Wisconsin Natives Thrive at Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships
Pleasant Prairie, WI – With friends and family in attendance, Wisconsin natives Laura Lohrmann and Erik Ruck moved closer to the ultimate goal of any professional wakeboarder, the Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championship presented by Verizon Wireless.
Both Lohrmann from Elkhorn, and Ruck from Twin Lakes, took on the top pro men and women in the world on Saturday at Lake Andrea in Pleasant Prairie, WI to advance to the final day of the WWA Wakeboard National Championship.
Lohrmann became one of only four women to move into Sunday’s Pro Women’s final round, guaranteeing Lohrmann a top four finish. Ruck was one of 16 Pro Men to advance to Sunday’s Pro Men’s Semifinal round.
Lohrmann finished in second place in her Women’s Semifinal heat behind defending Women’s National Champion Dallas Friday. Ruck won his Pro Men’s Quarterfinal heat to advance.
Both Ruck and Lohrmann are no strangers to the national stage. Lohrmann has a number of top 10 finishes at the national championships over the past few years, highlighted by 4th place finish at the 2003 national championship. Ruck is a former Pro Wakeboard Tour and World Champion and is ranked in 9th place in the current King of Wake World rankings
The road to the National Championship will be difficult for both riders because they will have to take on the world’s best to win. Lohrmann will have to outride the three most consistent female riders in 2005, Friday, Melissa Marquardt and Emily Copeland Durham who have all won major competitions.
For Ruck, the road is even more difficult. First he will have to survive his Semifinal heat on Sunday morning which will include a number of the world’s top Pro Men as well as former National Champions including Danny Harf, Parks Bonifay and the defending National Champion Tino Santori. There will be only four out of 16 riders competing in the semifinals who will advance to the Pro Men’s final.
While the Pro Men’s and Women’s titles at the Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships will be the biggest titles awarded on Sunday with nearly $30,000 on the line, there will be an additional five national titles decided on the day. Riders will be competing for the Pro Wakeskate, Junior Boys (9 years old and under), Boys (ages 10-13), Junior Men (14-18) and Junior Women (14-18).
Men's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 01
1 Parks Bonifay USA 95.50
2 Tino Santori USA 91.50
3 Nick Weinacker USA 80.00
4 Matt Lockwood USA 68.00
5 Derek Grasman USA 60.00
6 Rob Corum USA 55.00
Men's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 02
1 Rusty Malinoski CDN 100.00
2 Mikey Ennen USA 84.00
3 Nick Heaney GBR 83.50
4 Trevor Hansen USA 72.50
5 Hunter Hanson USA 57.00
6 Matt Clendenin 53.00
Men's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 03
1 Erik Ruck USA 97.00
2 JD Webb USA 93.00
3 Shane Bonifay USA 80.00
4 Rob Jacques USA 66.00
5 Chris Law USA 64.00
6 Scott Hopkins USA N/S
Men's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 04
1 Danny Harf USA 100.00
2 Gabe Lucas USA 87.00
3 Corey Bradley USA 81.50
4 Loren Levine USA 70.00
5 Travis Propst USA 59.00
6 Gabe Fowler USA 52.50
Men's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 05
1 Brett Eisenhauer AUS 94.00
2 Ricky Gonzales USA 83.00
3 Kevin Henshaw CDN 79.50
4 Brian Francis USA 77.00
5 Philip Combs USA 58.50
Jimmy Wolf USA 58.00
Men's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 06
1 Phillip Soven USA 100.00
2 Jonathan Nadolski USA 87.50
3 Nick Ennen USA 82.50
4 Dean Smith AUS 65.50
5 Ben Greenwood USA 63.00
6 Travis Rowe 51.50
7 Rob Struharik USA NS
Men's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 07
1 Daniel Watkins AUS 97.00
2 Jeff Weatherall NZL 85.50
3 Wes Brisco USA 77.00
