Confirmed Pro Riders For April 9-10 Board Up Miami Festival

Professional Bios
Pro Male Wakeboarders

Austin Hair – Austin Hair is a world-class professional wakeboarder and wakeskater, and has been competing on the Pro Wakeboard Tour since 2005. Austin is a member of the World Wakeboard Association, the National Wakeboard Association, and is earning his degree in digital interactive systems at the University of Central Florida. Austin has recently taken 1st in the AWA Nationals and was named a Top 10 Rider in 2008.

Harley Clifford – A young Australian phenom, Harley has recently won the Abu Dhabi event for the World Wakeboarding Association series. An extremely talented athlete, Harley hit the scene early dominating contests while not even in his teen years yet. Now, well into his teen years, Harley is becoming a threat to the top pros. Moving up in the wake ranks, many have their eyes on him to be contending at the highest level of wakeboarding and taking top honors.

Steel Lafferty – Steel Lafferty grew up in the warm waters of Fort Lauderdale, FL, in the heart of the wake scene. Steel is beginning to dominate on the Jr. Men’s division of the Pro Tour where at age 14 he was the youngest athlete to qualify for the entire Tour. Results: 2nd in Pan Am Games junior men 2008, 2nd in Boys Finals at 2006 Air Nautique Pan American Wakeboard Championships, 5th in junior Men wake games 2008. Gravel Tour outlaw champion 2007.

Rusty Malinoski – Dubbed the “Bone-Crusher” for his sheer power and brute strength, Rusty Malinoski stands out as one the most dominant riders out on the water today. Rusty grew up playing hockey and riding in amateur motocross events in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada. Around 13-years old, Rusty discovered wakeboarding with his older brothers at a local lake and has been hooked on it ever since. Rusty eventually moved down to Florida to pursue a career in wakeboarding. Since turning pro in 2003, the “Bone-Crusher” has won countless contests and solidified his place in wakeboard history when he became the first rider land two 1080s. Rusty is a technically sound rider that combines an unmatched desire to win with consistent riding ability, making him a shoe-in for a spot on the contest podium.

Phillip Soven – Florida native Phillip Soven, A.K.A. the “Iceman” turned pro at the age of 11. Since then, he has been crushing ice, winning virtually every contest in wakeboarding. Phillip has twice won the world championships, the King of Wake, and the Pro Tour. In 2007, he became the first rider in the history of the sport to win the Pro Tour title, the King of Wake crown and the WWA World Series in the same year. The “Iceman” is one of the most technically sound riders in the world and his will to win make him a shoe-in for a podium spot in every contest.

Robert Soven – Robert Soven is a professional wakeboarder from Florida and professional brother to Phillip Soven. Results: Sweeping 2009 Junior Men’s Pro Tour, 1st place 2009 Nationals Junior Pro, Men’s 2nd place 2009 Bro-Stock, and 1st place Malibu Team Challenge.

Aaron Rathy – Aaron Rathy is a professional wakeboarder from Canada. Although young, Aaron has already made his mark on the competitive scene and is threatening every rider previously on top of the game. Pushing the limits of wakeboarding with 1080s and every other variation trick you could imagine, Aaron has his goals set to the top spot and doesn’t see any obstacles in front of him. He recently dominated the first 2 stops of the Mastercraft Pro Wakeboard Tour in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin and Knoxville, Tennessee. With this emergence on to the competitive scene, eyes will be on Aaron to be the next top rider.

Kyle Rattray – Kyle is a professional wakeboarder from Canada, who rides for Gator Boards. He has spent the last few years on tour and also is a coach at The Boarding School. He recently finished 17th in the King of Wake Standings. 
Jason Bannatyne – a Canadian professional wakeboarder, who broke out in 2007.  He has recently wont he Junior Men’s and Wakestock and followed it up with winning Junior Men’s at Nationals.

Pro Female Wakeboarders

Raimi Merritt – Florida’s Raimi Merritt is a young, talented ripper with tons of potential. At the age of 15, Raimi kicked off her pro career, snagging the Rookie of the Year award and claimed several podium spots throughout the season. She is one of the sport’s fastest rising stars and appears to have a very promising wakeboard career ahead of her. Recently she has won events in Qatar and Egypt for the Wakeboard World Cup and finished 2nd in last year’s Board Up Miami.

