The second annual Malibu Pro Team Challenge, held August 16-17 in Eatonville, Washington, was the first pro wakeboarding event in the state in more than 10 years.
In fact, according to longtime Northwest rider and Liquid Force pro Mike Ennen, the boat, double-up and rail jam competition was the first pro wakeboard event in Washington since 1997.
Silver Lake Resort, located about midway between Portland and Seattle in the shadow of Mount Rainier, provided a classic Pacific Northwest backdrop for this team event that featured pro riders battling it out for a $25,000 purse.
Last year’s winners, Team Hyperlite, including Jimmy LaRiche, Aaron Rathy, Erik Ruck, Jacob Valdez and JD Webb, defended their title against teams from Gator Boards, Liquid Force and Ronix.
The event included three separate disciplines: a traditional boat competition, a big-air double-up contest and a pool-to-lake rail jam. The action started at noon on Saturday with the Malibu Boat Competition and ended Sunday with the finals in each category.
Team Hyperlite swept the boat comp as Rathy, Webb and LaRiche finished first, second and third. Ronix’s Danny Harf stomped a grabbed TS BS off-axis 720 to win the double-up comp, and LaRiche won the rail jam for Hyperlite.
Hyperlite finished first overall with a total of 240 points. Teams Liquid Force and Ronix tied for second with 155 points each, and Team Gator took third with 75 points.
LaRiche earned the Indmar Top Performer award for his strong overall performance throughout the weekend.
Check out video from the event at evogear.com.
For more info, visit malibuboats.com.
