ORLANDO, Fla. - Phillip Soven won nearly every contest he competed in last year, including the 2007 Air Nautique Wake Games. Now one year later, the Longwood, FL native is looking to repeat on hometown waters, as the current wakeboard world champion not only led his heat today, but also posted the highest score of the day with a 96. Soven will be joined by 11 other riders for Sunday's semifinals.
Should Phillip Soven win the 2008 Air Nautique Wake Games, he will become the first rider in history to win back-to-back Wake Games titles.
In the Pro Women's Division, Eight riders battled on the water today in the semifinals to see which four female rippers will advance to Sunday's finals. All eyes were on the frontrunner, Orlando native and four-time X Games gold medalist Dallas Friday, but Aussie Amber Wing and the U.K.'s Nicola Butler pulled-off the upset to take the top-two spots in the heat. Wing and Butler will be joined by Laura Lohrmann and Barrett Pearlman for Sunday's finals.
The Jr. Men's Division took to the water today for their semifinals with 15 riders looking to advance past the semifinals. Jimmy LaRiche, Steel Lafferty and Harley Clifford all led their heats today and advanced along with three other riders to Sunday's finals.
Ten of the best shredders in the world met today for the Pro Wakeskate Division semifinals with only four riders advancing onto Sunday's finals. Brian Grubb, Reed Hansen, Danny Hampson and Andrew Pastura shredded their way past the competition today and are set for tomorrow's final showdown.
Continuing with wakeskating, Bethany Henderson took home the Pro Women's Wakeskate Division title today, while Joe Phillips shredded his way to the top spot in the Amateur Wakeskate Division finals.
Kat Laird took home the Masters Women title, while Meagan Ethell captured the top spot in the Girls finals, and Anna Hajek won the Jr. Women's title.
Four riders battled it out on the water today for the Masters title, but Ben Chrisman road past the competition to take the top spot. Matt Vermillion faced off against Steve Weisser today in Veterans finals to take home the title.
To catch all the wakeboarding action from home, tune in to Fuel TV. For exact air dates, visit www.kingofwake.com.
Fuel TV is a 24/7 action-sports lifestyle network for wakeboarding, skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX and freestyle motocross. A unit of Fox Cable Networks, Fuel TV was launched July 1, 2003, and is seen in 24 million U.S. homes. To subscribe to Fuel TV, call 877-4-FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit fuel.tv.
The Air Nautique by Correct Craft is the exclusive tow boat of the Wake Games and the WWA Nationals. Celebrating more than 80 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a family-owned manufacturer of internationally acclaimed, competition-caliber water-ski and wakeboard boats, as well as boats for recreational enjoyment. Correct Craft Inc. is known for superior-quality products, cutting-edge technology and innovative hull designs.
ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful energy drink - Developed to increase the recovery time of those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles, ROCKSTAR Energy Drink is available in ten amazing flavors. You can find Original, Sugar Free, Juiced, Zero Carb, Guava, Pomegranate, Punched and Roasted Mocha, Roasted Vanilla Light and Roasted Latte at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and throughout the UK.
WakeBoarding, published by Bonnier Corp., is the official magazine of the Air Nautique Wake Games. WakeBoarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.
The Air Nautique Wake Games is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla. The Wake Games have the support of the following sponsors: Correct Craft, Rockstar Energy Drink, PCM, Fox, Mona Vie, the U.S. Air Force, Central Florida Toyota, Hyperlite, CWB, Gator Boards, Ronix, Oakley, Reef, Cire, wakeworld.com and the theliquidcircus.com.
