Fort Worth, TX - Dustin Shows, from nearby Granbury, Texas, fell short in his quest for a championship in his home area today at the No Fear WWA Wakeboard World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. The 18-year-old finished fourth today with a score of 49.78, missing the cut.
Competing in the junior men's division, Shows looked forward to today's semifinals after his second-place finish in yesterday's quarterfinals. Shows had a good run going in his first pass, hitting the sliders well and "feeling good," before overrotating his last trick of the pass, a crow mode, and falling.
"After that fall, I knew I had to make it up in the second pass, so I started with the most difficult trick in my career, a swirley, which I hit perfectly, but then on the very next trick, I slipped up on a toe-side 720 and fell," said Shows. Shows, who's only been wakeboarding for five years, says despite today's finish, he's already looking forward to next year.
One world title was decided today in the Men II, the division set for riders 25 to 29. The USA's Justin Harrelson took the world championship with a score of 68.78, beating two riders from Japan, Kazuyuki Tsujimoto and Yusuke Omura.
The spotlight turns to the pro men's competition tomorrow with the top riders in the world all converging on Forth Worth for a shot at the world championship. Top international riders to watch out for include Australia's Josh Sanders, Brett Eisenhauer and Daniel Watkins. That triumvirate from the land down under have pushed themselves into the elite status in wakeboarding, and any of them could take the title. A fast riser from Canada is Rusty Malinoski. Built like a linebacker, Malinoski has burst on the scene with powerful moves that make him a threat for the title.
On the American side, defending world champion Phillip Soven has to be considered the favorite in the event. A Team Malibu and No Fear rider, Soven is spectacular on the water and capable of putting together a run that no rider American or otherwise can beat. Other Americans to watch include Andrew Adkison, who won two years ago, the last time the event took place in United States. Adkison also won the first major championship of 2006, topping the field at the Pro Wakeboard Tour opener in Atlanta in April. Former world champions Shaun Murray ('03) and Erik Ruck ('02) will also be competing.
The No Fear WWA Wakeboard World Championships presented by Malibu Boats is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Florida. The Worlds has the support of the following: No Fear, Malibu Boats, Indmar, Verizon Wireless, U.S. Air Force, Circuit City, Sobe, Hyperlite Wakeboards, CWB, Liquid Force, Gator Boards, Wakeworld.com, Wakeboarder.com and One Percent Design.
Friday's Results:
Mens II Finals
1. Justin Harrelson USA 68.78
2. Kazuyuki Tsujimoto JPN 56.67
3. Yusuke Omura JPN 42.56
4. Austin Langston USA 35.56
Junior Men Semifinals (top 2 in each heat advance to finals)
Heat #1
1. Ryan Anderson USA 70.00
2. Jimmy LaRiche USA 65.56
3. Phillip Aslinger USA 52.78
4. Dustin Shows USA 49.78
5. Julian Cohen USA 48.11
6. Kirby Liesmann USA 36.67
Heat #2
1. Alex Hamrick USA 60.00
2. Eddie Valdez USA 48.89
3. James Hindes USA 46.22
4. James Feid USA 40.56
5. Jeff Baker USA 32.78
6. AJ Racinelli USA 29.56
Heat #3
1. Alex Scagliotti USA 49.44
2. Rhett Whatley USA 47.78
3. Adam Errington USA 41.11
4. Ryan Mocerino USA 36.11
5. Jarrod Askew AUS 41.39
6. Mitchell Langfield AUS 30.00
Junior Women Semifinals (top 2 in each heat advance to finals)
Heat #1
1. Caitlin Blaauw AUS 73.33
2. Megan Blaschka USA 58.67
3. Victoria Kulp USA 48.33
4. Lauren Jewett USA 34.44
Heat #2
1. Shawna Hoffman USA 60.00
2. Maggie Jaicomo USA 47.44
3. C. Dwyer USA 34.78
