al Forsan International Sports Resort played host to a park event that is certainly one for the books. The riding stepped up more at this year’s World championships than any other year in the history of the sport. Riders from across the globe rode through the toughest and most competitive heats put together to become Wake Park World Champions.

President of the World Wakeboard Association, Shannon Starling, was blown away with the quality of riding in every single division. “Wake parks have completely reshaped our sport, and with the continuation of these riders progressing at this pace, you are guaranteed to see the sport grow even more exponentially”, says Starling. “The facility they have here at Al Forsan provides riders with the highest quality of entertainment both on and off the water, resulting in the perfect environment. There is no other complex on this planet that can replicate or provide what Al Forsan can, thus one of the many reasons making this year’s Wake Park World Championships the best year yet!”

The Professional Men’s Features Only division had every single person on the property at the edge of their seat with the excitement taking place on the water. Aaron Gunn (AUS) proved himself to be the world best as he earned himself yet another World Championship title by landing a massive truck driver heelside 720. Closely behind him was Tom Fooshee (USA), who was very balanced on all the features. Rounding out the podium was John Dreiling (USA) in third.

Professional Women’s features was every bit as exciting as the Men’s, as Julia Rick (GER) made it impeccably clear that she deserved to be World Champion yet again. She made sure to include her textbook heelside backside 720 off the kicker, as well as a heelside backside 270 transfer. Courtney Angus (AUS) was right behind her- she put the heat on Julia, but fell slightly short behind her in the scores. Maxine Sapulette (NLD) finished in 3^rd place to complete the Professional Women’s Features Only podium.

Traditional cable put all the attention on one rider at a time as they showed the world who should earn the prestigious title. Pro Men’s rider Dominik Guehrs (GER) was a step above everyone else as the crowd went mad each time he landed a trick. “It was so tough riding against all these guys. They all threw it down every round right before me, and I was so lucky to prevail and do what I needed to do for the victory. I am on cloud 9 right now with becoming a world champion”, says Dominik. However, earning the title didn’t come easily- Aaron Gunn gave him a true run for his money. The super final scores were so tight that they were separated by just a decimal point. Tom Fooshee performed so well throughout the weekend that he was able to land the 3rd place spot in this heavy division of Pro Men Traditional.

The fun didn’t stop there as the ladies hit the water yet again in their Traditional cable final. The flats tricks that Julia Rick threw down were clearly what helped play a huge role in her becoming the 2015 World Champion. But what makes it even crazier is that her kicker and rail hits were just as impressive. She landed a tail grabbed front-to-blind- a trick commonly seen in the Pro Men division. To accompany an already impressive run, she tacked on several aggressive rail hits that sealed the deal for her. Maxine Sapulette put the pressure on Julia, as she rode so well that it forced Julia to give it her all. Sapulette landed herself a second place with an incredible competition run, of course Courtney Angus made sure to make it more than a two-girl show as she cranked it up on the water, placing in the third podium spot.

The best Wake Park World Championships of all time can be described only as absolutely epic! We would love to once again thank Al Forsan International Sports Resort, all of the Event Sponsors, and of course the riders for making this event such a success. Congratulations to all the fresh new 2015 World Champions. See you all again at the WWA Wake Park World Championships in 2016!

About the WWA
The World Wakeboard Association is the global leader in wake sports sanctioning. 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. With 27 affiliate countries worldwide, the WWA is a rider-formed organization dedicated to promoting and growing wake sports worldwide. It is the primary source for riders, event organizers and competitive standards. For more information on the WWA and its events, check out www.thewwa.com

About Al Forsan
The Al Forsan International Sports resort aspires to be an internationally-recognized and top-rated world-class resort by leisure professionals, as well as companies and families. By consistently providing first-rate service and state-of-the-art facilities, it will establish itself as the major sports hub for regional and global events, setting new standards for international sports and leisure experiences. www.alforsan.com

The second day of the 2015 WWA Wake Park World Championships brings together both traditional park riders and features only athletes at Al Forsan International Sports Resort.

Abu Dhabi, November 5^th 2015 – The world’s best park riders from all age groups and divisions battled it out in several different categories throughout the day. With both cables spinning, professional and amateur wakeboarders and wakeskaters all got out on the water today. The 2015 WWA Wake Park World Championships furthered its path on the way to crowning the new professional World Champions in both traditional cable and features only. Following today’s riding, there were also two new champions crowned for men and women’s Big Air Kicker competition, plus the highly acclaimed “most fun” division- go-karting.

