Wakeboard Nationals unfolds at Republ1c Park

MANILA, Philippines - The best local riders will vie for top honors in the various categories of the sixth Philippine Wakeboard Nationals which starts today at the newly built Republ1c Wakepark at Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The event, which lasts until Sunday, will coincide with the grand opening of the facility that has been drawing rave reviews from both local and foreign riders since it opened in October last year.

On opening day, spectators will get a preview of what to expect with a riding demonstration by pro riders. Competition proper starts Aug. 18 with the qualifying round, while the finals will be held on the next day.

Events on tap are the girls, boys, groms, junior women’s, amateur women, open women’s, veterans 1, masters women, veterans 2, women wakeskate, amateur men wakeskate, master men, junior men, pro women, men’s 1, men’s 2, pro wakeskate, obstacles-only and pro men.

Total prizes at stake, both in cash and in kind, would amount to more than P250,000.

Top local riders vying for top honors are Frank Corpus, second placer in the pro men’s wakeskate division of the 2010 Wakeboard Nationals; Edwin Tipones, currently ranked 14th in Asia and champion in the pro men’s division in 2010 and last year’s Wakeboard Nationals; Arthur King, who placed third in the pro men’s division of the third edition of the Wakeboard Nationals; Celina Sembrano, second placer in the Deca Wake Jam Open Women’s division and champion in the amateur women’s division held in Davao last May; and Jesy Alto-Ocampo, who will be competing for the first time in open women’s Division.  

 To spice up the event, top foreign riders have been invited to do demonstration rides during the grand opening of the facility. They are Shawn Watson (USA), holder of the Rookie of the Year award with Pro Tour stop victories and two national titles; Shane Bonifay (USA), considered one of the most innovative and flamboyant riders in the world; Bob Soven (USA), the “most eligible bachelor on tour”; Collin Harrington (USA), who is also into wakesurfing and also a filmmaker, and has produced videos for Liquid Force; Daniel Grant (Thailand), a veteran rider and winner in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America; James Windsor (Australia), who, although a relative newcomer, has won the Australian Rail Series and topped an international junior event in Germany; Masty Hasler (Australia) who currently ranks fifth overall in the WWA Monster Triple Crown Series; and, Angelika Schriber (Australia), originally from South Africa and started out in waterskiing but has switched to wakeboarding.