Shawn Watson finally does it! At the end of his second year on the pro tour Watson came out on top. This was probably the best run the wakeboarding world has seen all year. Shawn was riding well all weekend, but only a few people had any idea what they were going to see in the finals. On the dock before his finals run he was talking over what he should pull out for the win with several other riders. Everyone wanted to see the toeside 900 off the wake and the heelside 720 off the wake we had all been hearing about. The crowd was going crazy at the end of his first pass when he stuck his 720 with no hesitation. Then part way through his second pass with the crowd on their feet Shawn through the 900. It was a little sketchy, but he pulled it off. Not only did he land those two incredible tricks, but the rest of his pass was filled with sick moves off the wake and perfect hits on the sliders. This was one of the most well rounded runs I have ever seen. Shawn has come close to winning before, but today was definitely his day. It was killer to see all of the other riders go crazy as they watched from the shore.

This all came after Darin Shapiro and Shaun Murray had brought out their full arsenal of tricks. Both riders did maneuvers that we hadn’t seen in a while and both were going for the win. It was awesome to watch! Shaun had been riding sick in practice and wanted the win very badly. His crow mobe 540 was bigger than ever, but a fall cost him and Darin a shot at a victory. Even if they had not fallen I don’t think they had enough for Watson.

The only thing missing from this contest was Parks Bonifay. Parks hurt his knee a few weeks ago and could not ride in this contest. Parks injured his knee trying one of the most difficult tricks ever tried. It was a double half cab mobe. What is this kid thinking? I can’t even visualize this trick in my head and he is almost landing it! Parks was in the boat during the finals cheering on everyone. You should have seen him when Watson rode. He was smiling from ear to ear. We all knew that he would have rather been on the water giving Shawn a run for the title. His injury should only keep him out for a couple of weeks. He is expected back for the Worlds in October.

The women were consistent this weekend, but not really that exciting. Maeghan Major went super conservative and won the event over Tara Hamilton. The girls had a meeting this weekend and hopefully are going to step it up a little more next year. All of them can do a lot more than we see in contests. In practice they are landing moby dicks, krypts, whirly birds, tootsie rolls, and tantrums to blind. Everyone wants to see them try these tricks in contests, but they are all so worried about falling. Maybe next year we can do something to encourage them to show us some of their hidden moves.

The boys and junior mens division had some of the best riding of the weekend. Froggy Soven was pulling of pete roses, handle pass kgb’s, 540’s, toosie rolls, and dumb/dumbs. This kid is only 4 foot tall. Rumor has it that he is doing wake 720’s. Steve Edwards started the Sunday junior mens division off with a toeside 900 and several other sick tricks. This was the first wake 900 pulled off in a contest. None of the pros had landed this maneuver until later in the day.

This was the second stop of the Vans Triple Crown series. With Murray winning the first stop and then finishing second this weekend he has a huge lead going into the final round. I am sure the final round at the Worlds in October will be just as exciting as this contest. Murray does not want to let the Crown slip away, but Parks will be back looking to show everyone that he is the man.

Here are some of the current results from the Vans Triple Crown, the World Cup, and the US Nationals. These standings are current as of 8/31/00.

US WAKEBOARD NATIONALS

Pro Men

Pro Women

WAKEBOARD WORLD CUP

Pro Mens

Pro Womens

VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF WAKEBOARDING

Pro Mens

Pro Womens