The 2003 Midwest Mission To Ride season began on Wednesday June 4th at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. The local sponsor, Skiers Wharf Extreme in Osage Beach, Missouri arranged a beautiful site with great conditions. They also provided the Rave slider for the competition and were very supportive of the contest. The brand new Super Air Nautique pulled the riders through the course which was clearly marked by the gigantic Red Bull buoys.
The tournament series directors, Chuck and Rachel McCloud made sure everyone walked away with a prize from the series sponsors. Even the non-participating kids in the crowd went home with some shwag.
This was the first stop in the twelve stop WWA Midwest Mission to Ride regional series. Riders from as far away as Wisconsin and Michigan traveled to Missouri to compete. The series gives individual trophies and prizes at each stop as well as points toward the overall series championships. The winner in each division at this event won a pair of Spy sunglasses.
The division winners were:
Junior Novice Gus Shuler
Novice Andy Shuler
Intermediate Gunnar Shuler
Advanced Nick Franklan
Outlaw Gabe Fowler
The most tightly contested division was the intermediate division where Gunnar Shuler, Kerby Liesman and Steve Cahail were separated by the smallest margin from first to third. Look for these three to push each other in upcoming events.
Midwest Mission To Ride Stop #2
FREE FOOD, GREAT PRIZES, PLENTY OF RIDING TIME, AWESOME CONDITIONS ALL FOR 15 BUCKS!
The 2nd stop of The Midwest Mission To Ride series was on a private lake in Kokomo, Indiana. The weather was great, the water was butter and the wakes were phat. All the riders got 3 pulls behind 2 different boats thanks to Morse Lake Inboards and Aqua Marine. Between runs you could stay loose on the Indo Boards or stuff your face with FREE food.
Some lucky riders walked away with great prizes like a Gator Board, Clive backpack, Hardline handle, House wakeskate, Gul rashguard, Gath helmet, Jet Pilot boardshorts or Spy bucks. Everyone left with something and is looking forward to next weekend at Austin Lake Park, Ohio.
Midwest Mission To Ride Stop #3
You can have fun while competing.
Wakeboarding should be fun and that is what Chuck McCloud, Director of the Midwest Mission to Ride, tries to do at all his tournament stops. He proved it at stop #3 by throwing a fashion air contest after the regular contest. The prize for best fashion or fashion combo was a Double Fisted board rack and $25 of SPY bucks. The winner was me, Gunnar Shuler, for doing a fashion back roll. The runner up was Gus Shuler winning $25 of SPY bucks and a Dakine t-shirt for doing a cab fashion mute.
The 3rd Midwest Mission to Ride stop was held at Austin Lake Park in Toronto, Ohio with great conditions. Thanks to Bill and Marsha Cable for hosting the event.
The winners were:
Jr. Novice Gus Shuler
Novice Reid Rhodes
Intermediate Gunnar Shuler
Reid and Brian both in their first tournament ever, were able to win their divisions. So it shows there are some great riders who should be competing in their local tournaments.
The first place winners received hats from Jet Pilot, Rainbow Fins, Sector Nine, Dakine or Clive, a Gul rashguard and SPY bucks. The second place finishers got a Gul rashguard and SPY bucks. The third place finishers got SPY bucks. For the drive home everyone got some Red Bull to keep them up.