Wakeskating was the first event out on the cable this morning, kicking off with the Open Women, Open Men and wrapping up with Professional Men. With two complete full size cables at Al Forsan, the wakeskaters were able to utilize the smaller cable with a more “skater” friendly course. The Open Women’s division watched Megan Barker (GBR) slay the skate lake to win her heat. Open Men’s Wakeskate gave the professionals a great idea of who and what they will be watching out for in the very near future. Greece brought some topnotch representation with Gerasimos Pavlidis and his perfect 3-shuv. The Professional Men Wakeskaters finished off riding for the day on the counter clockwise cable with some of the most electrifying action to be seen during a wakeskate event. Victor Salmon of Belgium really showed off his skills with a stand up, flawless run, which resulted in winning his semi-final heat.

The semi finals for Professional Men turned it up to a whole new level in the traditional category as soon as they hit the water. These riders were using every bit of the entire course on the clockwise cable. With a total of 9 features to hit, along with packing tricks in the flats anywhere they could, these riders really showed the world how to ride a wake park to the fullest extent. The action was as thrilling as ever as riders were giving us final round quality performances this early in the event. “Its anybody’s game here. You have to ride like your riding in a final every round now due to the tough level of riding”, said local UAE rider Omeir Saeed. Saeed kept the Emiratis proud by making it through to tomorrow’s top eight head-to-head final.

As the sun began to set, the time for the features only divisions of Open Men, Open Women and Professional Men. The jam style format gave the crowd everything they could ever hope to see at a wake park event. Riders were throwing their best possible tricks on each section/feature of the park. The Open Men’s division was said to be as close as it ever has been compared to Professional Men in terms of the level of tricks performed. This division also was extremely competitive as it contained the largest amount of riders out of any division. Highlights included Luca Kidd’s rail hits and Brett Powell’s kicker hits, which included a switch heelside 9. The Professional Men’s division brought out the bangers nice and early as it became apparently needed to advance through to the final day. Double-flips, grabbed backside 9’s and a wild mix of mobes were all happening on the regular, along with the most technically advanced and stylish presses on the rails. Come tomorrow we will have a new set of World Champions for 2015 here at Al Forsan International Sports Resort.

Pro Men’s and Pro Women’s Big Air capped off the day’s events on the water with riders putting it all on the line for a world title. It was Julia Rick from Germany in the Pro Women division that claimed the Big Air title by landing a massive heelside backside 720. “The big air contest was my favorite part of the day”, said Julia. “After I watched the Aussie girls throw it down, I had to pull out my best trick.” In Professional Men, Aaron Gunn of Australia took the top honors. Gunn performed a perfectly executed melon grabbed toeside backside 1080. “The new kickers here gave me with what I needed to pull that grabbed toeside backside 1080 off”, commented Aaron. “The environment that we had for the big air was so rad- between the boosty new kickers and all the hype on the dock with all the other riders killing it, it supplied the crowd with an amazing show!”

Day 2 ended with what some call the “most competitive” division of the entire event. The go-karting grand prix on Al Forsan’s world famous track got as fierce as ever as riders were posting personal record fast times, and displayed some very advance strategies in passing each other. It was Brian Grubb that took the title of WWA Wake Park World Champion in the Grand Prix of Go-Karting.

That’s a wrap for the final day of preliminary rounds at the world’s most prestigious wake park event. It all boils down to tomorrow for who will earn

the coveted title of WWA Wake Park World Champion. If you live in the UAE, be sure to head out to Al Forsan International Sports Resort for the final day of intense competition. If you don’t live here, check the WWA’s twitter account (@theWWA) for all results as soon as they are published.

About the WWA
The World Wakeboard Association is the global leader in wake sports sanctioning. 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. With 27 affiliate countries worldwide, the WWA is a rider-formed organization dedicated to promoting and growing wake sports worldwide. It is the primary source for riders, event organizers and competitive standards. For more information on the WWA and its events, check out www.thewwa.com

About Al Forsan
The Al Forsan International Sports resort aspires to be an internationally-recognized and top-rated world-class resort by leisure professionals, as well as companies and families. By consistently providing first-rate service and state-of-the-art facilities, it will establish itself as the major sports hub for regional and global events, setting new standards for international sports and leisure experiences. www.alforsan.com