HSBC Title Sponsor Of Final Stop of 2005 Wakeboard World Cup
The World Cup brings the highest ranked Riders and Skiers to major cities around the world and has attracted both large numbers of spectators and media attention over the past two years at all Stops.
The Bedok Reservoir in Singapore, in the heart of exotic Southeast Asia, will again stage this major international sports event. Last year, over 12,000 spectators packed the landscaped shoreline of the Reservoir. This is a perfect man-made arena close to the downtown area used for drinking water. MasterCraft, the official XStar Boat suppliers, provided a totally sealed four-stroke engine with the most advanced emission controls and noise suppression systems. This exceeds the toughest emission regulations, including those of the California and Switzerland Stage 3 requirements.
HSBC, nominated the Global Bank of the Year 2004 by The Banker, have 10,000 offices in 76 Countries. The International Waterski Federation and its World Wakeboard Council also have affiliated Federations in 92 Countries and so there are many shared interests in this World Cup series. The Singapore Waterski & Wakeboard Federation will be the official host.
With a Singapore Stop total Cash Prize Purse of US$50,000 at stake, 34 of the World’s top Wakeboard athletes from 18 countries will take part. In addition to the US$50,000 prize fund, there is also an end-of-season Bonus of US$30,000. To add further to the excitement of this last World Cup Stop of 2005, HSBC will pay an additional US$10,800 to the first Rider who successfully lands a 1080 maneuver in a separate Double-Up contest on Saturday. This triple rotation reward should bring out the best in all Riders.
The Preliminary Rounds will commence at 10.00am on Saturday, October 22nd, with the Semi-Finals and Finals on Sunday, October 23rd also at 10.00am. Places in the Finals are limited to six for the Women and eight for the Men. Tough and exciting competition is guaranteed when the biggest payout of the year is at stake.
The 12,000 spectators last year gave a standing ovation to Chen Li Li from China and Phillip Soven from the USA as they took the winners World Cup titles in perfect conditions. Soven, the 16-year-old sensation, is still unbeaten this year in the World Cup Series. Last year in Singapore, Daniel Watkins (AUS) performed a stunning double back summersault rotation and narrowly missed the winner’s title for Men. However, he went on to take the 2004 overall series title of the IWSF Wakeboard World Cup Champion. Both Phillip Soven and Daniel Watkins will compete in this final showdown in Singapore, along with Jeff Weatherall who was just recently crowned the IWSF Wakeboard World Champion in Moscow in September. China’s Chen LiLi will also return to defend her Women’s Singapore title. Taking on this challenge will be another New Zealander, Andrea Fountain, who was also crowned Women’s IWSF Wakeboard World Champion in Moscow in September.
With the flags on 18 Nations fluttering in the gentle warm breezes at Bedok Reservoir next weekend, Singapore will be the centre of attention once again for what promises to be a magnificent event.
