By WSM Press Release
Published: September 23, 2008
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ORLANDO, FL - A crowd of 22,000 gathered in downtown Orlando at Lake Eola to witness 24 wakeboarders innovate the sport at Red Bull Wake Lab. This groundbreaking wakeboarding competition was the U.S. debut for The Wake Park Project and Sesitec's cable system technology System 2.0. The new system and course design amazed the crowd and challenged riders to push each other to create as many unique runs which utilized all surfaces of the "wakepark."

Red Bull Wake Lab's course elements included an elevated pool, hand rails and sliders inspired by skate and snow parks. The judges reflected the hybrid wakepark course design and included freestyle snowboarder Pat Moore, Skate Park of Tampa's Ryan Clements, in addition to wakeskater Brian Grubb and wake industry veterans Shawn Perry and Chris Bischoff.

With the city skyline serving as the backdrop, Red Bull Wake Lab brought the sport of wakeboarding to the masses. "It was awesome to see so many people turn out to watch Red Bull Wake Lab," said JD Webb. "Red Bull made our ideas possible and helped innovate the sport tonight. This was by far the best event I've ever participated in."

While the wakeboarders took center stage, DJ Swamp wowed the crowd with his turntable skills and pyrotechnic display and the Red Bull Air Force skydived into Lake Eola to kickoff the event.

Competition Results

Prime Component (Best Trick): JD Webb
Winning Run: Backside lipslide up ledge, frontside 270 gap to switch backside lipslide, frontside 270 out

Spontaneous Combustion (Most Creative Run): Aaron Rathy
Winning Run: Backside nose press, frontside boardslide up ledge, gap to backside lipslide, frontside 270 out

Proven Theory (Best Overall Run): Oliver DeRome
Winning Run: Frontside nose press frontside 180 out (handrail) backside lip, backside 270 out (hubba ledge); switch frontside 270 to front board (handrail) gap to boardslide (hubba ledge) switch boardslide backside 450 to boardslide over the Red Bull gap; boardslide backside 450 to boardslide to fake (Red Bull gap) frontside 360

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