Wakestock 10 – Historic Final Day!

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For Immediate Release:



(Toronto, Canada) July 28, 2007 –Wakestock’s famed wakeboarding belts were awarded today in six different pro wake events capping the 10th anniversary of one of the most storied contests in the sport of wakeboarding and wakeskating.
In a historic final day both Phillip Soven and Keith Lidberg defended their respective Wakestock titles, while Brian Grubb and Shane Bonifay returned to earn repeat titles.

First up was the Billabong Pro Wakeskate where three time Wakestock champion and wakeskate legend, Brian Grubb faced off against the new generation including three Wakestock rookies. Despite some incredible riding by rising talents Nick Taylor, Aaron Rathy, Ben Horan, Ryan Doyle, and Stuart Shinn, Grubb was flawless. In fact he didn’t fall all weekend and stuck the first toeside wake to wake frontside bigspin ever stomped in competition. Grubb’s performance easily earned him his fourth Wakestock title and belt.

Next came the Billabong Pro Railslide featuring the best rail riders on the biggest and toughest rails in the sport. As rail finalist Andrew Adkison put it: “The Billabong Pro at Wakestock is essentially the world championships of wakeboard rail riding.” Keith Lidberg, the world’s premier master prevailed in Pro Railslide but not without a fight from Aaron Rathy and Kevin Henshaw who were forced to settle for 2nd and 3rd respectively. However, Lidberg’s ultra smooth style and high degree of technical difficulty won the day and his 3rd consecutive Wakestock Rail Title and Belt.

The Malibu Boats Expression Session was held late in the afternoon under hot sunny skies and pristine water conditions. The final four came down to Soven vs Jeff Weatherall and Rusty Malinoski vs Andrew Adkison. Soven packaged a perfect run of 11 tech tricks including a Switch Toe 9 and a Nose Grab Crow Mobe 540 plus two flawless rail tricks to dispatch Weatherall. Then in one of the closest duels of the contest Adkison edged crowd favourite Malinoski the reigning WWA World Series champ. Adkison, a two time world champion gave Soven a run for his money, but fell twice, including his double-up. Soven responded with another flawless standup run. Confident that he had the victory Soven attempted a Backside 9, a first in competition, but just missed. Soven’s two consecutive Expression Session titles was a Wakestock first.

After receiving his Wakestock award belt, Soven commented: “I really enjoy competing at Wakestock because it has such a big crowd and the water and the wake is so great here!
Adkison agreed: “The Wakestock spectator crowd is the largest and most enthusiastic on tour. They really get you pumped up to ride! That’s why a lot of firsts go down at Wakestock.”

The last event, and arguably the most sensational was the Oakley Pool Jam Best Wakeboard Trick contest. The spectacular opening rail transfer over a 14 stair set was where all of the best tricks were being thrown down. That was where all of the photographers and filmers were gathered to catch the battle between Shane and Parks Bonifay, JD Webb, Aaron Rathy and JD Webb. But with a perfect Switch Frontside Boardslide to Backside 180 Transfer to Boardslide to 90, it was Shane Bonifay who prevailed reclaiming the Oakley Pool Jam title he had won at Wakestock 2005.

Music highlights on Wakestock’s final day included performances by Story of the Year, Lupe Fiasco and Canadian favourite illScarlet. A record crowd of 39,000 turned out over the four days of Wakestock’s festival of wakeboarding, action sports and music.

Wakestock™is owned and produced by SBC Events Inc, an independent Canadian production company specializing in action sport & youth lifestyle marketing, in association with SBC Media Inc., publisher of leading action sports magazines SBC Skateboard, SBC Wakeboard, Snowboard Canada, SBC Surf, SBC Skier, Snowboard Women’s Annual, SBC Ski & Snowboard Resort Guide, SBC Kiteboard, Windsport, SBC Action Sports Business magazines. “Wakestock™”, "Wakestock Festival™” and “Wakestock Action Sports & Music Festival™” are trademarks of SBC Media Inc. in Canada, the United States and/or other countries.

For more info please visit Wakestock 2007: World's Largest Wakeboarding Event. Wakestock weekly updates sign-up for Wakestock e-News at Wakestock 2007: World's Largest Wakeboarding Event. Media inquiries email: media@wakestock.com