CWS Comes Home For Riverfest; Season Champs To Be Crowned

Wilmington, NC – After its best year yet, the Carolina Wakeboard Series is set to return to Wilmington, NC and crown 2008’s series champions at Riverfest.  

For the fourth year, CWS will host their season finals at Riverfest on Saturday, October 4th and Sunday October 5th right in the heart of downtown Wilmington. The event is expected to attract over fifty wakeboarders from all across the southeastern United States.

“Riverfest is always a huge contest for us,” says Rob Mendieta, the event's director and CWS founder. "It’s our way of putting an exclamation point on the season and this year looks like it’s going to be our largest contest yet.”

Riders of all skill levels are invited to come out and compete in the CWS' final event of the 2008 season. However, the pro division is expected to turn some heads this year, with an increased number of big-name competitors making the trip to Wilmington to try and snag their share of the purse.

Newly crowned WWA women’s world champion and 2008 Pro Wakeboard Tour Champion Nicola Butler will be in Wilmington gunning for the Ladies division. Spectators can expect to see quite a few familiar names in the Pro Men’s division as well, such as Dean Smith and Josh Palma, plus, event sponsor Slingshot Wakeboards is sending their team of pro riders to compete in the event. They’ll all have to get through two-time defending champ Adam Fields though; he hasn’t lost a CWS event in over two years.

“I can’t wait to watch the pros ride,” Mendieta says. “Adam has been untouchable for so long, but you can see some of the other riders starting to creep up. A few guys like Austin Hair and Josh Palma have gotten close to taking him out, but no one’s been able to catch him. It looks like Riverfest will get interesting, though; you never know who might show up this year.”

On-site registration will begin Saturday at 8 AM. There is an entry fee and all riders must have insurance through the World Wakeboard Association, which will be available on-site the day of the event. Admission to the event is free. 

Riverfest is brought to you by Underground Products, Aussie Island, Slingshot, Teaka Trucks, Rip Curl, and Smith Optics.

About the Carolina Wakeboard Series – Now in its fourth year, the Carolina Wakeboard Series is one of the fastest-growing amateur wakeboarding circuits on the East Coast. With eight events scheduled for 2008, the CWS shows no signs of slowing down. Check out www.carolinawakeseries.com for event information, photos and updates.