Text by Matt Crowhurst

Back to back weekends of events would see the 2011 UK wakeboard contest season wrapped up through September and early October including the final three stops of the Relentless UK Pro Wakeboard Tour. With the first cable stop at Sheffield Cable Park out of the way, it was on to Boat at West Midlands Waterski Centre, then back to Cable at JBSki and finally rounding the series off at one of the major homes of British boat riding, Quayside Wake & Ski.

It was not likely that we’d see the kind of weather that graced us at the first stop, for the rest of the summer, never mind on the remaining tour stop dates. We seriously lucked out though, at every single remaining event. The second stop was the most touch and go as far as conditions were concerned but in between light showers and gusts, the sun came out and the water glassed off. This gave every rider a good chance of throwing down all that they could but it was the youngster and team O’Neill rider Jorge Gill who took the first win despite some seriously heavy competition from the likes of David Coates who got second and Scotty Broome who came in third. Fellow O’Neill athlete Jules Haley took the win that was looking very much on the cards from the moment she took the 2011 National title a few weeks previous.

Back to cable for stop 2 and hosted by Relentless’s long standing wake venue partner, JBSki. Yet more blue skies and some seriously nice conditions had every rider amped, which translated into an extremely tight contest indeed. There was no stopping Kustom team athlete, Tor Young, at this final cable stop as she cruised into first spot on the day and number one spot overall, taking the 2011 Pro Tour Cable title. The return of Declan Clifford to the tour mixed things up somewhat with him charging his way through to first place. Ever present Lewis Cornwall could not be held back as he narrowly missed out on first place but in taking second on the day joined Tor as 2011 UK Cable Tour Champion.

The grand finale ended up being one of the most sensationally hot weekends of the year, just getting hotter and hotter every day in the lead up to the main event. Quali’s saw big names fall by the wayside such as Sam and Johnny Carne but both clawed their way back into the finals through the LCQ’s. Sian Hurst caused an upset early on, snagging the lead off Jules going into the finals but Jules came up trumps yet again come results, taking the win and adding another title to the ever more heavily laden mantelpiece of Team O’Neill. Having got back into the running, Sam just couldn’t get ahead of his fellow Relentless rider David O’Caiomh who could not be reigned in. Dave took the win, Sam second with his brother, Johnny third. Having missed the first stops Dave and Sam couldn’t edge their way into the running for the title with all the main contenders racking up finalist points as well. David Coates’ fourth place finish was enough to secure the overall title ahead of Jorge Gill, Johnny Carne, Scotty Broome and Jonty Green.

The overall tour titles have changed hands again, keeping the series as fresh as ever and ready for more new comers to put it all on the line next season in the hunt for the 2012 Pro Tour honours.