The Best Boat Rider is just that – the rider who crushes the game with boat riding that not only pushes the limits, but looks clean, effortless and fun, as well. These riders all have contest results and ground-breaking maneuvers under their belts, and anytime any of them drop an edit, everybody tunes in to see what’s gone down.
Bec Gange
The two time Australian World Champion had a solid competitive year. Gange made the finals in all major events including the World Wakeboard Championships, the Moxie Pro Boat finals, the WWA Nationals and the Ladies No Limits online contest. She placed second at Boardfest Tennessee and at Wake the Desert. At the end of summer, she had an outstanding technical and solid stand up performance at the PWT Team Challenge. As an established ambassador of the sport, this year Bec had great involvement in video productions and promotions for her sponsors Axis, Fat Sac and Hyperlite and released her new video series Gone Wake Abouts.
Meagan Ethell
Meagan Ethell had a stellar year, she upped her game and learned new tricks as the competitive level in the women’s pro scene continues to escalate. Ethell had a few mishaps at main events like the Moxie Pro Boat and the Masters but she won the Ladies No limits online event, the 2021 World Wakeboard Championships and the 2021 WWA Nationals. In September, she walked away with the biggest cash purse of the season as an integral member of the Liquid Force winning team at the PWT Supra Team Challenge.
Eugenia De Armas
The Argentinean powerhouse was a podium regular all season. She made it into the finals at all the main events landing back to back Moby Dicks, Tootsie Rolls, KGB’s and 540’s. Eugenia rode amazingly at the WWA Nationals, placed second at the Moxie Pro Boat finals, barely missed the podium at the 2021 World Wakeboard Championships but won the gold medal at the 2021 Panamerican Wakeboard Championships in her hometown. De Armas is the only female that has landed doubles behind the boat, a heroic feat that remains unmatched.
Dallas Friday
The image of Dallas Friday boxing with bright pink gloves hits hard. Friday is the definition of perseverance, faith, strength and courage. She is a legend and an inspiration to athletes worldwide. After two decades at the top of her game, with multiple World Titles and accolades to her name, the mom of two continues to charge like there is no tomorrow. She is the only woman mixing Raleys, Blind Judges, Mobes and spins in her passes, all the while keeping her eyes on her two kids. Always a competitive threat, when Friday enters a contest she rarely misses the podium. This year placed third at the US Masters, third at Boardfest Tennessee, second at the PWT Team Challenge and runner up at the 2021 World Wakeboard Championships by a few points. There is no saying when Dallas will get off the ring as her hard earned torch keeps blazing on.
Jamie Lopina
Miss Jamie Lopina had an unforgettable year, the entire season she seemed to have the Midas touch. She started placing third at Lithuania’s Red Bull’s Wake Duel cable park event, then she did the unthinkable and took down all the top seeds winning both Moxie Pro Boat and Cable events. She won the boat event final standing both passes including a crowmobe into the flats. She continued her golden streak winning first place at Milan’s Red Bull Wake The City with teammate Maryh Rougier. She didn’t participate at the Wake Park World Championships nor at the World Wakeboard Championships, relieving some of her contestants as she didn’t miss the podium once this season. Her stellar performances in both events skyrocketed her into legendary status as one of the best wakeboard competitors of our time.
Mary Morgan Howell
The sweet sensation from Dothan Alabama, looks much like the girl next door or America’s sweetheart, that is… until she gets in the water and what emerges is a sharp and focused warrior. Making waves in the pro scene after winning the Moxie Pro fan vote and signing a sponsorship contract as the new Body Glove Girl, Mary Morgan has established herself as a force to be reckoned with. At the 2021 Callaway Masters she took top honors winning the event by landing 3 consecutive Mobe handle pass maneuvers in the finals. She placed third at the Ladies No Limits Online contest landing an off axis 720 and was runner up at the WWA Nationals. She ended the season with a bang placing third at the 2021 World Wakeboard Championships only a few points behind Ethell and Friday.
