Record breaking turnout for Rider Experience West in Nevada

2016 Malibu WWA Rider Experience The WWA

2016 Malibu WWA Rider Experience © The WWA

A record number of participants were on hand for the Malibu Rider Experience West, including athletes from five different Western states (Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, and Oregon), who were looking to fine tune their skills. Promising talented young riders on hand were able to hangout and land new tricks with the help of Malibu’s professional men and women riders, such as Oli Derome, Jeff Langley, Tarah Mikacich, Amber Wing, and Chad Sharpe.

Rocker Steiner (Texas) claimed the win in the always-competitive Boy’s division. He may be small in size, but his strong riding style is comparative to the best. Just behind him were Alex Albin (California) and Maxim Sitnikov (California). Elle Christensen (Utah) used a set of clean inverts and grabs to nail the winning run in the Jr. Women’s (10-18), edging out Alyssa Williams (California) and Lexi Gonzales (California).

2016 Malibu WWA Rider Experience © The WWA

Master’s Men witnessed Tim Walters (California) dominate the competition with technical tricks, followed by Luke Fouriner (Arizona) and Jason Allison (California). Ashton Davis (Utah) won the Jr. Boy’s division, while Blake Landon (Utah) won the Boy’s Beginner.

In the Jr. Men’s (14-18), Bryce Grey (Australia) emerged victorious over Gus Reed (Colorado) and Darin Delgado (California). The Women’s division provided plenty of action as Kaley McNay (Oregon) boosted her backroll to take the win ahead of Whitney White (Nevada).

2016 Malibu WWA Rider Experience © The WWA

Local Nevada talent battled it out for the top spot in Men’s I (19-24), however, it was Ryan Kloski that used an impressive run to edge out Joshua Johnson. In the Men’s II (25-29), competition was close with Corbin Blanton (Wisconsin) taking a narrow victory over Tyler Clarke (California) and Kevin Hutts (Wisconsin).

One of the most exciting divisions of the day was the Jr. Girls, which included Harmony Lawhon (California) laying down a run of diverse jumps, 180’s and ollie’s en route to the top of the charts. Her brother Candan Lawhon (California) kept the successful family weekend alive by recording the Jr. Boy’s Beginner win.

The star-studded field of the Jr. Pro Men’s division was filled with talent from across the world, including United States, Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, and Great Britain. As the talented line-up of riders took the water, Clayton Holladay, Lewy Watt, and Cobe France led their respective Semi-final Heat’s to earn their spot in the upcoming finals.

2016 Malibu WWA Rider Experience © The WWA

A standup run consisting of a heelside 720, nose grab crowmobe, and batwing to blind by Lewy Watt (Australia) helped him steal the judge’s attention and secure the Jr. Pro Finals victory. The runner-up position went to Cobe France (Australia) and Tyler Higham (USA) rounded out the podium in third.

2016 Malibu WWA Rider Experience © The WWA

Completing a weekend full of fun-filled events was Surf Gate Sunday that welcomed men and women of all ages to experience a fun laidback day in the sun behind Malibu’s surf gate. The popular activity was a big hit, including many new faces, which were on hand for their first experience and thanks to Malibu’s great surf wake there were no issues showcasing talent on the water.

The Rider Experience South and third Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier of the 2016 season is set to take place on the waters of Hyco Lake in Roxboro, North Carolina on June 3-5.



Pro Card Qualifier – Finals Heat 01:

1. Ryan Platt (Arizona) – 89.50

Jr. Pro Men (14-18) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Lewy Watt (AUS) – 83.33
2. Cobe France (AUS) – 78.33
3. Tyler Higham (USA) – 73.33
4. Clayton Holladay (USA) – 55.00
5. Coldan Thompson (CAN) – 53.33
6. Callan Starr (AUS) – 36.67

Jr. Men (14-18) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Bryce Grey (AUS) – 80.00
2. Gus Reed (CO) – 63.33
3. Darin Delgado (CA) – 56.67
4. Aaron Hannum (CO) – 45.00
5. Andy Birch (CA) – 42.33
6. Braydan Sims (CA) – 39.33
7. Jordan Clark (CA) – 38.33
8. Matt Smith (CA) – 33.33
9. Tyler Martinez (CA) – 26.67
10. Crew Christensen (UT) – 20.00

Jr. Women (10-18) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Elle Christensen (UT) – 58.33
2. Alyssa Williams (NV) – 46.67
3. Lexi Gonzales (CA) – 38.33
4. Zoe Luquette (NV) – 6.67

Men’s I (19-24) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Ryan Kloski (NV) – 70.00
2. Joshua Johnson (NV) – 13.33

Men’s II (25-29) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Corbin Blanton (WI) – 83.33
2. Tyler Clarke (CA) – 70.00
3. Kevin Hutts (WI) – 63.33

Women’s – Finals Heat 01:

1. Kaley McNay (OR) – 80.00
2. Whitney White (NV) – 45.00

Boy’s (10-13) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Rocker Steiner (TX) – 90.00
2. Alex Albin (CA) – 65.00
3. Maxim Sitnikov (USA) – 53.33
4. Ethan Martinez (CA) – 33.33

Boy’s Beginner (10-13) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Blake Landon (UT) – 80.00

Jr. Boy’s (Nine and Under) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Ashton Davis (UT) – 71.67

Jr. Boy’s Beginner – Finals Heat 01:

1. Candan Lawhon (CA) – 60.00
2. Robbie Allison (CA) – 55.00

Jr. Girls (Nine and Under) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Harmony Lawhon (CA) – 73.33
2. Sydney Sky Litjens (NV) – 65.00
3. Autumn Clarke (CA) – 51.67

Master’s (30-39) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Tim Walters (CA) – 88.67
2. Luke Fournier (AZ) – 68.33
3. Jason Allison (CA) – 50.00
4. Joey Martinez (CA) – 28.33
5. Zebulon Jensen (NV) – 23.33
6. Curtis Cummard (AZ) – 17.67

Veterans Womans (40 and Over) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Natalie Graham (Arizona) – 81.67

Veterans (40 and Over) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Darren Holsey (OR) – 85.00
2. Randy Murray (NV) – 75.00
3. Shawn O’Keefe (NV) – 61.67
4. Andy Freeman (NV) – 55.00
5. David Clarke (CA) – 53.33
6. Ben Slims (CA) – 47.00
7. Stuart Litgens (NV) – 36.67
8. Fred Birch (AZ) – 36.67

Women’s Wakeskate – Finals Heat 01:

1. Natalie Graham (AZ) – 81.67

Men’s Wakesurf – Finals Heat 01:

1. Shane Blanton (WI)
2. Eric Monteleone (NV)
3. David Barbera (NV)

Womens Wakesurf – Finals Heat 01:

1. Tammi Cummard (AZ)
2. Gina Palumbo (NV)
3. Natalie Graham (AZ)