Wakeboard World Championships in Reno Aug. 23 to 26

The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are just a handful of the countries that will be represented at the RockStar WWA Wakeboard World Championships presented by Supra. The best riders from around the globe will take to the waters of Sparks Marina in Sparks, August 23-26 in hopes of capturing a win for themselves and their country.

“The World Championships are just a killer place to ride because you’re not just competing against the same people you see throughout the season; you’re also riding against new blood as well,” said 2005 King of Wake Josh Sanders. “I guess that’s why this competition in particular is so exciting, because you meet new people and try to learn from them, and in the process you challenge yourself.”

Sanders, 25, representing Australia, will try for the top spot at this year’s event. Other hopefuls include Florida native and 2007 Wake Games champion Phillip Soven, and Canadian rider and 2006 World Championships runner-up Rusty Malinoski, who currently holds second place in the King of Wake standings.

In addition to the top pro men, the best female riders in the world will also be on hand. Women’s 2006 world champion Dallas Friday is the one to watch. She has dominated the women’s field over the past several years, winning nearly every time she takes the water. But Emily Copeland Durham, the 2005 world champion, has the talent to knock off Friday, and is looking to reclaim her title.

Amateur titles will also be on the line in Nevada, and the hottest new sport on the water, wakeskating (like skateboarding on water), will be on display as well.

Supra is the official tow boat of the WWA Worlds. Celebrating 26 years of excellence in the marine industry, Supra pioneered innovative seating designs that create luxury in performance tow boats.