Wakestock 2009, best year yet!!
With the hangover cleared and clean feeling ‘oh so good’, it’s time to reflect upon the epic weekend that was Relentless Wakestock 2009, the 10th anniversary of the wakeboarding and music festival where the girls stepped it up and represented.
Wakestock 2009 really had it all; sun, rain, mud, banging tunes and fun fun times. But from our point of view, the best part was seeing more girls riding the testing boat comp at the Pwllheli marina and our very own Wide-A-Wake Girls Rail Jam at the pool gap. With the fantastic support from the Wakestock crew, the girls were given an even greater platform this year to really showcase the ever increasing standard and ballsy attitude of the female riders.
With a real International flavour present, former Wakestock Champions Argentinean Robbie Rendo and Australian Kath Moore were joined by Kara Austin from the USA and Elke Venken from Belgium. The Brits were up against stiff competition, however, despite the tough onslaught, the British girls showed what we’re made of and Charlotte Bryant, in her first ever Wakestock, took the main title and Steph Caller won the Girls’ Rail Jam. (Rail Jam report coming soon…)
Friday 10th, Girls’ Qualifiers
From the girls’ boat qualifier on the Friday, it was very clear that the cable to boat rider cross over was having a great impact on how the girls were tackling the rails. Wakestock has historically challenged riders with the crazy death defying obstacles, but in recent years toned them down a bit to really let the rail skills shine through. The first obstacle, the Leviathan was a beauty. A 20 meter transfer with rail, fun box AND wall ride allowing the girls to really step it up.
Elke, a boat rider but recently spending a couple of months out at CWC, pulled off a 360 on the wall ride on her return pass, Sarah K managed to boardslide most of the way and drop onto the fun box, but it was Emily Bebbington WWA Rail Champ 2009, that got the ‘big cahoona’ respect by being the only girl to tackle the second obstacle, the gap A frame in the qualifiers. With her usual grace and control, Em unfazed by the mountain of rail infront of her, board slid all the way up the near 15 foot incline and gapped it. Big respect girl!
The riding conditions at the Pwllheli marina are always testing, it’s often choppy and cold, but because it’s massively tidal, it becomes a bit of a lottery! There can be anything up to 3 foot water level difference for riders, which means the rails literally grow out of the mud and the wake can disappear! But whilst really testing the riders’ ability to adapt to sudden changing conditions, the girls still pushed themselves. Becky Hall, who’s still recovering from a broken foot, raised her game to attempt a heel side 360, and the most supportive crowd yet for a girls qualifier were treated to Kara’s backside 360 and Charlotte’s roll to revert. But with Elke’s array of inverts, she took the top spot at the girls qualifier, followed by Charlotte and Sammi Filsell, all through to the final.
The award for toughest cookie of the day went to Liu Batchelor, who after falling at the very end of the Leviathan fun box, cut her knee, or so we thought! After getting up and doing a toeside 180 she followed it with a back roll attempt. It was at this point that her cut knee which was actually fractured, dislocated and compounded!! The girl is hard, rock hard!! We all wish you a speedy recovery Liu and are gutted you didn’t get to enjoy the helicopter ride! Now that’s rock and roll!
Saturday 18 July 2009 | Permalink
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