Australian Joel Bartley Tops Local Star Stephen Pierce to Win Pro Card Qualifier

LAKE ALFRED, Fla. – The second Malibu WWA Rider Experience of the 2016 season took place this past weekend, June 3-5, at Hyco Lake in Roxboro, North Carolina. Riders were treated to near perfect conditions as they battled for bragging rights throughout the three-day event. The event also featured the third Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier of the season, which was won by former Jr. Pro standout Joel Bartley (AUS), who edged out North Carolina’s local star Stephen Pierce behind the first-class wake of Malibu’s 25 LSV.
 
A star-studded lineup emerged for the Jr. Pro Men division, including a strong showing by Jason Soven (USA) and Korea’s very own Jeongwook Kim and Yun Sanghyun all winning their respective semifinals. In the finals, Soven took full advantage of points leader Lewy Watt’s (AUS) early elimination and was victorious by taking the top spot. Sanghyun and James Loisel (USA) finished second and third.
 
Allison Lavarack (NC) relied on the support of her fellow North Carolina friends and family to claim the win in the Jr. Girls (9 & under) with big grabs and switch wake-to-wake jumps that impressed the judges. Palmer Howell (AL) and Brina O’Neal (NC) rounded out the podium. In the Girls (10-13) division, Mary Morgan Howell (AL) rode strong to the win, narrowly edging out Piper Harris (NC) and Sydney Deary (FL).
 
The Boy’s (10-13) class went down to the wire for the win, but Fynn Bullock (NC) prevailed with a variety of technical tricks, while Kevin Duffy finished a close second place (FL). Jr. Boy’s Beginner (9 & under) showcased some of the youngest talent on hand throughout the weekend, which included Bret Porter (MD) grabbing the win over Rexton Abbott (NC) in an intense battle. Bret’s brother, Beau Porter (MD), capped off a successful weekend for the brothers by riding flawlessly to victory in the Boy’s Beginner (10-13) division.
 
Amateur Wakeskate featured some of the weekend’s best action, which witnessed brothers Andy and Chris Birch make the long trek from Arizona to go head-to-head for their chance at the overall win. In the end, Andy laid down an impressive run to take first place.
 
Fierce battles took place during the Masters/Veterans Women finals as Joy Manning (VA) threw down a huge backroll and tantrum to rise to the top of the charts. Behind her, Jodi Vermillion (OH) and Ashleigh Nyborg (NC) finished second and third, respectively. Shannon Sahinbas (FL) earned her first win since returning from an injury suffered last season in the Jr. Women (14-18), just ahead of Lexxe Park (NC) and Ellery Hunt (SC).
 
The Men Wakesurf showed great camaraderie among its competition, along with a hard-fought win by the division's youngest competitor, Rankin Wright (NC). In the Men I/Masters division, the battle of the Carolinas ensued between Jimmy Powell (SC) and Thomas Sangster (NC). At the conclusion of their final run, Powell outdueled Sangster to earn the win.
 
Surf Gate Sunday completed the fun-filled weekend and welcomed men and women of all ages to come out for a relaxing day behind Malibu’s surf gate. A strong turnout was on hand for the widely popular activity, including many new faces experiencing it for their first time. Malibu’s great surf wake provided riders the perfect opportunity to showcase their talent on the epic water conditions at Hyco Lake.
 
The Rider Experience Central and fourth Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier of the 2016 season is set to take place at Bel-Ray Action Sports Park in Conroe, Texas on July 8-10.

Results
 
Pro Card Qualifier Final
1. Joel Bartley (AUS) – 70.00
2. Stephen Pierce (NC) – 60.00
3. Joel Schrader (GA) – 40.00
 
Jr. Pro Men (14-18) Final
1. Jason Soven (USA) – 80.83
2. Yun Sanghyun (KOR) – 80.00
3. James Loisel (USA) – 70.00
4. Tyler Higham (USA) – 55.00
5. Jeongwook Kim (KOR) – 46.67
6. Cobe France (AUS) – 41.67
 
Jr. Men (14-18) Final
1. Bryce Grey (AUS) – 81.67
2. Joshua McConnell (AUS) – 75.67
3. Joey Gallagher (FL) – 72.33
4. Mitch Kappler (NC) – 67.67
5. Gray Liles (NC) – 62.67
6. Andrew Watson (FL) – 53.33
7. Andy Birch (AZ) – 45.00
8. Bart Porter (MD) – 23.33
9. Django Rosenbaum (NC) – 15.00
10. Chase Baeker (NC) – 8.33
 
Jr. Women (14-18) Final
1. Shannon Sahinbas (FL) – 68.33
2. Lexxe Park (NC) – 58.33
3. Ellery Hunt (SC) – 43.33
4. Kate Crews (NC) - 28.33
 
Men I/Masters Final
1. Jimmy Powell (SC) 71.67
2. Thomas Sangster (NC) – 68.33
3. Jackie Sly (NC) – 53.33
4. Aaron Lecklider (OH) – 43.33
5. Francisco Cabezas (FL) – 33.33
6. Brian O’Neal (NC) – 31.67
7. Drew Dalton (NC) – 11.67
 
