Kelowna, British Columbia (July 13, 2003) - MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour rookie Tino Santori won his first Pro Tour event presented by Chevy Trucks and GM Vortec engines in the Extreme Sport Series Wakefest, at Kelowna's Waterfront Park. Canadian Chad Sharpe of Cloverdale, BC finished fifth on the day.
Before this season, Santori had distinguished himself as a top rider in the MasterCraft Junior X Series, winning events and finishing near the top of the season standings in 2002. Santori finished his 2002 season by winning his first event, the U.S. Open of wakeboarding.
Today's win firmly establishes Santori as a top rider in the pro ranks because the Pro Men's final in Kelowna featured top riders such as Parks Bonifay, Darin Shapiro and Daniel Watkins who are at the top of the Indmar Pro Men's standings and in the hunt for the Pro Men's Season championship.
Santori shared the podium with Australians Watkins and Brett Eisenhauer who finished second and third respectively. This marks Watkins third week on the podium on the Pro Tour. Going into the event, Watkins was tied for the lead in the Pro Tour Standings. No Australian has ever won the Pro Tour Season championship.
Not only is this Santori's first-ever victory, but this marks the first time Santori has qualified for a Pro Men's final on the Pro Wakeboard Tour. The win for Santori may open up some more opportunities going into the second half of the wakeboarding season. There are still spots open for the X Games, and another top finish on the Pro Tour may give Santori an opportunity to qualify.
In the SeaDoo Watercraft Pro Wakeskate Series Brian Grubb took the top spot with Aaron Reed second and Thomas Horrell third. This is also Grubb's first Pro Tour victory, but second win of the season, Grubb won the Vans Triple Crown SeaDoo Watercraft Wakeskate Series in Ft. Worth Texas earlier this year.
The MasterCraft Junior X Series also featured a first time winner, Dann Thollander. Thollander is the first Junior Men's athlete other than JD Webb to win an event in 2003. Webb, the current leader in the Junior X Series standings, finished second on the day with Jeff House in third.
The Pro Wakeboard Tour's Kelowna event is part of the Extreme Sports Series WAKEFEST 2003, sponsored by Export 'A' and Coors Light the event features an Extreme Music Series concert, a Hydro Foil competition, Freestyle Motocross demos and the Coors Light Bikini Contest.
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Chevy Trucks and GM Vortec Engines, is a five-event circuit organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Florida. Powered by Indmar, the Pro Tour has the support of the following: Bud Light, 180 Energy Drink, SeaDoo watercraft, Hyperlite, Perfect Pass, Activision, Liquid Force, Epiphone Guitars, CWB, OJ Props, Gator Boards, Chipper Beef Jerky, Earthboard, Bare Wetsuits, buywake.com, Billabong, Reef, Love Sac, Body Glove, Capix Helmets, JoyRide, 3thirteen, Indo Boards, One Percent Designs, UGP, Straightline, Double-up, Blindside, Bootie Lube, Liquid Lube, Monaco, Ice Apparel and Barts Water Sports.
Wake Boarding Magazine, published 9 times a year by World Publications, is the official magazine of Pro Wakeboard Tour. Wake Boarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding including professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.
The Extreme Sports Series WAKEFEST is sponsored by Export 'A' and Coors Light and the event is produced by MASEV in association with Florida's World Sports and Marketing. With offices in Carlsbad, Toronto and Vancouver, MASEV is a leading North American Marketing agency. As a full service agency, MASEV provides a complete range of marketing services including Research, Strategic Consulting, Creative, Promotions, vent Management, Music and Entertainment and Talent Procurement.
Sunday's Results
Pro Men Wakeboard
FINALS
1 Tino Santori (CO) 92
2 Daniel Watkins (AUS) 91
3 Brett Eisenhauer (AUS) 90
Parks Bonifay (FL) 87
Chad Sharpe (CAN) 86
Darin Shapiro (FL) 85
Trevor Hansen (FL) 83
Josh Sanders (AUS) 77
Gerry Nunn (FL) 75
Sea Doo Wake Skate
FINALS
1 Brian Grubb (FL) 99
2 Aaron Reed (FL) 98
3 Thomas M Horrell (FL) 97
Brandon Thomas (FL) 96
Collin Wright (OR) 95
Tim Kovacich (FL) 94
Jim Leatherman (FL) 93
Drew McGuckin (FL) 92
Jr Men
FINALS
Placements Scores
1 Dann Thollander (FL) 93
2 J D Webb (FL) 90
3 Jeff House (TN) 88
4 Scott Hopkins (FL) 86
5 Philip Combs (OR) 86
6 Derek Grasman (MI) 82
7 Jonathan Nadolski (FL) 82
8 Kevin Henshaw (CAN) 80
9 Devin Rogers (FL) 78
Pro Men Semifinals
Heat # 1
1 Darin Shapiro (FL) 97
2 Tino Santori (CO) 90
3 Josh Sanders (AUS) 90
Jeff Weatherall (NZL) 89
Shawn Watson (FL) 86
Rob Struharik (OH) 85
Heat # 2
1 Trevor Hansen (FL) 95
2 Daniel Watkins (AUS) 95
3 Chad Sharpe (CAN) 89
Keith Lyman (FL) 88
Nick Weinacker (FL) 86
Shane Bonifay (FL) 84
