Indianapolis, Indiana - As the top Pro Men and Women began to compete at the Precedent Office Park in the Vans WWA Wakeboard National Championships, the future of wakeboarding was starting to take shape on Saturday. With established names like Parks Bonifay, Darin Shapiro, Tara Hamilton and Dallas Friday looking to secure positions in Sunday's finals in the pro divisions, the next group of top pros-to-be were making a name for themselves.
Maybe Lauren Jewett will be the next Dallas Friday. She could be the heir to the throne of women's wakeboarding. On Saturday, Jewett set herself up as the top Junior Women's wakeboarder in the U.S, earning the National Championship for women ages 14-18.
If Friday is looking over her shoulder at Jewett, then Jewett may have felt the heat coming up the line from Girls 13 and under winner Raimi Merritt who earned her first National Championship on Saturday. Raimi and sister Chloe Merritt had a virtual monopoly on the Girls podium on Saturday, taking first and third place respectively.
While the future of women's wakeboarding was taking shape, the men's game was doing the same. The Junior Men's division is the strongest amateur division in the world with its own tour, the Junior X Series, as part of the Pro Wakeboard Tour.
But, there is only one Junior Men's National Championship and that honor goes to Derek Conway. Conway will have some big shoes to fill as the National Champion. The past two National Champions, JD Webb and Tino Santori, have gone on to almost immediate success at the pro level, both winning Pro Wakeboard Tour events in their first year. The Junior Men's division really is the stepping stone to the pros.
The Pro Men and Women had some business as well on Saturday. Both defending pro champions, Dallas Friday in the women's division and Danny Harf in the men's division, have returned to defend their titles. Both Harf and Friday will have a chance to do just that on Sunday as both have qualified into the next round. Friday qualifies by virtue of winning Heat #2 in the Pro Women's division, while Harf just made it into the Pro Men's Semifinals finishing third in the last heat of the day. Maeghan Major, who won the National Championship in 2000, won the other Pro Women's heat.
There were eight heats of Pro Men competing for a total of 24 spots into the Semifinals on Sunday. Heat winners included Derek Grasman, Erik Ruck, JD Webb, Phillip Soven, Daniel Watkins, Parks Bonifay, Shawn Watson and Tino Santori.
Sunday is the final day of competition at the Vans WWA Wakeboard National Championship. The day begins at 9 a.m. with amateur finals, and will include the Pro Men's, Women's and Wakeskate finals.
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 on July 15, 4 pm (Portland, OR)
WWA Wakeboard Nationals (August 19-2)2 - Fox Sports Net on Sept. 16, 4 pm (Indianapolis, IN)
WWA Wakeboard Worlds (Sept. 30-Oct. 3) - Fox Sports Net on Oct. 26, 4 pm (Orlando, FL)
The Vans Triple Crown 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: SeaDoo watercraft, Perfect Pass, Hyperlite, Toyo Tires, KMC Wheels, Verizon Wireless, 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.com, Wakeboarder.com, Monster Towers, Say I Won't and One Percent Design.
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.
Saturday's Results
Junior Men Finals
Kevin Henshaw 71.89*
1. Derek Conway - 62.33
2. Travis Propst - 53.33
3. Kyle Alberts - 47.11
4. Devin Rogers - 46.56
5. Jay Prock - 41.67
6. Austin Hair - 40.44
7. Jake Scott - 28.33
Heat #1
1. Derek Grasman - 72.80
2. Chris Law - 70.75
3. Chad Sharpe - 64.50
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4. Rob Struharik - 55.10
5. Scott Hopkins - 47.95
6. Steve Edwards - 47.65
7. Gabe Lucas - 42.25
8. Nick Griffin - 31.75
Heat #2
1. Erik Ruck - 66.25
2. Ricky Gonzales - 63.25
3. Ben Greenwood - 53.75
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4. Trevor Hansen - 47.15
5. Jack Blodgett - 43.05
6. Nick Heaney - 42.00
7. Kyle Woehler - 27.70
8. Gabe Fowler - 27.00
Heat #3
1. JD Webb - 65.55
2. Josh Sanders - 62.90
3. Keith Lyman - 61.00
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4. Nick Ennen - 49.25
5. Brian Francis - 40.00
6. Corey Bradley - 37.95
7. Jonathan Nadolski - 34.15
8. Chris O'Shea - 27.75
