Portland, Oregon (June 19, 2004) - Qualifying Rounds are usually filled with safe riding typified by athletes just trying to move into the final rounds where they pull out their best performances. However, that was not the case at the Vans Wakeboarding Pro, the first stop on the Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding. Portland's Blue Lake Park provided the large crowds that filled the park with some never-before-seen wakeboarding feats.
Pro men's rider, Danny Harf was part of the show on Saturday. Harf has been stepping it up for the past two seasons, placing himself into the wakeboarding elite. On Saturday Harf pulled a move never seen in competition, a Nuclear Whirlybird, which is a Tantrum with a full 360 rotation with a nuclear grab thrown in. The rest of Harf's run was good enough to win his heat on Saturday and put him into Sunday's Semifinals at Blue Lake Park.
Another rider, Cole Munster, proved he may be one of the most complete athletes at the Vans Wakeboarding Pro by following up a trip to the Wakeskate Finals with a trip into the Pro Men's Wakeboard Semifinals. If Munster makes the Pro Men's Wakeboard Finals on Sunday, he will be the only athlete in the sport's history to qualify for two finals in the disciplines of wakeboarding and wakeskating.
The rest of Saturday's Qualifying Rounds were dominated by young riders, a continuing theme throughout the season. Phillip Soven, the 15-year-old who has won the last two events in pro wakeboarding won his heat. 2003 Rookie of the Year Tino Santori also won his heat just beating out JD Webb, a top candidate for 2004 Rookie of the Year. Derek Grasman, another rookie won his qualifying heat.
In the Women's Semifinals, Dallas Friday continued her torrid pace, taking the top spot into Sunday's final. On the local side, Megan McNeil who was born in Eugene, Oregon and grew up in Washington, qualified for the Women's final as well.
In Pro Wakeskate Semifinals, Collin Wright of Portland took his heat to give him a chance for a win on Sunday in the Wakeskate Final.
The Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding, the largest wakeboarding series in the sport, consists of three championship-caliber events: Vans Wakeboard Pro
June 19-20
Fox Sports Net - July 15, 4 pm
(Portland, OR)
WWA Wakeboard Nationals
August 19-22
Fox Sports Net - Sept. 16, 4pm
(Indianapolis, IN)
WWA Wakeboard Worlds
Sept. 30-Oct. 3
Fox Sports Net - Oct. 26, 4 pm
(Orlando, FL)
The Vans Triple Crown(tm) Series is made possible through the support of Ford Trucks, Right Guard, Mountain Dew, NBC Sports and Fox Sports Net. The Vans Triple Crown Series features the world's top athletes participating in premier venues throughout North America for the top prize purse in each of six action sports: Skateboarding, Wakeboarding, BMX, Freestyle Motocross, Surfing and Snowboarding.
Additional promotional support provided by: MasterCraft, Perfect Pass, Hyperlite, Liquid Force, Gator Boards, CWB, Jobe, Double-up, Blindside, JoyRide, O'Brien, Cassette Wakeskates, 484 Wakeskates, Billabong, Reef, Body Glove, UGP, Epiphone Guitars, OJ Props, Chipper Beef Jerky, Bare Wetsuits, buywake.com, Love Sac, Capix Helmets, Indo Boards, Straight Line, Nevin, ten-80, Toyo Tires, KMC Wheels, Verizon Wireless, Execute, Wakeworld, Wakeboarder.com, Monster Tower, Say I Won't and One Percent Design.
Local sponsors include: Portland Oregon Visitors Association and Oregon Sports Authority.
Wake Boarding, published by World Publications, is the official magazine of the Pro Wakeboard Tour. Wake Boarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.
Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding
Vans Wakeboarding Pro
Saturday's Results
HEAT # 7
1 Danny Harf 97
2 Mikey Ennen 94
Nick Jones 91
Marcelo Giardi 88
Jason Clark NS
Matt Lockwood NS
HEAT # 8
1 Parks Bonifay 97
2 Zane Schwenk 93
Rusty Malinoski 92
Philip Combs 88
Jack Blodgett 85
Nick McBride 82
Pro Women Semifinals
(top 8 advance to FINALS)
Dallas Friday 97
Tara Hamilton 94
Emily Copeland-Durham 90
Maeghan Major 89
Lauren Loe 85
Melissa Marquardt 84
Megan McNeil 79
Cheryl Newton 76
Laura Lohrmann 73
Pro Wakeskate Semifinals
(top 2 advance to FINALS)
HEAT # 1
1 Brian Grubb 97
2 Jordan Mears 93
Scott Byerly 92
Silas Thurman 88
Megan McNeil 85
HEAT # 2
1 Brandon Thomas 95
2 Aaron Reed 94
Joey White 93
Chris Canuel NS
