BMR_7234

HOMETOWN TEAM WINS NIGHTTIME WAKEBOARD  CONTEST IN ORLANDO
UCF Wakeboard Team Beats FSU, UF and USF to Claim Red Bull Rivals Crown

ORLANDO, Fla., – April 9, 2015 – Collegiate wakeboard teams from Florida State University, the

University of Central Florida, the University of Florida and the University of South Florida took

their talents to the water at Orlando Watersports Complex (OWC) cable park for a one-of-a-kind

collegiate wakeboard contest. After a series of tricks and flips under the lights, it was the UCF

Knights who claimed the winning title.

“The level of riding here tonight was almost on par with professional wakeboarding, it was

amazing,” said UCF Wakeboard Club President, Kellen Rudnicki. “UF was throwing down

hammers, USF and FSU were throwing down as well, it was really crazy to see,” he said. The

University of Central Florida Knights beat the competition with a final score of 10-2-0-0 against

UF, FSU, and USF.

Student athletes from the four colleges navigated the nighttime obstacles under the instruction of

professional wake athletes, Mike Dowdy (UF), Dallas Friday (FSU), Steel Lafferty (USF) and

Brian Grubb (UCF). With some mentoring in the riders’ pockets, the second round saw every

team striving to stay in the competition. The intensity was palpable in round two as every team

was on the leader board at some point.

“It was a unique format that hasn’t been done before,” said winning coach and UCF graduate,

Brian Grubb. “There were some pretty awesome crashes coming off the kicker that got the crowd

hyped, so it was pretty fun to watch.”

Red Bull Collegiate Wake Rivals provided a new format to kick off the competitive season. Riders

hit the water with the goal of performing the top trick, causing the obstacles to light up in their

team color. With a mixture of boat and cable riders, Saturday’s event brought together a collective

mix of wakeboard disciplines and styles from around the state.

“The craziest thing I saw tonight was UF’s Will Green do a Mute Half Cab Roll almost as high as

the cable,” said Rudnicki. “It was absolutely amazing to see someone go that big, especially at

night!”

The history of rivalries between these teams made a serious splash on the collegiate wake

scene, leading to new tricks and never-before landed double mobius variations.