Saturday, April 26 Results:
Men's Professional
Quarterfinals Heat#: 01
1 Jeff Weatherall NZ 88.5
2 Josh Sanders AUS 87.5
3 Chad Sharpe CAN 83
4 Daniel Watkins AUS 81
Men's Professional
Quarterfinals Heat#: 02
1 Adam Errington USA 91
2 JD Webb USA 86.5
3 Randall Harris USA 79.5
4 Bradley Smeele 75
5 Robby Carter USA 68
Men's Professional
Quarterfinals Heat#: 03
1 Tino Santori USA 92
2 Andrew Adkison USA 91.5
3 Troy Mackey 83.5
4 Erik Ruck 73.5
Men's Professional
Quarterfinals Heat#: 04
1 Shaun Murray USA 93
2 Shane Bonifay USA 90
3 Trevor Hansen USA 77.5
4 Danny Thollander USA 76.5
5 Chase Andrews USA 63
Men's Professional
Quarterfinals Heat#: 05
1 Rusty Malinoski CAN 95
2 Dean Smith AUS 91.5
3 Austin Hair USA 73
4 Shawn Watson USA 72.5
5 Mike Marsh USA 68.5
Men's Professional
Quarterfinals Heat#: 06
1 Phillip Soven USA 96
2 Bryan Hutton USA 90
3 Aaron Rathy CAN 77.5
4 Dustin O'Ferrall 72
5 Adam Wensink 64.5
Women's Professional
Semifinals Heat #: 01
1 Wing, Amber AUS 71.67
2 Butler, Nicola UK 63.89
3 Friday, Dallas USA 55.00
4 Marquardt, Melissa 41.67
Women's Professional
Semifinals Heat #: 02
1 Lohrmann, Laura USA 67.78
2 Perlman, Barrett USA 62.22
3 Copeland Durham, Emily USA 56.67
4 Leugner, Ashley 29.44
Junior Men (14-18)
Semifinals Heat #: 01
1 Lafferty, Steel USA 70.00
2 Askew, Jarrod 60.56
3 Perrone, Christopher USA 49.44
4 Galotifore, Nick 45.56
5 Valdez, Jacob USA 32.22
Junior Men (14-18)
Semifinals Heat #: 02
1 Clifford, Harley AUS 77.78
2 Soven, Robert USA 61.67
3 Valdez, Eddie USA 53.89
4 Powers, Daniel USA 47.78
5 Aslinger, Phillip USA 39.44
Junior Men (14-18)
Semifinals Heat #: 03
1 LaRiche, Jimmy USA 78.89
2 Cohen, Julian USA 68.33
3 Burnstein, Danny USA 62.22
4 Shuler, Gunnar USA 46.67
5 Shearer, Andrew USA 30.00
Professional Wakeskate
Semifinals Heat #: 01
1 Hampson, Danny 79.67
2 Hansen, Reed USA 70.67
3 Reed, Aaron 58.33
4 Gibbons, Gib USA 41.67
5 Thomas, Brandon USA 40.00
Professional Wakeskate
Semifinals Heat #: 02
1 Grubb, Brian USA 71.67
2 Pastura, Andrew USA 55.00
3 Shinn, Stuart USA 38.33
4 Dosta, Enric SPN 30.00
5 Tompkins, Clint USA 22.67
Amateur Wakeskate
Finals Heat #: 01
1 Phillips, Joe 70.00
2 Mulvaney, Patrick 33.33
Women Wakeskate
Finals Heat #: 01
1 Henderson, Bethany USA 61.67
2 GilanFarr, Jennifer USA 40.00
3 Wamsley, Stephanie USA 30.00
Veterans (40 and over)
Finals Heat #: 01
1 Vermillion, Matt USA 53.33
2 Weisser, Steve 31.00
Masters (30-39)
Finals Heat #: 01
1 Chrisman, Ben 44.89
2 Lowe, Chad USA 40.00
3 Michael, Kevin WIS 34.44
4 Poser, Brandon USA 34.11
Junior Women (14-18)
Finals Heat #: 01
1 Hajek, Anna USA 59.22
2 Finley, Holland USA 56.11
3 Petraitis, Danni USA 49.67
4 Cresent, Morgan USA 40.00
5 Kulp, Victoria USA 33.89
Girls (13 and under)
Finals Heat #: 01
1Ethell, Meagan USA 62.22
2Koch, Tori 48.33
3McCullough, Taylor 47.78
