Orlando, FL – Australian Josh Sanders is currently the NO. 1 ranked rider in the world, sitting on top of the KING OF WAKE Wakeboard World Cup standings through three events with 255 points. American Philip Soven (250) is in second place, just five points behind Sanders. Australian Daniel Watkins (240) rounds out the top three.
The quest for the best in professional wakeboarding takes on a whole new meaning in 2005 with the expansion of the Wakeboard World Cup title, to create a $10,000 winner take all prize, the KING OF WAKE award that will be given to the top professional rider in the world. World Sports & Marketing created the prestigious Wakeboard World Cup standings list eight years ago, but 2005 marks the first year for the $10,000 KING OF WAKE award.
“Everywhere we go, people are asking ‘Who is the number one rider in the world’,” said Chris Bischoff, competition director for World Sports & Marketing, the company that produces the Pro Wakeboard Tour. “So the time has come to distinguish the best of the best, and reward that rider for the effort.”
An equal number of American and international riders currently sit in the top 10 of the KING OF WAKE standings, a testament to the depth of strong riders in the pro wakeboarding ranks. After the top three, Americans Danny Harf (230) and Andrew Adkison (225) currently sit in fourth and fifth-place respectively.
The lower half of the top 10 consists of two Canadians, two Americans and another Australian. Canadian Chad Sharpe (220) holds down the sixth position on the KING OF WAKE standings, followed by Australian Brett Eisenhauer (215) in seventh. Tino Santori (190) is in the eighth position.
Coming off a thrilling victory on June 5 in Reno, Nevada at the last MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour stop, Canadian Rusty Malinoski (184) currently sits in ninth place. With 2002 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour season champion Erik Ruck (166) moving into the top ten with a third-place finish in Reno.
The pursuit of the KING OF WAKE Wakeboard World Cup and the NO. 1 position in the world will resume July 8-10 at the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour’s event in Kelowna, BC as part of Wakefest 2005.
2005 Men's KING OF WAKE Standings as of 6/9/05
1 Josh Sanders 255
2 Phillip Soven 250
3 Daniel Watkins 240
4 Danny Harf 230
5 Andrew Adkison 225
6 Chad Sharpe 220
7 Brett Eisenhauer 215
8 Tino Santori 190
9 Rusty Malinoski 184
10 Erik Ruck 166
