Fooshee and Campbell top the Podium at Riptank Rail Jam in Lubbock
LUBBOCK, TX (April 14th ) - It was the 2nd stop of the 2008 Texas Wakeboard Tour Rail Jam Series and it took place Saturday, April 12th, on Buddy Holly Avenue in Lubbock. The Riptank Rail Jam - Jam at the Garden was presented by Gene Messer Scion and Monster Energy Drink and the event featured some of the top pro wakeboarders and wakeskaters in the state. In addition to the rail jam, this action sports block party featured plenty of live music from Mothers Anthem, Sounds Under Radio, Strangleweed and headliner - Tantric!
The rail jam competitors included top regional riders and Texas Wakeboard Tour regulars, Tom Fooshee representing Liquid Force, Joe Lemberg, Rusty Scott, Bret Little and brothers Clint and Collin Gee representing Hyperlite and Lucas Snyder representing Gator Boards. Gator also sent pro wakeskater Steve Campbell out from Orlando to represet...and he did!
The wakeboarding action kicked off at about 8 pm and each rider would get three hits in this best trick format. The set-up, provided by Orlando based Step Up Productions, featured a 40 foot starting pool mounted on a trailer fifteen feet off the ground and a newly designed 40 foot box rail down to the 60 foot landing pool. There was also a separate kicker pool with a 20 foot gap (over two Scion automobiles) to the landing pool. Jo Jo Lemberg was the first rider of the evening and started strong with a clean front side board slide with a back side 270 out. It would be his best of the night and gave him a 2nd Place spot on the podium. 3rd place went to Gator Boards local, Lucas Snider who launched a huge Indy backside 180 off the kicker. The top spot of the evening went to Texas rail and cable-master, Liquid Force pro Tom Fooshee. Tom took home the Monster check for $1000 on his final hit of the evening when he nailed a super stylie back lip slide with back side 270 out.
Next up were the wakeskaters. With only three guys competing in skate, everyone would make the podium…but they had to battle for position. Each would get four attempts. Seventeen year old Collin Gee from Houston, TX. was celebrating his birthday in Lubbock and kept trying to complete a front board to shuv-out but came up short and took third. 2nd Place went to Texas rising star, Bret Little, who nailed a clean back lip slide down the forty-foot box and it was Gator Boards skater Steve Campbell who stoked the crowd and locked down 1st Place with a sick shuv onto the rail followed by a smooth front side board slide and rode away standing.
All of the winners received cash and/or killer prizes courtesy of the crew at the Riptank Board Shop plus they each took home a case of Monster Energy Drink for their efforts!
In addition to Gene Messer Scion and Monster Energy Drink, the Riptank Rail Jam was made possible with support from Family Power Sports, Bud Light, Liquid Force, Hyperlite Wakeboards, Gator Boards, CWB, Straight Line Ropes and Handles, H20 Clothing, Spy Optic, TBKS, Riptank Board Shop and The Beer Garden. Media partners include Alliance Wakeboard, WakeBoarding Magazine, Wakeworld.com, Wakeboarder.com and TheLiquidCircus.com.
