Orlando, Florida (October 2, 2004) -- As action continued at the Vans WWA Wakeboard World Championship on Saturday at Orlando WaterSports Complex, the Pro Women took to the water for the first time. Much is at stake in this the third stop of the Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding, including the Vans Triple Crown Series Championship.

Dallas Friday has won the Vans Triple Crown Series two years in a row and is leading the series going into the World Championships. Friday would like nothing more than to take home the World Championship tomorrow at Orland WaterSports Complex, but that may be more difficult this weekend than expected.

While on a photo shoot last weekend, Friday strained her back resulting in muscle spasms after she rides. The injury didn’t seem to hinder Friday at all during Saturday’s Pro Women’s Semifinals pulled by the Correct Craft Super Air Nautique, the official boat of the Vans WWA Wakeboard World Championship. Friday easily won her semifinal heat to give her the top spot in Sunday’s final at Orlando WaterSports complex.

If the injury does limit Friday’s performance at all, she could see a strong push from Tara Hamilton who has been riding very well lately. Hamilton has finished second to Friday in the last two events, coming very close to knocking Friday off the top spot at the Vans WWA Wakeboard National Championship in Indianapolis in August. Hamilton, one of the most successful wakeboarders in the sport’s history, won the World Championship in Orlando in 2002.

In other action on Saturday, the 2004 Junior Men’s World Champion was crowned. Surprisingly, Aaron Rathy of Canada took home the title in his first-ever wakeboarding competition. Rathy has been a successful three-event skier for years. Three event skiing is comprised of slalom, jump and trick skiing.

Rathy successfully translated his trick skiing skills into wakeboarding to take home one of the biggest victories and upsets of the year. Rathy upset Junior Men’s veterans Jeff House and Kevin Henshaw for the victory. Henshaw, a fellow Canadian won the Junior X Series on the Pro Wakeboard Tour this year, but finished third on Saturday.

In Pro Men’s Quarterfinal action, 17 riders will move into Sunday’s semifinals. The top performers of the day were Parks Bonifay, Collin Harrington, JD Webb, Erik Ruck, Daniel Watkins, Keith Lidberg, Jeff Weatherall and Derek Grasman all of whom won their Quarterfinal heats on Saturday.

The Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding, the largest wakeboarding series in the sport, will air on Fox SportsNet:
Vans WWA Wakeboard Worlds Sept. 30-Oct. 3 Fox Sports Net - Oct. 26, 4 pm
(Orlando, FL)

The Vans Triple Crown™ Series is made possible through the support of Ford Trucks, Right Guard, Mountain Dew, NBC Sports and Fox Sports Net. The Vans Triple Crown Series features the world’s top athletes participating in premier venues throughout North America for the top prize purse in each of six action sports: Skateboarding, Wakeboarding, BMX, Freestyle Motocross, Surfing and Snowboarding.

Additional promotional support provided by: Nautiques, Perfect Pass, Hyperlite, Toyo Tires, KMC Wheels, Verizon Wireless, Liquid Force, Gator Boards, CWB, Jobe, Double-up, Blindside, JoyRide, O’Brien, Cassette Wakeskates, 484 Wakeskates, Billabong, Reef, Body Glove, UGP, Epiphone Guitars, OJ Props, Chipper Beef Jerky, Bare Wetsuits, buywake.com, Love Sac, Capix Helmets, Indo Boards, Straight Line, Nevin, ten-80, Toyo Tires, KMC Wheels, Verizon Wireless, Execute, Wakeworld.com, Wakeboarder.com, Monster Towers, Say I Won’t and One Percent Design.

Wake Boarding, published by World Publications, is the official magazine of the Pro Wakeboard Tour. Wake Boarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.

Vans WWA Wakeboard World Championship
Day 3 Results
Saturday at Orlando WaterSports Complex