Orlando, Fla. — The world’s best wakeboarders descended upon the Orlando Watersports Complex for the third consecutive day to battle it out on massive wakes generated by Nautique’s new G23 boat in hopes of advancing to tomorrow’s final rounds of the 2012 Wake Games.

Showcasing highly technical rail tricks and larger-than-life aerials, riders in the men’s pro division set the standard today by performing some of the sport’s most difficult maneuvers. At the top of their game were the Soven brothers Bob and Phillip (Longwood, Fla.), who had stellar performances under the pressure of an MTV camera crew documenting his every move for the network’s upcoming series, Wake Brothers. Both Soven’s won their heats and will advance to tomorrow’s semi final round. Last year’s King of Wake defending champion, Harley Clifford, also won his heat today and will look to stay on top of the rankings with a Wake Games win tomorrow.

“There is some insane talent on tour this year,” commented Bob Soven. “Add that to the wake the G23 is pumping out and we are seeing some really tight heats. It was great to be out on the water today and I can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow.”

The feel good story of the Nautique Wake Games continues to be the comeback of Orlando-native Dallas Friday, who won her women’s pro heat today to advance to tomorrow’s finals. Friday, the most accomplished female athlete in the history of the sport, is returning to competition for the first time since 2010 after suffering series of grueling knee injuries.

In the Overton’s Junior Pro Men’s Series, Mike Dowdy looks to be the guy to beat. After putting in a near perfect performance in yesterday’s quarterfinals, Dowdy kept his momentum going with another heat winning performance in today’s semi finals. Dowdy will go for the division crown in tomorrow’s final against a stacked field of three other Junior Pro riders.

Adding to the one-of-a-kind format at the Nautique Wake Games, 10 preselected pro men wakeboarders served as team captains last night and hosted a draft, consisting of the 90 remaining athletes who advanced past the initial qualifying rounds. Based on today and tomorrow’s results, the athletes, which are separated by age, sex and skill level, will contribute points toward a team score based on their individual placement in that division. The team with the highest collective score will win the overall title. All 23 divisions will crown an individual winner as well. At the end of Day three, Team Austin Hair currently sits ahead of the nine other teams.

The Nautique Wake Games, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will wrap up tomorrow April 14. Gates will open at 11 a.m. Tickets are available at the gate: $13 (adult); $5 (ages 6-12); free (ages 5 and under); or $7 (adult) if purchased online.

Following Saturday’s men’s pro final Nautique will sponsor two specialty events, a double-up contest and expression session. Both events will be broadcast live via webcast at  http://www.nautique.com/webcast/.

In addition to all the action on the water, on land the Nautique Wake Games features great food and music, athlete autograph signings, chances to win freebies, and shopping at the most cutting-edge stores offering water-sports equipment including boats, wakeboards, wakeskates, sunglasses and the latest in wakeboarding and surfing fashions.

For information on the Nautique Wake Games, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, visit www.kingofwake.com.

The Nautique Wake Games, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: Correct Craft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Peavey, Mona Vie, Fox, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, PCM Marine Engines and YOUR MOM magazine.

 

Nautique Wake Games Day Three Results:

Amateur Women – Finals

1.       Carolina Rodriguez          70.00

2.       Brook Grassman               66.67

3.       Becky Hall                          43.33

 

Girls (13 and under) – Finals

1.       Sofia Mendez                     70.00

2.       Marla Fay                            53.33

 

Junior Boys Beginner (9 and under)- Finals

1.       Carter Mather                   76.67

2.       Thomas Herman               66.67

3.       Benjamin Brown              50.00

 

Junior Boys (9 and under) – Finals

1.       Hunter Henderson            80.00

2.       Kevin Duffy                        63.33

 

Women’s Masters – Finals

1.       Sigrid Beachler                  80.00

2.       Joy Manning                      63.33

 

Amateur Wake Skate – Finals

1.       Austin Polterock                76.67

2.       Craig Buss                            68.33

3.       Seth Cathy                          60.00

4.       Cristobal Mendez              43.33

 

Women’s Pro Wakeskate – Finals

1.       Jen Gilanfarr                      76.67

2.       Kristine Gagnier                 60.00

 