4 Troy Mackey AUS 75.50
5 Adam Wensink USA 60.00
6 Chris Laske USA 55.00
7 Collin Harrington USA NS
Men's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 08
1 Josh Sanders AUS 96.00
2 Keith Lidberg USA 94.00
3 Keith Lyman USA 74.00
4 Tim Keepers USA 66.50
5 Matt Sims USA 64.50
6 Tyler Killingsworth USA 52.00
7 Mark Weikel USA 43.00
Women's Professional - Semi Finals Heat 01
1 Emily Copeland Durham USA 60.83
2 Melissa Marquardt USA 55.33
3 Lauren Loe USA 51.67
4 Cathy Williams USA 32.67
Women's Professional - Semi Finals Heat 02
1 Dallas Friday USA 61.67
2 Laura Lohrmann USA 47.67
3 Barrett Perlman USA 45.00
4 Cheryl Newton USA 37.44
Professional WakeSkate - Semi Finals Heat 01
1 Phillip Basino USA 79.00
2 George Daniels USA 74.17
3 Brian Grubb USA 66.67
4 Joshua Steele USA 43.33
5 Chase Gregory USA NS
Professional WakeSkate - Semi Finals Heat 02
1 C. Wright USA 61.83
2 Brandon Thomas USA 58.83
3 A. Hair USA 54.17
4 Silas Thurman USA 46.67
5 David Hanson USA 40.00
Junior Boys (9 and under) - Semi Finals Heat 01
1 Cody Coffey USA 61.67
2 Kyle Mack USA 53.33
3 Joseph Jr. Martella 46.67
4 Paulie Koch 33.89
Junior Boys (9 and under) - Semi Finals Heat 02
1 Ben Ferguson 55.00
2 Jason Soven USA 45.11
3 Gus Shuler USA 44.78
4 Blake Merritt USA 41.89
5 Zachary Brown 38.89
Boys (10-13) - Semi Finals Heat 01
1 Raphael Derome CDN 72.56
2 Jacob Valdez USA 70.22
3 Ben Kaiser USA 64.33
4 Gunnar Shuler USA 52.78
Boys (10-13) - Semi Finals Heat 02
1 Steel Lafferty USA 57.22
2 Mitchell Connell USA 49.44
3 Braxton Tomlinson 35.56
4 John Jeffries USA 29.44
Boys (10-13) - Semi Finals Heat 03
1 Robert Soven USA 60.00
2 Julian Cohen 52.22
3 Daniel Powers USA 45.00
4 Michael Dowdy USA 36.67
World’s Top Professionals Compete at Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships
Pleasant Prairie, WI – Friday’s action at the Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships saw the first professional competition of the event and the crowning of another amateur national champion at Lake Andrea in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
The Men’s 2 division Air Nautique WWA National Championship presented by Verizon Wireless, comprised of men 25-29, was awarded to Kris Northrup. Matt Von der Ahe finished second and Rick Knott finished third.
The professional competition took place in the Pro Women’s and Wakeskate divisions. One of the top performers in wakeboarding, Dallas Friday, fresh off her victory at the X Games earlier this August was one of the featured athletes on the day. Friday took first place in her Pro Women’s Quarterfinal heat. She moved into Saturday’s Pro Women’s Semifinal round and is still alive for the Pro Women’s national championship.
The other Pro Women’s Quarterfinal heat winner was Melissa Marquardt who will battle against Friday in Saturday’s Semifinals. Other Pro Women who advanced on Friday include former national champion Emily Copeland Durham and Laura Lohrmann, a local from Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
In addition to the Pro Women, 25 of the world’s best Pro Wakeskaters hit the water on Friday in Quarterfinal action. The top 10 riders from Friday’s rounds moved into the Semifinals. Top wakeskaters on Friday include Collin Wright, Austin Hair, Brian Grubb, George Daniels and Brandon Thomas all of whom won the Quarterfinal heats.
Men's 2 (25-29) - Finals Heat 01
1 Kris Northrup 74.44
2 Matt Von der Ahe USA 72.22
3 Rick Knott USA 68.33
4 Marc Poirier CDN 51.22
5 Eric Gerner 49.44
6 Kevin Michael USA 37.78
Women's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 01
1 Melissa Marquardt USA 60.00
2 Emily Copeland Durham USA 57.22
3 Cathy Williams USA 48.33
4 Cheryl Newton USA 36.67
5 Maeghan Major USA NS
Women's Professional - Quarter Finals Heat 02
1 Dallas Friday USA 58.89
2 Barrett Perlman USA 47.89
