J-Nev and Lopina take top spots

Australia’s longest running professional wakeboard event wrapped up this past weekend at Bli Bli Wake Park. Staged by Liquid Force Australia and now in its 9th year, the event occupies a significant place on the international calendar attracting riders from all over the world as well as Australia’s best. Nico Von Lechenfeld, Guether Oka, Jamie Lopina, Alex Albauch and Oli Derome were just a few of the big names in a strong international field.
 
This year, over 170 riders participated across all divisions in the three contest events. Liquid Force Rail Jam. Jet Pilot King of Kicker. O'Brien Bi Level Challenge. The Bli Bli Obstacles Only course is always challenging, even for the pro riders, with its "lower than usual" cable, skinny rails and varied structures. This year also featured a new innovative "line judging" format in the pro divisions, with weighted obstacles and left/right combinations that tested everyone’s ability, it was well received by all the pro riders.
 
In an age of declining contest involvement, Liquid Force Australia has developed a format that is self-funding and supports itself each season. The event is open to anyone that wants to test their ability against the sports best riders. Connor Lawnton from Mackay who entered Pro Men, rode strongly all weekend and made the top four in the Bi Level Challenge against some of the world's best.
 
In the premier event of the weekend – the Liquid Force Obstacles Only - Jamie Neville took the top spot in what was an incredibly close podium result. Only 1 point separated the top three placings with Aaron Gunn and Sebastian Dunn taking 2 and 3 respectively. Aaron Gunn made a clean sweep of the other events taking first in both King of Kicker and the Bi Level Challenge. Busty Dunn and Jack Battleday were 2 and 3 in the Bi Level, while Jacob Vinall and Busty were 2 and 3 in King of Kicker.
 
This year saw the strongest ladies contingent ever at Boardstock and they supplied a great contest across all three events with a different winner in each section. Jamie Lopina was first in the Rail Jam, Angie Scriber was number 1 in King of Kicker whilst Courtney Angus, in her return to competition, was first in the Bi Level.
 
Full results from the weekend can be found by visiting blibliwatersports.com.au, Facebook or Instagram.