Defending APTW Men’s Champ Reigns Again

With the glassy lakes of Penrith’s Regatta Centre as the backdrop, Penrith played host to arguably wakeboarding’s biggest event so far this season. The crowds were out in force, lining the banks and grandstands and cheering on the wakeboarders as they unleashed some amazing tricks.

Up against some of the world’s best riders, Australia’s own defending APTW champion Dean Smith continued his 2008 campaign in style, taking out the final over 14 year-old young gun Harley Clifford.

Smooth water saw both finalists holding nothing back, but ultimately it was Smith who managed to retain his title – thanks to an impressive arsenal of tricks including various spin and invert combinations.

“Harley threw down a solid second pass in the final, so I knew I would have to be on top of my game,” Smith said.

It wasn’t only the men who were getting the Sydney crowd fired up; competitors in the women’s division also put on an impressive display of wakeboarding style. Leading the charge was Amber Wing, who came out ahead of Melissa Marquadt and Hayley Smith to take the top podium position.

The inaugural World Wakeboarding Association Australia (WWAA) Junior Academy Series, introduced this season for riders aged 10-16, was won by Ryleigh Pfitzner, ahead of second and third place-getters Ben Luckens and Jacob Hore. Pfitzner and Luckens have now secured a place in the WWAA Junior Academy, a development program produced by the WWAA, the APTW and Boarder Magazine. The program provides junior boarders with training and mentoring from professional riders, in preparation for a future career in the sport.

Special mentions definitely have to be made to both Dean Smith and Harley Clifford who both shook off slight concussions to complete their passes and also young gun Jarrod Askew who stepped it up with the big boys and only just missed out on the finals by a couple of points.

Live music, fireworks, FMX displays and a massive OnebyOne Wakeboarding Rail Jam contributed to making the Australia Day stop of the APTW a great family day out.

Now in its sixth year, the APTW is the premier contest series for wakeboarding in the Southern Hemisphere.

The third stop on this season’s tour will be held at Hamilton, New Zealand on 16 February 2008, followed by Caribbean Gardens in Melbourne on 16 March.

[Press Release End]