Tarah Mikacich – a professional wakeboarder from Orlando, Tarah runs successful wakeboarding camps every year. Her sponsors include MB Boats, O’Brien, and Body Glove. 
Anna Hajek – a professional wakeboarder from Orlando, Anna Hajek is a regular at Orlando Watersports Complex and is one of their most impressive riders. She recently won the advanced division in our 5th Annual Slider Spectacular.

Shawna Hoffman – a California-based professional wakeboarder, Shawna has been competing for 5 seasons. Some of her sponsors are Arnette, Epic Boats, and Bern Helmets. Results: 2 time world champion Junior Women’s in ‘07, 2nd place Women’s Pro Board up Miami, 2nd place Women’s Pro International Championships ‘06 and ’07.

Amber Wing – Aussie Amber Wing is one of the most well-rounded riders out on the water today. She throws down out on the rails and stomps some styli big-air maneuvers. Her aggressive riding style and raw talent has allowed her to dominate the wakeboarding scene in the States and in Australia. Amber constantly pushes the limits of the sport, like when she became the first female rider ever to stomp a 720. Her competitive nature and consistent riding ability makes her a shoe-in for a spot on the contest podium.

Pro BMX Riders

Mike Spinner – Has been riding BMX since he was 10 years old. Upon going to Woodward Camp, became one of the top BMX riders in Florida.  He now rides on the Dew Tour and finished 2nd overall in 2008.

About Board Up

Each year, Board Up™(www.board-up.net) takes over as the premiere Pro Am Action Sports Festival. Board Up™ is an all out Action Sports Music Festival that features some of the world’s best wakeboarders, The Monster Island Skate Contest, Pro BMX Demos, Bikini Fashion Shows, an Event Expo, and Live Music by some of the top local artists.

Board Up™ was created by Miami Sports International (MSI) in 2006 as a venue to promote action sports and its premier athletes while providing top-tier entertainment for its spectators.  Board Up™ began in Miami, known as the gateway to Latin America, and home to a multi-cultural community that features Hispanic Americans, the nation’s largest minority group; Miami is also a sports, fashion and entertainment breeding ground, and has become the ideal destination to host Board Up™.

Board Up™ is fully sanctioned by the USA Wakeboard Association, the sport’s governing body.  An amateur tournament is offered as an unparalleled opportunity for the sport of wakeboarding to continue to grow. In 2009, Miami played host to the Pan American Wakeboard Championships, which preceded the Board Up™ Pro Am.

Don’t miss Board Up™ 2010 in Miami April 9-10.

Board Up Miami Schedule
April 8-10, 2010
Sanctioned by USA Wakeboard
Daily Schedule of Events
***Schedule subject to change ***
*** Divisions can start up to a half hour before scheduled start time.
Schedule

Thursday April 8, 2010
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM: Training Day, Media Day, and Rider packet pickup

Friday April 9, 2010 (Qualifiers)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Skateboard Park open to the general public
8:OO AM – 4:00 PM: Amateur Wakeboarding
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Skateboard Mini Ramp Contest
(Finals, winner of each division rides at Board Up alongside 3 Pro Women and 6 Pro Men)

Saturday April 10, 2010
10:00 AM Skateboard Contest Registration Begins
10:00 AM Doors open for Board Up Miami
11:10 AM Semi Finals Wakeboard begin
10:00 AM Board Up Miami – Top Wakeboarders in the world and South Florida’s Top Skateboarders compete for Prizes and $$$
12:00 PM Bikini Fashion Show
12:15 PM First band from LIVE! Music Performance
1:00 PM Welcome DJ Billy Gotti
1:40 PM BMX Show
2:00 PM Mixed Culture Performance
2:40 PM Bikini Show
3:00 PM Streetkind Performs
3:15 PM Best Trick Skate Contest
3:30 PM BMX Show
3:45 PM Second band from LIVE! Music Performance
4:00 PM Pro Finals Wakeboard
5:00 PM Award Ceremony begins
5:20 PM Headliner music act TBD