Arizona State Wins First Championship

It was just 366 days ago when the Arizona State Wakedevils lost in the College Wakeboard finals to Chico State. The loss hurt. It resignated throughout the team who immediately swore they would be the national champions the next year. The Wakedevils headed back to Tempe focused. To the team, new season started right then.

 This year.... it was different.


Introducing your 2012-13 College Wakeboard Champions: the ARIZONA STATE WAKEDEVILS!!!

The finals was a rematch of the semifinals of last year. Arizona State was lined up against a very strong and dangerous South Florida. It was going to be a battle of who made the mistakes. To make matters more dramatic, top ASU team rider RJ Pabon went down in the semis to a broken tibia after landing straight legged on the wake.

To replace him, Brandon Krembach, a story in itself stepped up for the team as the alternate rider filling RJ's spot. His run was near flawless throwing a toeside front roll, Tantrum, and backroll all super clean.

USF flinched first. The first 2 riders had a rough time not scoring high or hitting their big tricks.
It wasn't until senior Chris Waters, team president, that made ASU start to worry. He came out the top rider of the Championships, throwing his toeside off-axis 5, S-bend and hoochie glide, but just missed his tantrum to blind.

The Wakedevils never let up. They all rode consistent the entire weekend and kept it going in the finals.

Robert Skousen of ASU had one of his best runs of the year. Hitting a heel 5, halfcab roll, tail grab tantrum and a crow mobe to solidify his spot as number 2 behind Chris Waters.

It was JP Bray though who stuck the nail in the coffin. As the top ride for the Wakedevils, he put together the best run of the finals together but was dealing with the smaller wake of the back up Axis A22 from Boulder Boats.

As the sun set on Lake Las Vegas, the ASU Wakedevils finally had their first College Wake Championship Title! 

They all took home great gear from Buywake.com, Slingshot Sports, Marine-Products, Jet Pilot, Kicker Audio, Smith Optics and Elevated Clothing worth over $500 per rider!

The celebration had begun and Vegas had another Champion.


The 2012 Wakedevils Championship team:
RJ Pabon, Brandon Krembach, Robert Skousen, Cole Kraiss, Dallen Sullivan, Anthony Sutton, Ryan Platt, JP Bray, and Chelsea Clark.

Special Thanks to: Jade Whirley, Lana Merkley, Aaron Tunnell, Brandon Darley, Broc Schall, Anthony Kennedy,  Boulder Boats, Lake Las Vegas Masters Association, Nation Essentials, and all our great sponsors at Kicker Audio, Buywake.com, Slingshot, Smith Optics, Jet Pilot, Marine-Products, Elevated Clothing, Alpinestarts, Alliance Wakeboard Magazine, Monster Energy, and Titos Vodka!

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ESPN U Campus Connection with Arizona State Wakedevils

The ASU Wakedevils just won the national championships of college wakeboarding. They also got this segment by ESPN U Campus Connections.

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Championship Schedule

Vegas is finally here again! For those of you who came last year know whats in store. Those who are new, prepared to be blown away. The pros don't get events like this. Here is the schedule for the weekend.


 Friday APRIL 18, 2013

8:00 AM - Breakfast by the lake served at the stage
9:00 AM - Individual Intermediate Division
10:00AM - Individual Open Division
10:30AM - Individual Womens Division
10:00 AM - Breakfast Over
11:00 AM -#8 Rollins vs.   #1 Arizona State
12:00 PM - Lunch from Rio Cafe
1:30 PM - #5 Sac State vs.  #4 Baylor
4:00 PM - Open Rides for those who want to sign up 
6:00 PM - Dinner from Island Grill
8:00 PM - Boat Cruise
9:00 PM - Boat Party open to all at Marina

 Saturday APRIL 20, 2013 

8:00 AM Breakfast by Empire Wake served at the stage.
9:00 AM - Practice Runs
10:00 AM - Breakfast Over
 11:00 AM - Winner of USF vs Chico State
12:00 PM -  Lunch by Subway
1:00 PM - Winner of Arizona State vs 5/4
 3:00 PM - COLLEGE WAKEBOARD FINALS
6:00 PM - Pizza Dinner
7:20 PM - WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
9:00 PM - Social event: Hospitality Suite 9:00 PM


 Sunday APRIL 21, 2013

Check out! Check out!!

