Pro Team Challenge
WINTER HAVEN, FL. (August 16, 2007) – It was a winner-take-all format that pitted the top pro wakeboard teams battling it out in three disciplines – double-up contest, boat competition and rail jam – all with one common goal…to win! When it was all said and done, the boys from Team Hyperlite came from behind to take home the big check and more importantly…bragging rights for the next twelve months!
The inaugural Malibu Pro Team Challenge took place August 10th and 11th just outside of Orlando, Florida at a location that is world-renowned as a premiere water-ski show facility, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. Three manufacturers anted up the $5000 entry fee – Liquid Force, Hyperlite and CWB – and Indmar Marine, who provides the power for Malibu’s award winning boats, threw in another $5K to make up the unprecedented $20,000 purse.
Each team was allowed three riders per event and the first round of each event featured three heats with a rider from each team competing. Riders were awarded points on an escalating scale as they made their way through the semi-finals, the finals and to the podium spots. The team that accumulated the most points throughout the weekend would take home twenty grand. Danny “Dano-the-Mano” Amir called the action all weekend long.
All of the participating teams had an opportunity to shine, and they all did at some point during the two day event. Liquid Force took an early lead on Friday when Shane Bonifay took first place in the Kicker Audio Big Air Double-Up Contest. Bonifay had a definite home court advantage as he grew up on nearby Lake Alfred and had performed and competed at the Cypress Gardens Show Arena from a young age. It was a huge toeside backside 540 that the judges gave the nod to. CWB’s Corey Bradley took second with an off-axis heelside backside indy 7 and after several attempts at landing a historic fourth 1080, “the Bonecrusher”, Rusty Malinoski rounded out the podium for team Hyperlite landing a clean off-axis switch toe 900.
The Team Challenge continued on Saturday morning with the Malibu Boat Competition. Team Liquid Force struggled behind the boat when only one of their riders, Tino Santori, even made it into the semi-final round. The biggest surprise to everyone was when current 2007 King of Wake points leader Phillip Soven was taken out in the first round by PWT Junior Men’s phenom Jimmy LaRiche and former two-time World Champion, Andrew Adkison. Balance of power shifted when the finals featured two Hyperlite riders, Aaron Rathy and LaRiche. Despite his young age, LaRiche showed poise, style and determination stomping his run and landing on top of the podium. Rathy, shook off the cobwebs after a brutal face-plant in the semi-finals to take second place and give Team Hyperlite a big boost in the points. Andrew Adkison took third moving Team CWB into second place overall after two events. Both of the on-the-water events took place behind a 2007 Malibu VLX with Malibu Pro Team rider, Chad Sharpe, behind the wheel.
The third and final event of the Malibu Pro Team Challenge took place Saturday afternoon and it was still anyone’s game going into the Monster Energy Drink Pool Gap Rail Jam. The killer set-up, provided by Orlando based Step-Up Productions, featured a ten foot high starting pool with a forty foot down-rail to the impressive 40’ x 60’ landing pool. It also featured a third pool with a kicker over a fifteen foot gap to the landing pool. During the rail jam session local jam band, the Burnin Smyrnins, added to the already festive vibe of the event. The format was shortened due to impending weather so only the top rider from each heat would advance to the finals. In Heat #1, CWB rider Derek Grasman took out arguably the best rail riders in the competition – Kevin Henshaw and Aaron Rathy. CWB’s Corey Bradley, on a tear all weekend, advanced from Heat #2 and former World Champion, Erik Ruck took the third heat for Hyperlite leaving Team Liquid Force out of the finals.
The rail jam started under sunny skies (and hot temps), but an afternoon storm came out of nowhere halfway through the finals and shut things down. After a rain delay and under darkened skies, the final three riders went to work. Grasman killed it with a clean 270 on backlip to 270 out and took first place. Ruck followed with a stylish 50/50 to nose press to take second and Corey Bradley’s boned out tail press gave CWB their fifth podium spot on the weekend.
With a second place in the double-up, a strong showing in the boat comp and his third place finish in the rail jam, CWB’s Corey Bradley took home the $1000 bonus for the individual rider who scored the most points throughout the weekend. But it was Team Hyperlite who fought their way back from trailing the pack on day one to take the overall win. Thanks to strong performances by “the youngster” – Jimmy LaRiche, “the bonecrusher” – Rusty Malinoski, “the bruiser” – Aaron Rathy and the seasoned pro and former World Champion – Eric Ruck, Team Hyperlite pocketed the $20,000 purse, the custom Malibu Pro Team Challenge Championship Trophy, provided by Lucky Devil Designs, and more importantly…bragging rights as the best team in wakeboarding for the next 12 months!
“The ultimate goal was to create an innovative, fun event that featured the top riders in the sport competing as a team and representing for their respective board companies”, said organizer, Bill Geiger. “Initial feedback from riders, sponsors and attendees has been awesome…very positive…I think we absolutely accomplished what we set out to do and I can’t wait to do it again in 2008!”
In addition to Malibu Boats, the Pro Team Challenge was sponsored in part by Monster Energy Drink, Kicker Audio, Indmar Marine Engines, Liquid Force Wakeboards, Hyperlite Wakeboards, CWB, Riptank.com, H2O Clothing Company and TBKS. Media partners include Alliance Wakeboard Magazine, Wakeboarding Magazine, Wakeworld.com, The Liquid Circus.com, Axis Magazine and O-Rock 105.9 FM.
For additional coverage and to view photos of the event go to www.theliquidcircus.com
The Malibu Pro Team Challenge was filmed by Alliance Multi-Media and will be featured on action sports leader Fuel TV in mid-October. Also, be looking for coverage in
Alliance Wakeboard, Wakeboarding Magazine and on Wakeworld.com.