Pro Wakeskate Men’s Semi Finals – Heat 1

1.       Danny Hampson                 93.33

2.       Brian Grubb                        86.67

3.       Stu Shinn                             60.00

4.       Ollie Moore                        45.00

 

Pro Wakeskate Men’s Semi Finals – Heat 2

1.       Reed Hansesn                   88.33

2.       Brandon Thomas              78.33

3.       Grant Roberts                   65.00

4.       George Daniels                 63.33

5.       James Blazer                      43.33

 

Veteran Womens – Final

1.       Paula Fay                            81.67

 

Veterans (40 and over) Men Finals – Heat 1

1.       Matt Vermillion                 68.33

2.       Ben Uncle                           58.33

3.       Darren Holsey                   40.00

 

Junior Women (14-18) Finals

1.       Larisa Morales                   86.67

2.       Shelby King                         66.67

3.       Mallorie Henry                  56.67

4.       Gianna Dinatale                43.33

 

Junior Men (14-18) Finals

1.       Juan Mendez                     88.33

2.       Yangsu Kim                         75.00

3.       Mac  Schramm                  61.67

4.       Nick Vaccari                        56.67

5.       Eduardo Meyers              45.00

6.       Juan Martin Velez            33.33

 

Masters (30-39) Finals

1.       Jeremy Baker                    80.00

2.       Brian White                        63.33

3.       Kevin Michael                    43.33

4.       Eric Miller                            26.67

 

Overton’s Junior Pro Series Men’s Semi Finals Heat 1

1.       Mike Dowdy                      94.50

2.       Joshua Twelker                 89.25

3.       Tony Iacconi                       82.25

4.       Robby Holihan                   72.50

5.       Kennan Allen                     48.00

 

Overton’s Junior Pro Men’s Semi Finals – Heat 2

1.       Freddie Wayne                   92.00

2.       David O’Caoimh                 86.00

3.       Kyle Evans                           77.50

4.       Christian Primrose           76.50

5.       Jacobb Valdez                   68.00

 

Pro Women Semi Final – Heat 1

1.       Dallas Friday                      76.67

2.       Meagan Ethell                   66.67

3.       Nicola Butler                      53.00

4.       Taylor McCullough           50.00

5.       Abby Delgoffe                   40.00

 

Pro Women’s Semi Final – Heat 2

1.       Mellissa Marquardt          66.67

2.       Rami Merritt                      60.00

3.       Amber Wing                       56.83

4.       Miku Asai                            56.67

5.       Ashley Leugner                  45.00

 

Pro Veterans Finals

1.       Ricky Gonzales                  71.67

2.       Chad Lowe                          58.33

 

Pro Men’s Quarter Finals – Heat 1

1.       Bob Soven                          86.67

2.       Steel Lafferty                     73.33

3.       Adam Fields                       65.00

4.       Kirby Liesmann                 56.57

5.       Adam Wensink                 51.67

6.       Tony Carroll                      40.00

 

Pro Men’s Quarter Finals – Heat 2

1.       Aaron Rathy                       71.67

2.       Rusty Malinoski                 66.67

3.       Daniel Powers                   58.33

4.       Jimmy Larich                      53.33

5.       Shawn Watson                  48.33

6.       Jason Bannatyne              38.33

 

Pro Men’s Quarter Finals – Heat 3

1.       Shaun Murray                    78.33

2.       JD Webb                              66.67

3.       Dean Smith                         65.00

4.       Jefferson Langley              58.33

5.       Shane Bonifay                   46.67

6.       Dante Digangi                    30.00

 

Pro Men’s Quarter Finals – Heat 4

1.       Phillip Soven                      80.00

2.       Raphael Derome              75.00

3.       Adam Errington                 68.33

4.       Kyle Alberts                        50.00

5.       Danny Thollander            41.67

 

Pro Men’s Quarter Finals – Heat 5

1.       Harley Clifford                   85.00

2.       Andrew Adkison               68.33

3.       Shotta Tezuka                   61.67

4.       Olivier Derome                 56.67

5.       Sam Crane                         50.00

6. Kyle Rattray                      43.33