Each and every year the TSR FreezeRide seems to get better and better. Sure as always Saturday was cold and rainy, but a beautiful Sunday more than made up for it! The cable riders braved the frigid conditions on Saturday but the boat competitions were postponed until Sunday, which gave us more time for the Texas Hold’em Tournament that had 64 competitors fighting for cash and prizes. With 84 riders (many of which competed in both the cable and boat comps) 2008 was not only the largest FreezeRide but also the most fun in the event’s 5-year history. Blake Hess, the event coordinator added, “Riders are so excited to get back on the water that FreezeRide will be on the TSR schedule every year, so make your plans already for President’s Day weekend 2009.”

The cable competition had three amateur divisions (beginner, intermediate & advanced) and two professional divisions (wakeboard & wakeskate). Will Bryan (TX), Reed Leible (KS), and Travis Putman (TX) all won titles on Saturday and were awarded the coveted FreezeRide jacket that goes only to Freezeride winners. A tradition that began five years ago during the first annual FreezeRide event. The preliminary pro cable divisions were won by TSR’s two most talented athletes: Tom Fooshee, wakeboard and Bret Little on the wakeskate. The two riders continued their winning ways through to the finals and both took home titles on Sunday. While Liquid Force rider Tom Fooshee dominated the competition, the talent level in the pro wakeskate division had increased so much since last season that Bret had to pull out all the stops to take home the title. “Having Toe Jam at TSR last year definitely raised the bar for wakeskaters in this region. We look forward to seeing more locals compete when Toe Jam comes back to TSR in June,” said Paul Bialick.

With the weather getting worse on Saturday and the boat comp being postponed until Sunday, the crowd headed inside for the TSR   fashion show. It was full of locals displaying the latest spring break apparel for the 2008 season. Once the fashion show was completed, the poker began. With NO entry fees and cash and prizes for each of the eight Texas Hold’em tables, it was no problem filling the 64 seats with riders and spectators. The winner of each table won $50 and earned a seat at the final table. In the end Oury Yarbrough took home the title over Kyle Reed and Casey Menn. Oury made it to the podium in all three of our weekend tournaments, Cable, Boat and Texas Hold’em!

With the sun shining Sunday morning everyone was thankful for postponing the boat comp. The newly wrapped MasterCraft X-Star drew all kinds of attention with not only the custom Nike6.0 & TSR graphics, but also the 6liter 440hp engine that sounded as tuff as the boat looked. Darren Phillips, Chase White, and Robert Moore each won an amateur division and took home a Jacket. The pro divisions saw California rider Grant Roberts upset Clint Tompkins for the wakeskate title. Before awards were handed out Grant said “This was the most fun I have ever had at any tournament.”   In the pro wakeboard division Brett Hickey was able to hold off two time defending FreezeRide champ Mitch Bergsma and Tom Fooshee who finished second and third.

The 2008 FreezeRide lived up to and exceeded all expectations! Because crews came from Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, California, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida the Texas riders had a new group of friends to ride and party with. We hope all of them are able to make it back to Cablestock the first weekend of May!

For more information on TSR events goto www.texasskiranch.com. TSR would like to thank the sponsors that have helped make this event happen: MasterCraft, Liquid Force, NKE6.0, Helium, Burger King, Volcom, Electric, Accurate, Wakeworld.com, Wakeboarder.com, CableWakeboard.com, Wakeboarding Mag,   & Alliance.

CABLE Results

Pro Wakeboard FINALS
1. Tom Fooshee
2. Witt Finley
3. Kyle Reed
4T. Blake Vorwald
4T. Josh Wright

Wakeskate FINALS
1. Brett Little
2. Jesse Landry
3. Oury Yarbrough
4. Keaton Bowbly
5. Grant Roberts
6. Clint Tompkins

Advanced
1. Travis Putnam
2. Lucas Snider
3. Matt Leitke
4. Scott Starkweather
5. Russ Allen
6. Bryan Wogrin
7. Max Bialick

Intermediate
1. Reed Leible
2. Collin Haas
3. Ryan Sanders
4. Shaun Patrick
5. Bryan Perez
6. Cooper Stephan
7. Jeremy Waters
8. Mike Zimmer
9. Juan Narvaez

Beginner
1. Will Bryan
2. Reese Phillips
3. Kyle Patterson
4. Sam Moser
5. Travis Nuckols
6. Anna Bialick
7. Sinuhe Viramontes
8. Derek Perez

Wakeskate QUALIFYING
HEAT 1
1. Brett Little
2. Keaton Bowbly
3. Jesse Landry
4. Justin Brown
5. Daylon Roberti
6. San Moser

HEAT 2
1. Clint Tompkins
2. Oury Yarbrough
3. Grant Roberts
4. Colton Voswinkee
5. JoJo Franklin
6. David Roehm

BOAT Results

Pro Wakeboard FINALS
1. Brett Hickey
2. Mitch Berg
3. Tom Fooshee
4. Witt Finley

Wakeskate FINALS
1. Grant Roberts
2. Clint Tompkins
3. Oury Yarbrough
4. Keaton Bowbly

Advanced
1. Robert Moore
2. Trent Jones
3. Holland Finley
4. Dustin Manin
5. Jake Sonnevelt
6. Ross Barrett
7. Hayden McEntire
8. Matt Grant
9. Joey Bagnaro

Intermediate
1. Chase White
2. David Pretorius
3. Chad Daniels
4. Scott Czatlidki
5. Reese Phillips
6. Clay Stewart
7. Parker Williams
8. C.J. Doolittle
9. Brandon Ward
10. Ryan McIver
11. Jeremy Waters

Beginner
1. Darren Phillips
2. Conner Shepherd
3. Paul Fletcher
4. Danny Waldrep
5. Kyle Jutras
6. Shelby Phillips
7. Blake Scopa

Pro Wakeboard QUALIFYING
HEAT 1
1. Tom Fooshee
2. Witt Finley
3. Keith Holley
4. Colt Leonard

HEAT 2
1. Mitch Bergsma
2. Brett Hickey
3. JB Oneill
4. Lucas Snider

Wakeskate QUALIFYING
HEAT 1
1. Grant Roberts
2. Keaton Bowbly
3. Bret Little
4. Justin Brown

HEAT 2
1. Clint Tompkins
2. Oury Yarbrough
3. Jesse Landry
4. Daniel Prody
5. Bryan Bowden