Chuncheon, South Korea (August 31, 2010) – Reigning World Cup champion Raimi Merritt defended her title on Monday to win her fourth World Cup in three years at the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup in ChunCheon, South Korea. The World Cup was held in conjunction with the World Leisure Games which included 13,000 competitors from 50 countries. The 17-year-old Merritt overcame the pressure of thousands of spectators looking on as she rode on Lake Uiam in ChunCheon. “What a way to end the 2010 season!” said Merritt.
Nicola Butler and Amber Wing, who had finished ahead of Merritt at the previous weekend’s WWA World Championships in Orlando, went off the dock on Lake Uiam just before Merritt. “They’re both phenomenal riders and after watching them, I knew I had to give it everything I had to take the win. Opening up with two 540s was gutsy, but I think it was my S-Bend, which was huge and clean, that probably clinched the gold,” said Merritt.
By winning this year’s World Cup, Merritt remains the number-one ranked pro women’s wakeboarder by the International Waterski Wakeboard Federation.
“I was glad to have my sister Chloe and dad with me in Korea. They really helped keep my head in the game. They also made runs to get me pizza all weekend so my stomach would stay calm–and finding pizza while competing in Asian countries is a tough job to do,” said Merritt.
Merritt will finish the 2010 season in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the WWA Wake Park National Cable Championships September 17-19.
Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and now lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. raimimerritt.com