3 Laura Lohrmann USA 42.89
4 Lauren Loe USA 26.67
5 Megan McNeil USA NS
Professional WakeSkate - Quarter Finals Heat 01
1 C. Wright USA 66.67
2 Chase Gregory USA 56.67
3 Chad Rogers 43.33
4 Steven Schoenhals USA 33.33
5 Stef Tor CDN 16.67
Professional WakeSkate - Quarter Finals Heat 02
1 A. Hair USA 63.33
2 Phillip Basino USA 58.33
3 Evan Lykes USA 53.33
4 Jerry Lafferty USA 35.00
5 Nick Valliere USA 33.67
Professional WakeSkate - Quarter Finals Heat 03
1 Brian Grubb USA 90.00
2 Joshua Steele USA 63.33
3 Sammy Woodson USA 41.67
4 R. Hansen USA 30.00
5 Matthew Manzari NS
Professional WakeSkate - Quarter Finals Heat 04
1 George Daniels USA 78.33
2 David Hanson USA 70.00
3 Kyle Hyams USA 58.33
4 Drew McGuckin USA 46.67
5 Matt Riesgraf USA 33.33
Professional WakeSkate - Quarter Finals Heat 05
1 Brandon Thomas USA 81.67
2 Silas Thurman USA 51.67
3 Joey White USA 41.67
4 B. Francis USA 28.33
5 Jeff Engen USA 16.67
Junior Women (14-18) - Semi Finals Heat 01
1 Jenacee Jackson 58.89
2 Megan Blaschka USA 51.33
3 Brittney Arruda 37.78
4 Maggie Jaicomo USA 34.44
Junior Women (14-18) - Semi Finals Heat 02
1 Heather Johnson USA 61.67
2 Rachael Raben 53.33
3 Kelsey Tainsh USA 36.33
4 Chloe Merritt USA 35.67
5 Wiss Brinkman 30.00
Boys (10-13) - Quarter Finals Heat 01
1 John Jeffries USA 58.44
2 Michael Dowdy USA 55.22
3 Ben Kaiser USA 51.33
4 Daniel Pate USA 45.44
5 Jordan Genster 34.56
Boys (10-13) - Quarter Finals Heat 02
1 Jacob Valdez USA 63.78
2 Daniel Powers USA 56.00
3 Gunnar Shuler USA 54.22
4 Pierce Homsey 46.89
5 Spencer Connell USA 36.44
Boys (10-13) - Quarter Finals Heat 03
1 Raphael Derome CDN 64.22
2 Steel Lafferty USA 58.00
3 Mitchell Connell USA 51.11
4 Cale Middleton USA 45.33
5 Kyle Barmoy 30.56
Boys (10-13) - Quarter Finals Heat 04
1 Robert Soven USA 73.33
2 Braxton Tomlinson 62.67
3 Julian Cohen 39.56
4 Brian Waskevich USA 33.22
5 Brand Driver USA 16.67
Junior Men (14-18) - Semi Finals Heat 01
1 Robby Carter USA 65.33
2 Rhett Whatley USA 63.89
3 Devin Rogers USA 50.00
4 A.J Racinelli USA 41.11
Junior Men (14-18) - Semi Finals Heat 02
1 Mike Marsh USA 73.78
2 Jimmy LaRiche USA 58.89
3 Brett Lee USA 50.00
4 Ryan Mocerino USA 27.22
Junior Men (14-18) - Semi Finals Heat 03
1 Adam Errington USA 54.44
2 Danny Thollander USA 49.44
3 Ryan Anderson USA 44.44
4 Kyle Alberts USA 36.67
Junior Men (14-18) - Semi Finals Heat 04
1 Austin Hair USA 72.78
2 Alex Hamrick USA 69.00
3 Reed Hansen USA 62.67
4 Justin Doornbos USA 38.00
Six Titles Awarded at Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships
Pleasant Prairie, WI – The Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships crowned six national champions on Thursday at Lake Andrea in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Wakeboard National titles were awarded in Amateur Women, Masters, Men I, Amateur Wakeskate, Girls and Veterans divisions.
In the Masters division, comprised of men ages 30-39, Mike VanPatten took home the title of Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Champion presented by Verizon Wireless. Jeff Barton was second and Robert Moore was third.
In the Men’s I division, comprised of men 18-24, Brian Brech won the National title, Chase Andrews finished second and Ryan Hickey finished third.
In the Girls division, comprised of girls 13 and under, Patty Hicks took home the top spot, followed by Raimi Merritt in second, Victoria Kulp in third and Alexis Racinelli in fourth.
In the Veterans division, comprised of men 40 and over, Matt Vermillion took the National Championship, Anthony Racinelli Sr. was second and Troy Lindstrom was third.
In the Amateur Women’s division, an open division of women over 18, Erica Burk took first, Courtney Dutson was second and Amy Powell was third.
In Amateur Wakeskate, John Greely took first, B. Kaiser was second and Lance Duffett was third.
