2015 Nautique WWA National Championships - Finals are set in Miami

by World Wakeboard Association on 16 Aug 2015 After another great day at the Miami Watersports Complex, the finals for the Nautique WWA National Championships presented by Rockstar Energy are set. With pros from the Nautique Wake Series, Wakeboard World Series (WBWS) and Wake Park World Series (WPWS) competing, the fans saw a great show.

As the field vying for the top spot continued to shrink, the quality of the riders’ runs continued to improve. Putting down the best runs and claiming the number one seeds in their Men’s Professional Feature semi-final heats were Nautique athlete Bob Soven and his brother Phillip. Joining them in the finals is Austin Hair, Dean Smith, Nautique’s Noah Flegel, and Harley Clifford.

“It’s awesome when both my brother and I can celebrate together,” said Bob Soven. The Super Air Nautque G23 is the best wake in the world so you are going to see everyone riding their best in the final. Phil and I are stoked to have yet another brotherly battle, this time for the National Championships.”

In the Pro Women’s division we also saw innovation as Meagan Ethell, put together an amazing run to lead Raimi Merritt, and Ashley Leugner into the finals.

In the Pro Wakeskate class, Danny Hampson and Brian Grubb lead the field of Reed Hansen and Austin Polterock into the finals behind the Super Air Nautique G21.

“Everyone has really stepped up their riding and it has taken nearly flawless runs to get into the finals,” said Hampson. “I know tomorrow is going to be even harder as we are all trying to take the contest, but also win the Nautique Wake Series and secure an invite to the U.S. Masters.”

On the cables more impressive runs were being laid down as Cristobal Mendez took the semi-final win in the Pro Wakeskate semi-final to lead George Daniels, Reed Hansen and Nicholas Robinson into the finals tomorrow. While Gavin Stuckey and Andrew Watson claimed the Open Men Features semi-finals win, Jamie Lopina, Meagan Ethell and Taylor McCulough all advanced to the Pro Women Features Championship round.

The day was punctuated late in the afternoon as the Rockstar Energy Kicker Best Trick Contest took over the park. At the end it was Brenton Priestley who landed a massive Method to Blind to claim the victory over Oli Derome and Shane Bentley.

“I’m stoked to win the Rockstar Best Trick contest,” said Priestley. “Everything came together perfectly for me. I’ve been working hard on landing the method to blind and to nail it in competition felt amazing.”

After all the fun in the sun at the Miami Watersports Complex, all amateurs, pro’s and their families gathered together to award the 37 amateur national champions their well-deserved trophies.

Sunday marks the final day of competition at the Nautique WWA National Championships. Titles will be awarded in the remaining divisions for the event and the Nautique Wake Series champion will be crowned. Overall champions from each pro division will receive an invite to the most prestigious event in watersports, the Nautique U.S. Masters.