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On Monday, we got a glimpse of the beginnings of the massive structure Pat Panakos is assembling on Lake Eola in downtown Orlando for an event Red Bull is calling Wake Lab. It doesn’t look like much now, but when it’s finished Thursday, it will be arguably the most elaborate setup wakeboarding has ever seen.
The Wake Lab will also mark the U.S. competitive debut of Sesitec’s new System 2.0, a portable straight-line cable system that will tow riders over the park’s elevated pool, hand rails and half pipe.
Parks Bonifay hand-selected 24 of the world’s best riders to compete in the innovative event, which kick offs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Twelve of those riders will vie for eight spots in the semifinals, while another 12, including Red Bull riders JD Webb, Adam Errington, Josh Sanders and Bonifay will automatically advance to the semifinals.
Invited Riders:
(All invited riders automatically qualify for the semifinals starting at 8 p.m.)
Parks Bonifay
Shane Bonifay
Adam Errington
Danny Harf
Collin Harrington
Keith Lidberg
Gabe Lucas
Aaron Rathy
Josh Sanders
Chad Sharpe
Shawn Watson
JD Webb
Qualifier Group:
(Riders in this group will have two rounds of qualifying sessions starting at 4 p.m. to complete the field.)
Oliver Derome
Mike Ennen
Clay Fletcher
Tom Fooshee
Kevin Henshaw
Robbie Jacques
Keith Lyman
Rusty Malinoski
Shaun Murray
Erik Ruck
Philip Soven
Yannick Tibo
Wake Lab Schedule:
Practice Session
Friday, September 12, 2998
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Open practice sessions on Lake Eola
Event Day
Saturday, September 13, 2008
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Qualifying Round – Four groups of three. Four riders advance to the quarterfinals
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Quarterfinals – Four groups of four. Eight riders advance to the semifinals
7:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.: DJ Swamp opens the event
7:45 p.m.: Red Bull Air Force skydive demo
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.: Semifinals and Finals: Two groups of four riders compete. Only four athletes advance to the final round.
9:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: DJ Swamp Closes Event and Award Presentation
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