Please communicate with Empire Wake About airport rides.

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Mid-Atlantic Cable Regionals at Hexagon

It was a new region for the Collegiate Cable Tour and a new park. Hexagon is one of the most nationally renowned parks and from what we saw, they have earned that title. With the excellent staff, and great vibe, even the cooler Carolina spring weather couldn't ruin the day.

Four teams from the region came out to put their clubs to the test. It was Duke, N.C State, College of Charleston, and UNC Wilmington all trying to get into the top 16 nationally. N.C State and College of Charleston both came out with more then 10 riders per team. They were excited to ride and brought the team to back it up. All day it was back and forth between these 2 very similar and equal clubs clubs.

NC State took the first punch with Dylan Kramer taking 1st in the Beginner division. College of Charleston returned the hit with Ari Weber taking 1st place Women's. This was followed up with a 2nd place C of C Intermediate finish from Will Harrison and the overall winner Alex "Chadder" Lalon finishing the day. NC State had 2 last podium spots with Daniel Mulligan in Skate and Cameron Brown in Advanced. Both placed 3rd.

UNCW was really the story of the day. The team brought 5 riders to the event and everyone placed atop the podium. Ben Pierce killed it on Wakeskate taking 1st ahead of teammate Lee Woods. Ben also took 1st in the kicker contest over all the wakeboarders winning best trick with a huge Big Spin.  Quinn Lancaster took a second spot in Advanced, while team President Connor Buss placed 1st in Intermediate. Megan DeCampli, their only women rider, come in 3rd.

The riders went home with prizes from Alpinestars, Kicker Audio, Buywake.com, Smith Optics, Jet Pilot, Elevated Clothing, and Shred Ready Helmets! 

2013 Collegiate Cable Tour: Hexagon from Empire Wake on Vimeo.

Results:

Advanced
1. Alex Lalon - College of Charleston
2. Quinn Lancaster - UNC Wilmington
3. Cameron Brown - NC State

Skate
1. Ben Pierce - UNC Wilmington
2. Lee Woods - UNC Wilmington
3. Daniel Mulligan - College of Charleston

Intermediate
1. Connor Buss - UNC Wilmington
2. Will Harrison - College of Charleston
3. Brian Bolze - Duke

Beginner
1. Dylan Krammer - NC State
2. Nate Reynolds - College of Charleston
3. Matt Marshall - NC State

Womens
1. Ari Weber - College of Charleston
2. Emylee Wright - NC State
3. Megan DeCampli - UNC Wilmington

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Boulder Boats and Axis to pull the College Wake Championships

Empire Wake is proud to announce the that Boulder Boats of Henderson NV will once again be our boat sponsor for the College Wake Championships. They will be using their personal Axis A22 for the weekend. The Axis is a perfect boat for this location and the college riders.

The boat will be loaded down and ready to go all weekend for the top 8 teams in the country. If it is good enough for Randall Harris and Keith Lyman then we know its a great match for us...

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Chucktown! otherwise known as Charleston S.C

Chucktown Wakeboarding (College of Charleston Wakeboard Team) from Empire Wake on Vimeo.

It just got ranked the number 1 place to live in the country.  It’s a historic town tucked away on the Carolina Coast. The huge oak trees canopy the roads. The amazing low country seafood makes you fat, and a college with a 5 to 1 ratio of girls to guys makes this place a must visit.