Boys (10-13) Final
1. Fynn Bullock (NC) – 94.67
2. Kevin Duffy (FL) – 90.67
3. Daniel Johnson (NC) – 85.00
4. Benjamin Brown (KY) – 73.33
5. Cody Hunnicutt (TN) – 63.33
6. Nelson Wright (NC) – DQ
 
Boys Beginner (10-13) Final
1. Beau Porter (MD) – 70.00
2. Nelson Wright (NC) – 40.00
3. Tyler Toberman (NC) – 38.00
4. Tristen Cannon (NC) – 30.00
 
Jr. Boys Beginner (9 & Under) Final
1. Bret Porter (MD) – 80.00
2. Rexton Abbott (NC) – 78.33
 
Jr. Girls (9 & Under) Final
1. Allison Lavarack (NC) – 81.00
2. Palmer Howell (AL) – 74.67
3. Brina O’Neal (NC) – 58.33
4. Madison Lavarack (NC) – 49.00
5. McGowan Howell (AL) – 37.33
 
Girls (10-13) Final
1. Mary Morgan Howell (AL) – 78.33
2. Jordan Wolfe (NC) – 45.00
3. Sydney Deary (FL) – 42.50
4. Piper Harris (FL) – 41.67
 
Masters/Veteran Women Final
1. Joy Manning (VA) – 71.67
2. Jodi Vermillion (OH) – 60.00
3. Ashleigh Nyborg (NC) – 52.50
 
Veterans (40 & Over) Final
1. Matthew Vermillion (OH) – 78.33
2. Johnny Wofford (NC) – 60.00
3. Carl Erickson (FL) – 46.67
4. Fred Birch (AZ) – 20.00
 
Men Wakesurf Final
1. Rankin Wright (NC) – 66.67
2. Andy Birch (AZ) – 61.00
3. Francisco Cabezas (FL) – 48.33
4. Chris Birch (AZ) – 41.67
5. Fred Birch (AZ) – 30.00
6. Nelson Wright (NC) – 28.33
 
Amateur Wakeskate Final
1. Andy Birch (AZ) – 66.67
2. Chris Birch (AZ) – 43.33
3. Francisco Cabezas (FL) – 40.00
 
Jr. Pro Men (14-18) Semifinals (top two in each heat advance)
 
Heat #1
1. Jeongwook Kim (KOR) – 76.67
2. Tyler Higham (USA) – 63.33
===
3. Mikey Conrady (USA) - 45.00
4. Jesse Foushee (USA) – 39.17
5. Camden Vaughan (USA) – 35.00
6. Clayton Holladay (USA) – 25.00
 
Heat #2
1. Jason Soven (USA) – 80.00
2. Cobe France (AUS) – 73.33
===
3. Luca Kidd (GBR) – 56.67
4. Nicholas Brown (USA) – 40.00
5. Callan Starr (AUS) – 34.00
6. Cody Wahl (CAN) – 10.00
 
Heat #3
1. Yun Sanghyun (KOR) – 91.67
2. James Loisel (USA) – 81.67
===
3. Guenther Oka (USA) – 70.00
4. Lewy Watt (AUS) – 68.33
5. Elliot Digney (AUS) – 61.67
6. Jake Pelot (USA) – 36.67
 
2016 Malibu WWA Rider Experience Dates
 
Rider Experience Central/Pro Card Qualifier #4
Host Dealer: SMG Houston
3 Palms Action Sports Park
Houston, Texas
July 8-10
 
Rider Experience East/Pro Card Qualifier #5
Held in conjunction with Wootown Wakefest
Host Dealer: Eastcoast Flight Craft
Lake Quinsigamond
Worcester, Massachusetts
July 15-17
 
Rider Experience Canada/Pro Card Qualifier #6
Host Dealer: Aqua Sport Marine
Wow Lake
St. Zotique, QC, Canada
August 12-14
 
About Malibu Boats
Malibu Boats is the world's largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, known for leading the industry with major innovations, including the first onboard computer system in 1993, the ingenious Power Wedge hydrofoil in 2006 (completely redesigned in 2014), the industry's first wake-maximizing hull in 2000, and Surf Gate, the innovation that changed the face of wakesurfing forever, in 2012. Malibu markets the Wakesetter and Response models – as well as the Axis Wake Research brand – through a worldwide dealer network. With some 450 employees and three manufacturing facilities, in California, Tennessee, and Australia, Malibu builds boats to help you live a #lifewithoutlimits on the water. (NASDAQ: MBUU)
 
About the WWA
The World Wakeboard Association is the global leader inwake sports sanctioning. The WWA owns and operates the WWA Wakeboard World Series, WWA Wake Park World Series, WWA Wakeboard National Championships, WWA Wake Park National Championships, WWA Wakeboard World Championships, WWA Wake Park World Championships, WWA Wake Park Triple Crown, WWA Pro Card and WWA Rider Experience. With 27 affiliate countries worldwide, the WWA is a rider-formed organization dedicated to promoting and growing wake sports worldwide. It is the primary source for riders, event organizers and competitive standards. For more information on the WWA and its events, check out thewwa.com.