IFWA 2009 - USA - Incredible Surf and Amazing Tricks
highlight the action at the 2009 Blowsion Surf Slam presented by Worx.
> 09/18/2009
International Freeride Watercraft Association (IFWA)
September 17, 2009
Photo
Gallery USA Oregon - click here
Competitors and spectators alike witnessed some large
surf and challenging conditions for the 2009 Blowsion Surf Slam. Tierra
del Mar, just north of Pacific City Oregon was host to this round of
the 2009 International Freeride Watercraft Association’s World
Championship Tour (IFWA) and the International Jet Sports Boating Association’s
Motosurf Western National Championships (IJSBA). Professional Freeriders
and racers from around the world were on hand for this inaugural event.
Although the tides proved challenging earlier in the weekend, the athletes
and event organizers pushed through Sunday and completed all rounds
of freeride competition and motosurf racing.
Over 30 of the world’s best freeride watercraft
pilots were on hand competing for the event win and points towards the
2009 IFWA World Champion title. Current points leader American Ross
Champion displayed his skills throughout the weekend and ended up taking
the win in the finals against fellow American Mike Serlin. Friend and
teammate Serlin gave Champion a run for his money in the final. It was
a close heat but Ross Champion’s big maneuvers and incredible
wave riding skills edged Serlin out for the top podium spot.
Former World Champion Pierre Maixent rounded the top
three, as he competed in his first 2009 IFWA event after returning from
an injury. Maixent moved up through the pre-qualifying rounds and was
pitted head to head with British competitor Graham Reid in the consolation
final. Freeride Judge Randy Laine said, “Pierre’s riding
was amazing. It was the most technical I’ve seen and he displayed
the biggest amplitude of the weekend.” Graham Reid’s 4th
place finish advances him to 4th Place overall in the 2009 IFWA World
Tour Points.
The competition was strong and full of high energy through all the rounds.
International riders included Italian Federico Bufacchi, Brazilian Tiago
Geitens, German Marc Sickerling, Arkadius Schramek from Poland and first
time IFWA competitor Peter McLoughlin from Australia along with fellow
Aussie Jeremy Fleming. Americans Eddie Bettencourt, Jerry Jones and
Jerry Brandon showed that they could compete with the best in the world
in the crashing Oregon waves.
In the Amateur Freeride Category, first timer Mark Gomez
battled it out in the 3- man final to emerge the victor. Chris Rosner
came in second and Staton High rounded out the podium. The IFWA Amateur
division also included international competitors Ramon Ferre from Spain
and British newcomer Stephen Foot. The amateurs had rough conditions
all weekend and won respect from both the judges and the professional
riders.
Unpredictable ocean conditions delayed the IJSBA’s
MotoSurf race until Sunday’s schedule. The first moto combined
both Pro and Pro/Am Ski classes and served as a qualifier for the main
event. In the main event, Former World Champion, Pro-Class Dustin Motzouris
won the moto in spite of a debilitating foot injury received in the
earlier Freeride Pre-Qualifying Round. Former British Pro Ski Champion
Jordan Fielder was on hand and hit the big buoy course sporting a fractured
wrist and cast from his recent domination of the European Mini Bike
Championships. Showing the same strength in the face of painful injuries
as Motzouris, Jordan still managed to take second place showing the
crowd on hand why both riders are so highly respected. South African
Tyrone Motzouris stood next to his brother in 3rd place on the Pro Ski
podium. In the Pro/Am Ski main event, Brazilian Tiago Geitens edged
out Americans Mike Hackler and Ian Benson for the win.
“The Oregon Coast is a beautiful area and I am
happy that we were able to share it with competitors and media from
around the world,” said event organizer CarolAnne Giustina from
On Course Events. “The Freeriders and racers put on a great show
and we look forward to coming back to Pacific City next year.”
The Blowsion Surf Slam is sponsored by Blowsion and
presented by Worx. Kommander, On Course Events, R&D, ODI, Slippery,
Rockstar Energy Drink, Power Motorsports, Fullgaz, Gottard, and Jet
Import France also support the event.
The Blowsion Surf Slam is part of the 5th year of IFWA
Freeride World Championship Tour. The tour consists of 5 events held
in Portugal, Spain, France, Brazil and the United States. The competition
is a head to head format with pilots being judged equally on wave surfing
and aerial maneuvers. Each stop on the tour features a beautiful tourist
location along with the potential for large surf and impressive competition.
The IFWA is the International Freeride Watercraft Association and the
sanctioning body for the sport of Freeride. The IJSBA (International
Jet Sports Boating Association) is the world’s sanctioning body
for organized PWC competitions. The IJSBA has affiliates in more than
50 countries worldwide and each October, since 1982, holds the annual
World Championships in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The Blowsion Surf
Slam and MotoSurf Western Championships marks the return to IJSBA and
IFWA co-sanctioned events.
For more information please contact:
CarolAnne Giustina
On Course Events
carolannegiustina@mac.com
