WAKESTOCK 2006 - ONLY GETTING BETTER
By Adam Levitt, Editor SBC Wakeboard Magazine
If there was ever any doubt, Wakestock solidified its reputation as the best action-sports festival in Canada and maybe even the world. Perfect weather and sunshine saw over 38,000 spectators flock to Toronto’s Centre Island over the four-day event. As usual, the weekend was packed with action. Between the TELUS main stage, the iCoke stage and the SBC Skateboard Park indy stage, over 40 bands performed. The Bud Light beer gardens were standing room only and the skatepark was jammed every day. The Right Guard Xtreme Freestyle Moto-x Air Assault blew minds and the Canadian Action Sports Expo and Marketplace was packed throughout the weekend.
As highlight of the WWA World Series, Wakestock debuted a new head-to-head contest format for the Malibu Boats Expression Session. The 40-rider field was paired off by ranking, which set the stage for fierce competition from the first rider off the dock. By the Sunday afternoon, the four-man super finals were set and the record-breaking crowd got to witness some of the best competitive wakeboarding ever seen. In the finals was defending champ and Canadian, Rusty Malinoski along with Australian Daniel Watkins, New Zealander Jeff Weatherall and USA’s Philip Soven. The first round of the final saw Malinoski take down Watkins, and Soven beat out Weatherall. Soven was first off the dock in the final and threw down a huge, technical run that Malinoski was unable to beat. Soven claimed his first ever Wakestock belt with Malinoski taking second while Weatherall and Watkins took home third and fourth respectively.
Once again, the Billabong Pro Railslide contest proved to be another highlight of the weekend. Thanks to a new custom railslide course, designed and built by rail-master Pat Panakos, Wakestock once again made history with some of the most technical rail riding ever witnessed. Orlando native and Projects coach, Keith Lidberg successfully defended his title against a talented 40-man field and a hard-charging Kevin Henshaw in the final round.
Not to be outdone by the wakeboarders, the wakeskaters put on an equally impressive display in the Billabong Pro Wakeskate competition. The 20-man field was narrowed down to two with BC’s Aaron Rathy and Florida’s Reed Hansen making the final round. Hansen stood up a near perfect run throwing down an impressive technical run, including a Kickflip, a Backside Bigspin, and a wake-to-wake 360 to beat out Rathy.
Most of the action off the water centered around the Oakley Launch Pool. Completely redesigned with four new rails, a lengthened main pool and an additional third pool, the Oakley Launch Pool once again made history as the largest pool-to-pool stunt ever built. The new design made for amazing riding from both the wakeboarders and wakeskaters. Canadian Aaron Rathy defended his title in the wakeskate best trick contest by stomping a Pop Shuv into a Front Lip on the big hubba ledge. The wakeboard best trick contest also saw some of the most technical railsliding ever witnessed. In the end, Danny Harf walked away with the belt and the cash by stomping a Cab 270 onto the angle box then spinning a Blind 180 over the gap to the down rail.
Summer 2007 marks the 10-year anniversary for Wakestock, so look for an even bigger event this year. Wakestock will be returning to Toronto Islands on July 26-29, 2007. Click here to sign up for the e-newsletter to keep up to date on all the Wakestock latest news.