ORLANDO, FL – Tournament Ski Productions announced today that it will produce the "REV UP BIG-AIR CHALLENGE," on May 18–19, 2002, at the Orlando Watersports Complex in Orlando, Florida; welcoming Rev Up the "Thirst Quencher With Attitude!" as the title sponsor. Rev Up is the Official Sports Energy Drink of GM Vortec Engines Power Team.
The Big-Air Challenge held last year in Tempe, AZ and the previous three years in Orlando, Florida, features competition in wakeboarding as well as ski flying. Ski flying was added as a new feature to the event in 2000, and this will be the fifth year of wakeboard double-up competition. Prize monies for the Rev Up Big-Air Challenge total $40,000. Admission to the Big-Air Challenge is free.
"The Big-Air Challenge continues to be a huge draw. The successful Challenge last year, held in conjunction with the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Tempe, AZ, was one of the most crowd-pleasing tournaments to date," says Larry Meddock, Correct Craft's vice president of marketing and special events. "Only the cream of the crop get to compete.” There will be a last-chance qualifier for wakeboarders on Friday, May 17. This qualifier will add positions available beyond the 20 invited riders.
Preliminary competition in both wakeboarding and ski flying takes place Saturday, May 18. Approximately twenty ski flyers will fly on Saturday. Invitations are being sent to the top-20 flyers currently on the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF) ski fly ranking list. Any ski flyer who jumps at least 200 feet at an American Water Ski Association (AWSA)-sanctioned or record-capability tournament through April 30, 2002, will be eligible for any open spots created by injury or schedule conflict of the invited flyers. Finals take place on Sunday, May 19.
The Rev Up Big-Air Challenge will be taped by Outdoor Life Network to be aired later this spring in 30-minute segments, each featuring ski flying or wakeboarding.
“We are looking to see the first 300-foot jump at this year’s Rev Up Big-Air,” adds Meddock.
A new world record was set during the 2000 Big-Air Challenge when Canadian ski flying champion Jaret Llewellyn, “flew” 299 feet, eclipsing his previous International Water Ski Federation (IWSF) world record of 283 feet. The record was set at the 1999 Masters Waterski & Wakeboard Tournament at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA. 2001 Big-Air Ski Fly Challenge winner, Scot Ellis, will return this year to defend his title earned under adverse conditions due to sever weather in Tempe.
Darin Shapiro also battled difficult conditions in turning in a 20.3 score on his last double-up, the best score of the 2001 competition, to seal the Big-Air Double-Up Challenge victory. Shapiro will defend his title this year against an international field of top wakeboard riders representing the current X-Games and Gravity Games Champions, WWA pro World Champion, Top 10 pro WWA Worlds Cup finishers; the current pro National Champion, 2001 Vans Triple Crown finalists and the current Masters Champion, Shaun Murray.
We are excited to have Rev Up as our title sponsor and look forward to another spectacular Big-Air Challenge this May.
TSP, a subsidiary of Correct Craft, Inc. —maker of the world-famous Nautiques towboats— produces the Big-Air Challenge. Nautiques by Correct Craft® powered by GM Vortec Engines will be the official towboats of the 2002 Rev Up Big-Air Challenge.
For more information or directions to Orlando Watersports Complex, call 407/251-3100.