Among this perfect town with laid back southern attitude is the College of Charleston. And at the College of Charleston is the wakeboard club, a club that is like none other. It isn’t just because they all are close friends, or have a cable park to themselves, but because of the attitude that comes with this club. It is just different.

This club fits the town and fits the south. They are as laid back and extremely hospitable to any one looking to visit the area. But when they ride it isn’t as polite and kind.  They aren’t afraid to take a hit or throw a punch on these features at the cable park.

The club was started 5 years ago in 2009. The same year as the Collegiate Wake Series. They started behind a ski boat while building the club. That quickly changed to a full cable team with the help from Trophy Lakes.  The school got behind them as well, ready to see what level the club could obtain.

The team trains year round on the 2 tower system at the lakes. They have even started building their own signature features. A new one will be on the water soon.

We had a chance to head to the park with the riders while traveling through Charleston on tour this spring.  The video is what we saw on a chilly spring day. This team is dedicated and ready to ride their first season with the Collegiate Cable Tour.

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Collegiate Wake Series Ski Rixen Video

It was a great day at Ski Rixen in South Florida. Thanks to Brita and the entire staff for the help and support.

2013 Collegiate Cable Tour: Ski Rixen (Deerfield Beach, FL) from Rob Mendieta on Vimeo.

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Knights on top at Ski Rixen

Collegiate Cable Tour Ski Rixen
March 23rd 2013


The University of Central Florida Knights refuse to give up their top spot in the nation. It has been a constant battle of back and forth with the Texas State Wildcats. These teams won't meet head to head until the first ever College Cable National Championships in September 2013. 

It is clear that the Knights are back after a couple years of being off the radar. Kellen Rudnicki, the new president has this team on point and becoming one of the best in the country.  Top rider Chad Worrall put on a clinic at Ski Rixen showing technical tricks, clean airs and tons of style. 

Chad had to take down Kevin Wipplinger of Florida Gulf Coast and Josh Bank of Florida. Everything Chad did was pressed out and clean. He started off his run with a toe 7 off kicker 1 just to set the bar. He finished the pass with a flawless S-Mobe. 

By the end of the day UCF took 9 of the 15 podium spots. It makes such a difference when a team is behind each rider cheering as loud as possible every time they throw down a trick.

The day wasn't all about UCF though. The University of Florida landed some of their riders on top as well. Michael Bank took 1st in Intermediate and up and comer wakeskater Marcus Knox placed first wakeskate. Marcus has set himself apart as the top college wakeskater in the country this year dominating both wake and cable for the Gators. 

The event brought in some new teams such as University of Miami, College of Charleston, and Florida Gulf Coast. Charleston brought down 3 riders all the way from South Carolina to participate in their first event. They plan to bring the entire team to the next stop in North Carolina at Hexagon Wake Park. 

Jess Reed of Miami came out strong winning the womens division against Natalie Thibault of UCF and Ari Weber of College of Charleston. Miami is a new club as well barely being around for a year. 

Ski Rixen proved to be a great spot for the tour with an awesome staff and great weather. Expect to see this event back in South Florida earlier in the spring of 2014.

The top 3 riders from each division took home prizes from Kicker Audio, Buywake.com, Alpinestars, and Smith Optics. Special thanks to Slingshot Sports,  Elevated Clothing, Jet Pilot, and GoPro.

Full Results:

Advanced:
1. Chad Worrell - UCF
2. Kevin Wipplinger - FGCU
3. Josh Bank - UF

Intermediate:
1. Michael Bank - UF
2. Kellan Rudnicki - UCF
3. Eddie Alverez - UCF

Wakeskate:
1. Marcus Knox - UF
2. Edward Alosco - UCF
3. John Dreiling - UCF

Beginner:
1. Chris Draper - UCF
2. Zachary Murphy-Greling - UCF
3. Jordan Keefe - UCF

Womens:
1. Jess Reed - Miami
2. Natalie Thibault - UCF
3. Ari Weber - C of C         

    

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