Wakeboard Club holds ‘Stop 1’ in tourney series

BY

Beginning as a cloudy day with hints of blue sky, Saturday, May 9, marked the first of three annual tournaments for the Canyon Lake Wakeboard Club as they gathered at the Ski Pavilion in the North Ski Area. With competitors ranging in age from 7 and up, and skill levels from Novice to Tour Pros, this is a club filled with families, competitive desire and fun.

In addition to normal wake boarding where the rider’s feet are attached to the board with bindings, the tournament also include “wake skaters,” whose shoes are unconnected to a shaped board on which they balance and perform their tricks.

At Saturday’s tournament, formally referred to as Stop 1, approximately 25 riders competed in their appropriate age and skill divisions. Performances were evaluated by two judges (Tour Pro or Expert riders) in the tow boat.

Judging is based on a 1-10 point system in each of three categories: composition (what and how many tricks the rider includes in his or her run), intensity (the degree of difficulty and intensity with which a trick is performed), and execution (the degree of success for each trick). Each rider is allowed two falls (three for wake skaters), after which the run is over, regardless of distance covered.

After all the runs were completed and the judges had finished their evaluation to identify the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each division, the club came together for the announcement of winners and presentation of prizes, consisting of sponsor donations and gift certificates.

Mike Clary was on hand to take pictures of the day, many of which can be seen at MikeClaryPhotography.com or on his Facebook page. Also see more photos at www.fridayflyer.com.

Stop 2 is scheduled for June 20. But before that event, the club will be participating in the three-club show on Fiesta Day as well as sponsoring another Learn to Ride Day on June 6. Look for the complete list of winners at www.canyonlakewake.com.