Nautique Wake Games Off to Flying Start
Return of Bob Soven, Mike Dowdy’s Debut Highlight Action-Packed Day One
Orlando, Fla. — A conglomerate of the world’s best wakeboarders converged on the Orlando Watersports Complex to begin competition of the annual Nautique Wake Games Presented by Rockstar, one the sport’s largest and most prestigious events. Both the Pro Men and Pro Women showed off the results of their offseason training regiment, displaying progressive riding with massive aerials and technical rail maneuvers.
Highlighting the elite Pro Men’s division today was the return of Bob Soven, who was sidelined much of last season from injury. During his triumphant return, Soven unleashed an arsenal of stylish tricks to win his heat and secure a spot in Saturday’s quarterfinals round. The division also saw the highly-anticipated King of Wake professional debut of Mike Dowdy. The winner of last season’s Overton’s Junior Pro Series didn’t disappoint, boosting some of the biggest airs of the day, including the very elusive mute double roll to revert to win his heat and claim a spot in the quarterfinals.
“It’s clear everyone put in a lot of time training during the offseason and came to Wake Games to show off their new and improved bag of tricks,” said Chris Bischoff, King of Wake competition director. “The Nautique G23 is pumping out a perfect wake, so fans can expect to see some huge tricks throughout the event.”
Early indications suggest the Pro Women are bringing female wakeboarding to new heights. Leading the charge during day one at Wake Games was Melissa Marquardt who linked together a well balanced run of big airs and smooth rail work to post the day’s top score of 85.00.
The Nautique Wake Games is stop number one on the eight-event King of Wake Series. Online adult tickets are available for $7 (46% off the gate price) and include an exclusive Overton’s discount code for online buyers only. Gate prices are: $13 (adult); $5 (ages 6-12); free (ages 5 and under). For information on the Nautique Wake Games, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, visit www.kingofwake.com.
Nautique Wake Games Day 1 Results
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 1 (Top 2 advance)
1. Kyle Rattray 76.67
2. Keenan Allen 56.67
3. Dustin O’Ferrall 45.00
4. Pierce Homsey 25.00
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 2
1. Jefferson Langley 68.33
2. Jeff McKee 61.67
3. Stephen Pierce 56.67
4. Kirby Liesmann 43.33
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 3
1. Chris O’Shea 73.33
2. Christian Primrose 55.00
3. Dante Digangi 43.33
4. Josh Palma 33.67
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 4
1. Mike Dowdy 85.00
2. Chad Sharpe 55.00
3. Ben Allbright 43.33
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 5
1. Bob Soven 75.00
2. Shane Bonifay 65.00
3. Nick Kamper 48.33
4. Brad Smeele 45.67
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 6
1. Danny Harf 78.33
2. Oli Derome 73.00
3. Josh Twelker 69.17
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 7
1. Sam Carne 70.00
2. Danny Thollander 51.67
3. Jason Bannatyne 45.67
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 8
1. Ryan Anderson 66.67
2. Adam Errington 61.67
3. Trevor Maur 55.00
4. Gunnar Shuler 40.00
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 9
1. Trevor Hansen 78.33
2. Austin Hair 73.50
3. Shaun Murray 48.33
Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 10
1. Shawn Watson 81.67
2. Jimmy Lariche 73.33
3. Jimmy Trask 63.33
Pro Women Qualifying Round Heat 1 (Top 4 advance)
1. Melissa Marquardt 85.00
2. Nicola Butler 76.67
3. Charlotte Bryant 58.33
4. Erika Langman 41.67
5. Ashley Leugner 35.00
Pro Women Qualifying Round Heat 2
1. Raimi Merritt 75.00
2. Corrie Dyer 60.00
3. Taylor McCullough 51.67
4. Kimberly Kirch 40.00
5. Brooke Grassman 30.00
Pro Women Qualifying Round
1. Amber Wing 78.00
2. Dallas Friday 72.33
3. Bec Gange 61.67
4. Tarah Mikacich 55.00
5. Emily Durnham 46.67
Pro Wakeskate Qualifying Round Heat 1(Top 4 advance)
1. Danny Hampson 80.00
2. Brian Grubb 65.67
3. Nick Taylor 58.33
4. James Balzer 51.67
Pro Wakeskate Qualifying Round Heat 2
1. Reed Hansen 70.00
2. Grant Roberts 60.00
3. George Daniels 48.33
4. Austin Polterock 37.00
Junior Pro Ben Qualifying Round Heat 1(Top 2 advance)
1. Gordo Harrison 88.25
2. Robby Holihan 88.25
3. Parker Siegele 82.25
4. Marc Kroon 76.75
5. Jimmy Frandsen 62.50
6. Maxim Van Helvoort 46.50
7. Damien Adam 45.50
Junior Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 2 (Top 2 advance)
1. Massi Piffaretti 97.25
2. Jason Soven 87.00
3. Kyle Evans 80.25
4. Justin Lee 61.50
5. Juan Mendez 58.00
6. Zachary Brown 57.25
7. Merrett Fay 48.75
Junior Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 3
1. Noah Flegel 100.00
2. Brad Teunissen 88.50
3. Cory Teunissen 74.50
4. Jorge Gill 70.50
5. Jamie McCauley 56.50
6. Gus Shuler 55.75
7. Jeongwook Kim 44.25
Junior Pro Men Qualifying Heat 4
1. Tony Iacconi 95.50
2. Joey Buss 74.75
3. Yangsu Kim 74.50
4. Mac Schramm 71.50
5. Arnie Watkins 62.25
6. Ian Cole 54.25
7. James Loisel 51.25
Masters Semifinals Heat 1 (Top 3 advace)
1. Daniel Duquesnoy 66.67
2. Kevin Michael 50.00
3. Francisco Cabezas 30.00
