Putting it all on the Line for a ticket to Germany
For the first time ever in 2013, an “O’Neill Wake The Line presented by Relentless
Energy Drink” Qualifier event was held outside of the USA and Europe and was awarded
to Cables Wake Park at Penrith Australia. Text by Chloe-Amanda Bailey.
Penrith/Australia, March 3rd 2013 – The qualifier event is part of the entire “O’Neill
Wake The Line” concept of creating the best rail event in the world and spreading their
net far and wide to attract and reward the most talented rail riders on the planet. On
Sunday March 3rd a number of established international stars stood up to the plate with
the young local rookies from Australia to see who was good enough to win a position in
the starting line-up, and an all expenses paid trip, for the main event in Germany on May
24/25.
All riders received 2 attempts at the course, each of which consisted of just one lap and a
single hit on the rail, kicker and quarter pipe. The riders were judges under the strict
“O’Neill Wake The Line” criteria that awarded control, consistency, and creativity. After
an initial series of heats the field was reduced to 8 riders for a semi final that featured 3
internationals – Daniel Grant, Ollie Derome, Brad Smeele – and 5 Australian riders –
Mitch Langfield, Aaron Gunn, James Windsor, Jamie Neville and Chris OShea. Referred
to as the best standard yet seen in any Qualifier event the judges struggled to decide on
the top 4 names for the final round.
After a long deliberation, and a tie for 4th place it was decided to take 5 riders into the
final round from which only 3 would emerge with tickets to Germany. The top five riders –
Mitch Langfield, Aaron Gunn, James Windsor, Oli Derome and Chris O’Shea again
received 2 passes at the course with only the single best counting for their final score
Oli Derome went down twice on his double back roll. James Windsor looked promising
and stomped 2 clean runs in the final but didn’t manage to surpass what the other boys
had brought to the table. Chris O’Shea had his double cab rolls on lock and with some
solid rails and quarter pipe hits was enough to pip Windsor for the third spot. Mitch
Langfield, always a stand out on the rails, had two great runs in the final and his aired out
tail grabbed threes in the quarter pipe were also a crowd pleaser.
But in the end the “O’Neill Wake The Line” concept was reinforced when a 17 year old
local rider from Penrith Cable took the top spot with super clean riding all across the
course and boosting with enormous height out of the quarter pipe. Aaron Gunn
continually left the crowd stunned and cheering and rightly earned his spot on top of the
“O’Neill Wake The Line” Qualifier podium.
The next qualifier on UNIT Parktech Rails and the System 2.0 by Sesitec the best two
tower wakeboard cable system event will take place at Orlando Watersports Complex at
May 11th with additional events in Russia and Germany where riders may once again
attempt to gain one of the few remaining “O’Neill Wake The Line” starting places.
May 11th Orlando Watersports Complex, Florida/USA (three wildcards)
May 17th/18th Moscow, Russia (one wildcard)
May 18th Wasserski Langenfeld, Germany (three wildcards)
May 24/25th “O’Neill Wake The Line” Stadionbad Cologne/Germany
For further information: http://www.waketheline.com/blog/qualification/
www.cableswakepark.com.au
www.orlandowatersports.com
www.trajectory.ru
www.wasserski-langenfeld.de
UNIT Parktech: www.unit-parktech.com
Press contact: Johannes Degenhardt / jd@unit-parktech.com