Men 1 Finals
1 Brian Brech 67.33
2 Chase Andrews 65.11
3 Ryan Hickey 62.11
4 Rusty Scott 55.11
5 Matt McCord 44.56
6 Troy Dyer 40.22
Amateur Women - Finals Heat 01
1 Erica Burk 55.56
2 Courtney Dutson USA 46.11
3 Amy Powell USA 20.00
Masters (30-39) - Finals Heat 01
1 Mike VanPatten 74.44
2 Jeff Barton USA 68.89
3 Robert Moore USA 60.00
4 Bill Boston USA 50.56
Amateur Wake Skate - Finals Heat 01
1 John Greely 54.78
2 B. Kaiser 52.33
3 Lance Duffett 46.00
4 D. Burnstein 43.22
5 Trey Dyer 36.67
Girls (13 and under) - Finals Heat 01
1 Patty Hicks USA 59.44
2 Raimi Merritt USA 54.44
3 Victoria Kulp USA 49.78
4 Alexis Racinelli USA 39.89
Veterans (40 and over) - Finals Heat 01
1 Matt Vermillion USA 66.67
2 Anthony Snr Racinelli USA 50.00
3 Troy Lindstrom 43.33
4 Paul Koch 33.89
Junior Men (14-18) - Quarter Finals
Top Two Each Heat Advance
Heat 01
1 Devin Rogers USA 56.00
2 Robby Carter USA 51.22
3 Kristian Kastari 46.56
4 Russell Cox USA 38.33
5 Caleb Willis USA 28.11
6 Joseph Shipka 19.44
Heat 02
1 Alex Hamrick USA 57.44
2 Brett Lee USA 52.78
3 Nick Jones USA 50.33
4 Eddie Valdez USA 50.00
5 Nate Miller 47.67
6 Jay Bechtel 28.22
Heat 03
1 Rhett Whatley USA 58.33
2 Ryan Anderson USA 57.00
3 Bryan Hutton USA 53.11
4 Danny Burnstein USA 46.89
5 Bryce Henderson 36.33
6 Taylor Vaughn 27.22
Heat 04
1 Jimmy LaRiche USA 57.78
2 A.J Racinelli USA 56.67
3 James Feid USA 43.89
4 Shaun Teegardin USA 33.33
5 Jacob Loken 27.22
6 Andrew Shearer 22.56
Heat 05
1 Mike Marsh USA 65.00
2 Adam Errington USA 56.44
3 Alex Graydon 43.89
4 Ryan Ebbers USA 33.89
5 Larry Taylor USA 32.00
6 Josh O'Harra 13.33
Heat 06
1 Danny Thollander USA 65.00
2 Ryan Mocerino USA 57.67
3 Hank Carter 42.22
4 Steven Williams USA 35.56
5 Alex Walton 31.11
Heat 07
1 Austin Hair USA 60.56
2 Justin Doornbos USA 54.44
3 Dustin Shows USA 50.56
4 Kaesen Suyderhoud USA 47.22
5 Lucas Snider USA NS
Heat 08
1 Kyle Alberts USA 65.00
2 Reed Hansen USA 54.89
3 Alex Scagliotti USA 52.22
4 Eric Buonanotte USA 43.89
5 Michael Griffin USA NS
Men's 2 (25-29) - Semi Finals
Top Three Each Heat Advance
Heat 01
1 Kris Northrup 55.67
2 Rick Knott USA 49.44
3 Marc Poirier CDN 44.33
4 Austin Langston USA 43.22
5 Robby Davis 40.11
6 Aaron Grace USA 10.00
Heat 02
1 Matt Von der Ahe USA 58.22
2 Eric Gerner 53.00
3 Kevin Michael USA 52.44
4 Jayson Rishling USA 38.11
5 Matt Brown USA 35.89
6 Thomas Davis USA 35.11
Day One of the Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships is Complete in Wisconsin
Pleasant Prairie, WI – The Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships began on Wednesday at Lake Andrea at Prairie Springs Park in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. On the first day, riders competed in six divisions of men and women ages ranging from 10-50.
Results from Wednesday’s rounds of the WWA Wakeboard National Championships are presented by Verizon Wireless. The top competitors from Wednesday’s rounds advanced to Thursday’s National finals and have a shot at individual age group National titles.
Throughout the weekend over 200 wakeboarders, amateurs and professionals will be competing for the Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships. National champions will be crowned each day, leading up to Sunday’s super finals when the Pro Men’s and Women’s National Champions will be crowned.
The WWA Wakeboard National Championship is a world-renowned event created by the World Wakeboard Association. The event is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Florida. Competitors will be pulled by the Correct Craft Super Air Nautique wakeboard boat. The event has the support of the following: Verizon Wireless, Perfect Pass, Hyperlite, Fox Riders Co., U.S. Air Force, Infinity Marine Audio, Toyo Tires, KMC Wheels, Liquid Force, Gator Boards, CWB, J - Star, O'Brien, Double-up, Oakley, Reef, Body Glove, UGP, Love Sac, Capix Helmets, Indo Boards, Execute, Mikker.com, Wakeworld.com, Wakeboarder.com, Monster Towers, Say I Won't, Ten-80 and One Percent Design.
Wake Boarding, published by World Publications, is the official magazine of the Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championship. Wake Boarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.
Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships
At Lake Andrea at Prairie Springs Park in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Live results from Wednesday August 24 presented by Verizon Wireless
