Amber Brought the Force in Minnesota this past weekend! Winning First place for the ladies!!

Liquid Force’s Clifford, Wing, Tezuka and Roberts Win at 2011 Nautique WWA Nationals

Minneapolis, Minn. – Fans lined the shores of the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis today to catch the final rounds of action at the 2011 Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink. Throughout the day riders in five different divisions hit the water to compete for national titles and invitations to represent the United States at this year’s WWA Wakeboard World Championships next month.

The Pro Men’s division highlighted the event, with its five-man final consisting of wakeboarding heavyweights Rusty Malinoski, Bob Soven, Aaron Rathy, Harley Clifford and Phillip Soven.

All five pros threw down impressive runs, but defending champion Harley Clifford made the biggest impact on the water to take home his second straight win at the Nautique WWA Nationals. Former national champion Phillip Soven took second place, while younger brother Bob Soven rounded out the podium, respectively.

“I’m pretty stoked to win Nationals,” said Clifford. “Phil [Soven] and I have been neck and neck all season, so it feels good to come out with a win today.”

With today’s win, Clifford overtakes Soven for the lead in the King of Wake series.

In the Pro Women’s division, all eyes were on defending champion Nicola Butler to see if the 19-year-old standout could repeat in today’s finals. But Amber Wing’s hot streak continued to finish No. 1 in the contest.

Today’s victory marks Wing’s fourth straight win the Queen of Wake series and her third Nautique WWA Nationals win.

The mighty Mississippi River served as a level playing field today in the Pro Wakeskate division finals, as Grant Roberts upset three former national champions in route of his first-ever national title. The 21-year-old Discovery Bay, Calif. native posted a score of 83.33 during his winning run. Brian Grubb and Stuart Shinn rounded out the podium, respectively.

The Jr. Pro Men’s division hit the water today for their six-man final with Shota Tezuka taking first place with a score of 81.67, a six-point differential from the next closest competitor. Mike Dowdy and Kyle Evans rounded out the Jr. Pro Men division podium, respectively.

Also honored today was 13-year-old Taylor McCullough, who took home the PCM Amateur Best Trick Award. McCullough won the $250 cash prize for landing a massive Tantrum to Fakie during her winning run in the Girls division finals.

With the Nautique WWA Nationals all wrapped up, the top tier riders from each of the 23 divisions will be invited to represent the United States at the 2011 WWA Wakeboard World Championships next month.

The 2011 Nautique WWA Nationals will also air on the VERSUS television network at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

For more information on the Nautique WWA Nationals, visit www.kingofwake.com.

The Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: Correct Craft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Peavey, MonaVie, FOX, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, Sayiwon’t and TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine.

Sunday, July 31 – Day Final Results:

Pro Men Division

Final Round – Heat #1

1    Harley Clifford              90.00

2    Phillip Soven                    80.00

3    Bob Soven                      75.00

4    Aaron Rathy                    70.00

5    Rusty Malinoski               20.00

Pro Women Division

Final Round – Heat #1

1    Amber Wing                  83.33

2    Hayley Smith                   75.00

3    Nicola Butler                   69.17

4    Raimi Merritt                   63.33

5    Anna Hajek                     46.67

6    Melissa Marquardt          21.67

Pro Wakeskate Division

Final Round – Heat #1

1    Grant Roberts               83.33

2    Brian Grubb                    76.67

3    Stuart Shinn                     61.67

4    Reed Hansen                   48.33

Jr. Pro Men Division

Final Round – Heat #1

1    Shota Tezuka                81.67

2    Mike Dowdy                  75.67

3    Kyle Evans             71.67

4    Jacob Valdez                  66.67

5    Gordon Harrison             51.67

6    Freddie Wayne               38.33

Boys Division

Final Round – Heat #1

1    Jason Soven                  66.67

2    Landon Kasey                 61.67

3    Zach Brown                    56.67

4    Mac Schramm                 52.33

5    Mitch Kappler                 46.67

6    Nicholas Brown               10.00

Hey cable girls! Liquid Force Free For All Cable Tour is heading to  Kansas City Watersports August 9th! Come out and ride the cable park, you can’t beat the price

Head to KC Watersports on Aug. 6 and ride for free alongside Liquid Force pros Danny Hampson, Aaron Reed and Steel Lafferty during the final stop of the 2011 Liquid Force Free For All tour. Free For All runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and there’s no need to sign up.

In addition to free laps around the KC Watersports cable, you’ll also demo a ton of 2011 Liquid Force wakeboarding gear, get free lunch from Chipotle and Monster Energy and score giveaways from Spy Optics, GoPro, Supra, New Era, Skullcandy, Sanuk, Vertra, Chipotle and Transworld WAKEBOARDING for supporting our series of ride-for-free days at cable parks across the country.

Liquid Force Free For All Stop 6

KC Watersports
25825 Edgmore Rd.
Hillsdale, KS 66071
(913) 783-4300

Liquid Force’s McCullough Captures Fourth Consecutive Title!

Minneapolis, Minn. – The quest to become the best wakeboarder in the United States ended for some today, as the 2011 Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink wrapped up 11 of its 23 divisions. The top wakeboarding talent in the country gathered today on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis to vie for their respective division’s national title.

Among the 11 champions crowned today was 13-year-old Taylor McCullough, who claimed her fourth consecutive national title in the Girls division – the second highest amount of repeated wins, of any division, at the Nautique WWA Nationals. The only other rider to win more consecutive national titles is legendary female pro wakeboarder Dallas Friday, with five straight wins.

“It’s pretty cool to win four contests in row like that; not many people can do that,” said McCullough. “It’s fun to be pushed by the other girls to be a better rider and to win.”

Despite choppy water conditions and a fall during an attempted Heelside 540, the Centralia, Ill. native posted a score of 78.33 to best Shelby King and Sofia Dinatale in the three-woman final.

McCullough attributes her near record-breaking win today to her coach Mike Ferraro.

“I’ve been riding everyday and training with Mike Ferraro,” said McCullough. “It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s cool to see it pay off.”

Coincidently, Ferraro has also coached national title record-holder Dallas Friday.

McCullough, along with the other 10 national titlists, will now represent the United States at the 2011 WWA World Championships next month.

The Nautique WWA Nationals will continue tomorrow, July 29, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.

The 2011 Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink is free to the public during all five days of competition. For those who cannot attend the event in person, just “like” the King of Wake’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/kingofwake) to watch all the live streaming footage.

The 2011 Nautique WWA Nationals will also air on the VERSUS television network at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

For more information on the Nautique WWA Nationals, visit www.kingofwake.com.

The Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: Correct Craft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Peavey, MonaVie, FOX, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, Sayiwon’t and TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine.

Girls Division

Final Round – Heat #1

1    Taylor McCullough       78.33

2    Shelby King                     60.00

3    Sofia Dinatale                  45.00