Action-packed weekend at Malibu WWA Rider Experience South

by The WWA on 7 Jun 2016 The second Malibu WWA Rider Experience of the 2016 season took place this past weekend, June 3-5 at Hyco Lake in Roxboro, North Carolina. Riders were treated to near perfect conditions as they battled for bragging rights throughout the three-day event.

The event also featured the third Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier of the season, which was won by former Jr. Pro standout Joel Bartley (AUS), who edged out North Carolina’s local star Stephen Pierce behind the first-class wake of Malibu’s 25 LSV.

A star-studded lineup emerged for the Jr. Pro division, including a strong showing by Jason Soven (USA) and Korea’s very own Jeongwook Kim and Yun Sanghyun all winning their respective semifinals. In the finals, Soven took full advantage of point’s leader Lewy Watt’s (AUS) early elimination and was victorious by taking the top spot. Sanghyun and James Loisel (USA) finished second and third.

Allison Lavarack (NC) relied on the support of her fellow North Carolina friends and family to claim the win in the Jr. Girls (nine and under) with big grabs and switch wake-to-wake jumps that impressed the judges. Palmer Howell (AL) and Brina O’Neal (NC) rounded out the podium. In the Girls (10-13) division, Mary Morgan Howell (AL) rode strong to the win, narrowly edging out Piper Harris (NC) and Sydney Deary (FL).

The Boy’s (10-13) class went down to the wire for the win, but Fynn Bullock (NC) prevailed with a variety of technical tricks, while Kevin Duffy finished a close second place (FL). Jr. Boy’s Beginner (nine and under) showcased some of the youngest talent on hand throughout the weekend, which included Bret Porter (MD) grabbing the win over Rexton Abbott (NC) in an intense battle. Bret’s brother, Beau Porter (MD), capped off a successful weekend for the brothers by riding flawlessly to victory in the Boy’s Beginner (10-13) division.

Amateur Wakeskate featured some of the weekend’s best action, which witnessed brothers Andy and Chris Birch make the long trek from Arizona to go head-to-head for their chance at the overall win. In the end, Andy laid down an impressive run to take first place.

Fierce battles took place during the Masters/Veterans Women finals as Joy Manning (VA) threw down a huge backroll and tantrum to rise to the top of the charts. Behind her Jodi Vermillion (OH) and Ashleigh Nyborg (NC) finished second and third, respectively. Shannon Sahinbas (FL) earned her first win since returning from an injury suffered last season in the Jr. Women (14-18), just ahead of Lexxe Park (NC) and Ellery Hunt (SC).

The Men’s Wakesurf showed great camaraderie among its competition, along with a hard-fought win by the divisions’ youngest competitor Rankin Wright (NC). In the Men’s I/Masters, the battle of the Carolina’s ensured between Jimmy Powell (SC) and Thomas Sangster (NC). At the conclusion of their final run, Powell outdueled Sangster to earn the win.

Surf Gate Sunday completed the fun-filled weekend and welcomed men and women of all ages to come out for a relaxing day behind Malibu’s surf gate. A strong turnout was on hand for the widely popular activity, including many new faces experiencing it for their first time. Malibu’s great surf wake provided riders the perfect opportunity to showcase their talent on the epic water conditions at Hyco Lake.

The Rider Experience Central and fourth Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier of the 2016 season is set to take place at Bel-Ray Action Sports Park in Conroe, Texas on July 8-10.

Pro Card Qualifier – Finals Heat 01:

1. Joel Bartley (AUS) – 70.00
2. Stephen Pierce (NC) – 60.00
3. Joel Schrader (GA) – 40.00

Jr. Pro Men (14-18) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Jason Soven (USA) – 80.83
2. Yun Sanghyun (KOR) – 80.00
3. James Loisel (USA) – 70.00
4. Tyler Higham (USA) – 55.00
5. Jeongwook Kim (KOR) – 46.67
6. Cobe France (AUS) – 41.67

Jr. Pro Men (14-18) - Semi Finals Heat 01:

