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Des just sent over the following press release.
Originally posted by Des Burke-Kennedy
Following the drama and excitement of this year’s World Cup Stops in France, Qatar, Northern Ireland, China and Russia, the final points battle will take place this weekend on the crystal clear waters of Bedok Reservoir in downtown Singapore. The star studded line up of 32 male and female Wakeboard Riders from thirteen countries will compete for both the Singapore World Cup Stop cash prize of US$ 60,000 and also the 2006 International Water Ski Federation’s Wakeboard World Cup overall series titles.
As Singapore’s World Cup Stop approaches, USA athletes are in a very strong position to take the coveted 2006 Crystal World Cup season trophies. The hot contenders for men now include overall series leader Danny Harf (USA), Rusty Malinoski (CAN) and Philip Soven (USA). Soven is the defending 2005 overall World Cup title holder. Malinoski’s defeated Harf in Beijing some weeks ago. This will produce a nail biting finish for the anticipated 17,000 spectators. The top women at this point are Maeghan Major (USA), Emily Copeland Durham (USA) and Dallas Friday (USA). Although the overall series scores favour Major and Durham, Friday’s wins in Qatar and France would suggest that she is on a roll. Her gymnastics background could well help her to take home her first World Cup Crystal Trophy, despite missing the Stop at Enghiens-les-Bains near Paris last June.
Singapore will be represented on the water by two of the nation’s most promising new talents. Young Sasha Christian (13) is the reigning and three time National Wakeboard Champion. Her 16 year old brother, Matthew, is a former National Junior Wakeboard Champion. Senior Rider Suter Tan will also help to get Singapore scores on the board.
To increase the excitement this weekend at the HSBC sponsored Stop, spectators will be invited to SMS-vote Riders in the Pro Men Division whom they believe have a Zero Gravity Factor ! Eight Riders will be judged by the crowd as they go as “big” as possible off the MasterCraft boat wakes for a special US$3,000 winner-takes-all bonus cash prize.
As at previous World Cup Stops, there will be a positive focus on junior master classes. HSBC have sponsored 120 children in a special Junior Riders Programme this year. For the past nine months, they have received instruction under the supervision of the Singapore Waterski & Wakeboard Federation. The best nine boys and seven girls under eleven years of age will now compete for the HSBC Junior Riders Challenge award. Ms Audrey Wong, HSBC’s head of Country Marketing stated “ while presenting such an exciting Wakeboard event to the general public, we also made sure that we have not forgotten about our junior Riders and we hope to inspire them by involving them in a world-class competition such as this “
The impact of the World Cup series over the past three years in Singapore has been impressive. The perfect downtown location, the packed stadium atmosphere and the full support of HSBC, RipCurl, Q-Bar, PUB (Public Utilities Board), Changi Sports Medicine Centre and Hotel Grand Mercure, will make this final World Cup Stop of 2006 the highlight of Waterfest Singapore 2006, Asia’s top water sports festival.
The Bedok Reservoir programme will commence at 11.00hrs on Saturday next and the Final’s Prize Giving ceremony will be at 17.00hrs. on Sunday.
As Singapore’s World Cup Stop approaches, USA athletes are in a very strong position to take the coveted 2006 Crystal World Cup season trophies. The hot contenders for men now include overall series leader Danny Harf (USA), Rusty Malinoski (CAN) and Philip Soven (USA). Soven is the defending 2005 overall World Cup title holder. Malinoski’s defeated Harf in Beijing some weeks ago. This will produce a nail biting finish for the anticipated 17,000 spectators. The top women at this point are Maeghan Major (USA), Emily Copeland Durham (USA) and Dallas Friday (USA). Although the overall series scores favour Major and Durham, Friday’s wins in Qatar and France would suggest that she is on a roll. Her gymnastics background could well help her to take home her first World Cup Crystal Trophy, despite missing the Stop at Enghiens-les-Bains near Paris last June.
Singapore will be represented on the water by two of the nation’s most promising new talents. Young Sasha Christian (13) is the reigning and three time National Wakeboard Champion. Her 16 year old brother, Matthew, is a former National Junior Wakeboard Champion. Senior Rider Suter Tan will also help to get Singapore scores on the board.
To increase the excitement this weekend at the HSBC sponsored Stop, spectators will be invited to SMS-vote Riders in the Pro Men Division whom they believe have a Zero Gravity Factor ! Eight Riders will be judged by the crowd as they go as “big” as possible off the MasterCraft boat wakes for a special US$3,000 winner-takes-all bonus cash prize.
As at previous World Cup Stops, there will be a positive focus on junior master classes. HSBC have sponsored 120 children in a special Junior Riders Programme this year. For the past nine months, they have received instruction under the supervision of the Singapore Waterski & Wakeboard Federation. The best nine boys and seven girls under eleven years of age will now compete for the HSBC Junior Riders Challenge award. Ms Audrey Wong, HSBC’s head of Country Marketing stated “ while presenting such an exciting Wakeboard event to the general public, we also made sure that we have not forgotten about our junior Riders and we hope to inspire them by involving them in a world-class competition such as this “
The impact of the World Cup series over the past three years in Singapore has been impressive. The perfect downtown location, the packed stadium atmosphere and the full support of HSBC, RipCurl, Q-Bar, PUB (Public Utilities Board), Changi Sports Medicine Centre and Hotel Grand Mercure, will make this final World Cup Stop of 2006 the highlight of Waterfest Singapore 2006, Asia’s top water sports festival.
The Bedok Reservoir programme will commence at 11.00hrs on Saturday next and the Final’s Prize Giving ceremony will be at 17.00hrs. on Sunday.
