WaterSki Magazine

Mountain Dew WWA Wakeboard National Championships

Orlando, FL (August 23, 2001) – Over fifty amateur wakeboarders competed at Orlando Watersports Complex on Thursday for the title of Mountain Dew WWA Wakeboarding National Champion, part of the Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding Series.

Competitors in Thursday’s final rounds survived Wednesday’s qualifying rounds to vie for the honor of National Champion as well as a spot in the Vans WWA World Championships taking place at Lake Elsinore, California September 27-30. In all, nine National Champions were crowned on Thursday in amateur age divisions, ranging from under 10 to over 40. All divisions were pulled by CorrectCraft’s Super Air Nautique wakeboard boat.

Notable Orlando wakeboarders who faired well in the Nationals include Robert ''Tadpole'' Soven, who won his second Jr. Boys National Championship, and Jeff Barton, the Editor of Wake Boarding Magazine, who finished second in the Masters Finals.

Some of the best competition of the day occurred in the Men’s I, Men’s II and Open Men’s divisions. Many of these athletes have the tools to be pros, but not the competitive experience to jump to the next level.

In the Men’s divisions, wakeboarders came from across the country to Orlando Watersports Complex. North Carolina native Brandon King stomped his two passes to earn the Open Men’s title. Rick Knott will be taking his Men’s II National Championship back to Idaho.

Men weren’t the only ones ripping up the wakes at OWC this week, a very strong female contingent fought for National amateur titles as well. Tamara Moores of California, Tiffany Landry of Mississippi and Megan McNeil of Washington were victorious in the Finals of the Girls division, the Amateur Women’s division and Jr. Women’s division respectively.

The amateur divisions are a prelude to the action set to take place on the weekend. On Friday, the professionals hit the water to compete for $50,000 in prize money and a spot on national television in NBC’s broadcast of the Mountain Dew WWA Wakeboard National Championships, to be aired September 9 at 1 p.m.

Thursday’s Results

Men I Semifinals

(4 each heat to Finals)

Heat # 1

1 Matt Hickman (OR) 58.22

2 Chris Laske (MI) 57.56

3 Eric Miller (PA) 56.11

4 Josh Sarkela (SC) 44.11

Brian McBride Jr 42.11

Spencer Smith (OH) 20.33

Heat # 2

1 Donald Shelbrick 52.33

2 Nyker Sheldon (TN) 48.89

3 Sam Wideman (UT) 47.50

4 Brad Federspiel (FL) 47.00

Evans MacDowell (FL) 30.89

Brent Starr (WA) 23.89

Girls Finals ALL TO WORLDS

1 Tamara Moores (CA) 53.67

2 Amber Hansen (FL) 47.44

3 Liquid Liz Gardner (FL) 45.33

Chelsea Szegidewicz (GA) 39.00

Amatuer Women Finals ALL TO WORLDS

1 Tiffany Landry (MS) 44.56

2 DanaStarr Cubic (CA) 42.78

3 Tristan Seley (FL) 39.67

Jr Women Finals ALL TO WORLDS

1 Megan McNeil (WA) 59.44

2 Marie Poteete (IL) 53.22

3 Kimberly Cummings (FL) 39.44

Jr Boys Finals ALL TO WORLDS

1 Tadpole Soven (FL) 64.44

2 Robert Southworth (LA) 63.22

3 Casey Dorner (FL) 53.33

4 Conner Elward (CA) 39.33

Veterans Finals ALL TO WORLDS

1 David Cornwall (FL) 60.89

2 Delbert Osborn (FL) 58.78

3 William Chancellor (WA) 41.89

Joe Pearson (CA) 35.56

Douglas Kolb (MO) 30.22

Masters Finals 10 TO WORLDS

1 Billy Garcia (TX) 65.22

2 ''J B'' Jeff Barton (FL) 60.44

3 Jeff Crouch (SC) 58.33

4 Dave Briscoe (FL) 54.56

5 Robert Moore (AR) 53.00

6 Anthony Armstrong (AL) 49.44

7 Pat McElhinney (TX) 48.67

8 Mark Roberts (FL) 24.00

9 Ned Johnson (FL) To worlds from semifinals

9 Scott Harwood (FL) To worlds from semifinals

Open Men Finals 10 TO WORLDS

1 Brandon King (NC) 58.22

2 Tim Clinton (FL) 54.89

3 Kristopher Northrup (FL) 53.67

4 Brian Francis (AZ) 52.78

5 Nick Ennen (WA) 51.22

6 Austin Langston (NC) 49.89

7 Brad Holland (NC) 40.56

8 Matthew Gudeman (IN) 39.67

Juan Carreon (CA) To worlds from semifinals

Kevin Rohan (FL) To worlds from semifinals

Men II Finals 10 TO WORLDS

1 Rick Knott (ID) 64.89

2 Damien Klaas (CA) 57.11

3 Geno Yauchler (FL) 46.89

4 Kurt Robertson (FL) 46.00

5 Dayle Cartwright (FL) 45.00

6 Michael Hook (KY) 44.56

7 Bradley Ward (TX) 43.44

8 Bill Boston (MI) 42.56

Kevin Michael (FL) To worlds from semifinals

Brent Anderson (MN) To worlds from semifinals

Men I Finals 12 TO WORLDS

1 Donald Shelbrick 64.78

2 Chris Laske (MI) 61.56

3 Nyker Sheldon (TN) 59.11

4 Brad Federspiel (FL) 57.67

5 Matt Hickman (OR) 56.67

6 Eric Miller (PA) 51.44

7 Josh Sarkela (SC) 41.00

8 Sam Wideman (UT) 36.33

Brian McBride Jr To worlds from semifinals

Evans MacDowell (FL) To worlds from semifinals

Brent Starr (WA) To worlds from semifinals

Spencer Smith (OH) To worlds from semifinals