1. Jeongwook Kim (KOR) – 76.67
2. Tyler Higham (USA) – 63.33
3. Mikey Conrady (USA) - 45.00
4. Jesse Foushee (USA) – 39.17
5. Camden Vaughan (USA) – 35.00
6. Clayton Holladay (USA) – 25.00

Jr. Pro Men (14-18) – Semi Finals Heat 02:

1. Jason Soven (USA) – 80.00
2. Cobe France (AUS) – 73.33
3. Luca Kidd (GBR) – 56.67
4. Nicholas Brown (USA) – 40.00
5. Callan Starr (AUS) – 34.00
6. Cody Wahl (CAN) – 10.00

Jr. Pro Men (14-18) – Semi Finals Heat 03:

1. Yun Sanghyun (KOR) – 91.67
2. James Loisel (USA) – 81.67
3. Guenther Oka (USA) – 70.00
4. Lewy Watt (AUS) – 68.33
5. Elliot Digney (AUS) – 61.67
6. Jake Pelot (USA) – 36.67

Jr. Men (14-18) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Bryce Grey (AUS) – 81.67
2. Joshua McConnell (AUS) – 75.67
3. Joey Gallagher (FL) – 72.33
4. Mitch Kappler (NC) – 67.67
5. Gray Liles (NC) – 62.67
6. Andrew Watson (FL) – 53.33
7. Andy Birch (AZ) – 45.00
8. Bart Porter (MD) – 23.33
9. Django Rosenbaum (NC) – 15.00
10. Chase Baeker (NC) – 8.33

Jr. Women (14-18) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Shannon Sahinbas (FL) – 68.33
2. Lexxe Park (NC) – 58.33
3. Ellery Hunt (SC) – 43.33
4. Kate Crews (NC) - 28.33

Men’s I/Master’s – Finals Heat 01:

1. Jimmy Powell (SC) 71.67
2. Thomas Sangster (NC) – 68.33
3. Jackie Sly (NC) – 53.33
4. Aaron Lecklider (OH) – 43.33
5. Francisco Cabezas (FL) – 33.33
6. Brian O’Neal (NC) – 31.67
7. Drew Dalton (NC) – 11.67

Boy’s (10-13) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Fynn Bullock (NC) – 94.67
2. Kevin Duffy (FL) – 90.67
3. Daniel Johnson (NC) – 85.00
4. Benjamin Brown (KY) – 73.33
5. Cody Hunnicutt (TN) – 63.33
6. Nelson Wright (NC) – DQ

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

1. Beau Porter (MD) – 70.00
2. Nelson Wright (NC) – 40.00
3. Tyler Toberman (NC) – 38.00
4. Tristen Cannon (NC) – 30.00

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

1. Bret Porter (MD) – 80.00
2. Rexton Abbott (NC) – 78.33

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

1. Allison Lavarack (NC) – 81.00
2. Palmer Howell (AL) – 74.67
3. Brina O’Neal (NC) – 58.33
4. Madison Lavarack (NC) – 49.00
5. McGowan Howell (AL) – 37.33

Girl’s (10-13) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Mary Morgan Howell (AL) – 78.33
2. Jordan Wolfe (NC) – 45.00
3. Sydney Deary (FL) – 42.50
4. Piper Harris (FL) – 41.67

Masters/Veterans Women’s – Finals Heat 01:

1. Joy Manning (VA) – 71.67
2. Jodi Vermillion (OH) – 60.00
3. Ashleigh Nyborg (NC) – 52.50

Veterans (40 and Over) – Finals Heat 01:

1. Matthew Vermillion (OH) – 78.33
2. Johnny Wofford (NC) – 60.00
3. Carl Erickson (FL) – 46.67
4. Fred Birch (AZ) – 20.00

Men’s Wakesurf – Finals Heat 01:

1. Rankin Wright (NC) – 66.67
2. Andy Birch (AZ) – 61.00
3. Francisco Cabezas (FL) – 48.33
4. Chris Birch (AZ) – 41.67
5. Fred Birch (AZ) – 30.00
6. Nelson Wright (NC) – 28.33

Amateur Wakeskate – Finals Heat 01:

1. Andy Birch (AZ) – 66.67
2. Chris Birch (AZ) – 43.33
3. Francisco Cabezas (FL) – 40.00