Women’s Wakeboarding with Steeeeze!! At WWA Worlds 2009
“Steeeeze” – the latest verbal offering from the wakeboarding community to mean buckets and buckets of style, and with the Pro Women’s efforts at the 2009 WWA world championships in the Philippines, the commentators were saying it… a lot!!
The standard of riding has continued to impress year on year and with Maxine Sapulette (NLD) no longer being the only showboater, the division has attracted a lot more interest. The girls are churning out the high calibre tricks with every run, we’re seeing 540’s, s-bends, roll to blind, batwings, fronts, vulcans and double s-bends!! It’s impressive. Boat riders Raimi Merrit (USA) and Haley Smith (AUS) also brought a real aggression to the cable in their style of riding too. But the refreshing difference this year, was the Steeeze factor. With style points counting significantly, those with the S factor really shone through for the spectators. There’s no denying that Maxine was joined by Brits Emily Bebbington and Steph Caller in the style stakes. These ladies have a confidence and cool on the rails the likes of women’s wakeboarding has not seen so prominently before, Steph’s nose press 360 on the flat bar was just stunning and effortless in it’s execution, Em’s back lips on the wall rides were all bone and poked out and Maxine just didn’t falter, solid as a rock in her ability to mix style and execution. However the big air tricks still dictated the Pro Womens final pecking order with Maine Sapulette (NLD) coming out on top, followed by boat rider Raimi Merrit (USA) then Lauren Ormsby (AUS) and Brits Steph Caller and Emily Bebbington placing 4th and 5th respectively.
...BUT take away the air tricks and kickers by moving to the rail park and we have a new battle ground. Highlighting more than ever the value of Steeze in the women’s competition for the future of the sport, Emily Bebbington brought home the bacon with the Rail Park title, followed by Maxine and then Kinga Horvath (HUN) and Steph placing 4th. That podium positioning reflecting how the grace and elegance of the 5’10” Cambridge medical student on the rails is something we all need to take note of. A huge congratulations to all the female competitors at the WWA worlds this year, but a special big up to Em and Steph for representing GB so well. Blighty’s proud of you ladies.
While we’re on the subject of the world’s, lets not forget the men… Congratulations to “Sick” Nick Davies who took the Gold in the Pro men’s cable division along with a Bronze in the Boat event, nice one Nick! Don’t forget if you want want to see WWA World Cable Wakeboard Champion Nick as Hottie of the Fortnight vote for him in the upcoming poll…
Monday 30 March 2009 | Permalink
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