And The “Chase” Is On

Orlando, Florida – The race to become the world’s number one wakeboarder and collect the $25,000 bonus, the largest cash prize in the history of the sport, just got tighter. With only five events remaining in the 2007 King of Wake series, the “Chase for the Crown” is now on for the world’s top riders.

The Chase, similar to NASCAR’s point system, involves narrowing the rider field eligible for the title to the top 10 midway through the season. Those top 10 riders will compete in a five-stop “playoff” beginning with the Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Kelowna, B.C., Canada July 7-8.

Canadian rider Rusty Malinoski currently leads in the King of Wake standings with a score of 955, followed by American riders Phillip Soven (945), Shaun Murray (935), Trevor Hansen (930), Danny Harf (925), Adam Errington (920) and Andrew Adkison (915). Aussie Daniel Watkins is in eighth place with a score of 910; Canadian rider Chad Sharpe is in ninth (906); and American J.D. Webb (902) holds the final spot.

With scores so close between riders in the Chase, the title could come down to the final event, as it did in 2006. All 10 riders must perform to the best of their abilities throughout the playoffs to have a chance at capturing the crown in Cancun, Mexico.

The King of Wake is the ultimate wakeboarding series as it brings together the sport’s top events and series into one season-long points chase. The 2007 competition for the title and the cash includes the five stops on the Pro Wakeboard Tour, plus the Wake Games, the WWA National Championships and the WWA World Championships, as well as Wakefest Alberta, and it concludes with the Pro-Am Championships.