liquidforce.com blog

Join LF wake team shred Shane Bonifay and come test your gnarly boot skills at the 2nd annual WAKE UP wakeboard contest at Pineview Reservoir!!

Congrats Taylor!! So stoked for you!!

Taylor will also be on Stokemeter.com this Wednesday the July 21 @ 9pm EST, be sure to tune in!

Featured Rider – Adam Fields from Teleprompted Anthems on Vimeo.

DEB PETERSON • Bulletin Staff Writer • July 12, 2010

BULL SHOALS — Danny Harf rode his wakeboard up the ramp created by converging boat wakes, made three full rotations in the air and landed, right-side up, to the roar of fellow wakeboarding pros and hundreds of spectators on Bull Shoals Lake Saturday.

“We’re not worthy!” shouted wakeboard riders who understood the significance of Harf’s feat.

The trick, called a 1080, or ten-eighty, is the hardest trick ever done, according to Parks Bonifay, 28, who was judging instead of riding because of recent injuries.
He should know.

Called by fellow judge Tony Smith “the greatest wakeboarder of all time,” Bonifay was the first ever to land a 1080. The year was 1998. Harf was the second, six years later. Harf’s 1080 on Saturday was only the second ever landed in a contest.

“The stars kind of have to align,” Harf said afterward.

It wasn’t just the stars that cooperated at BROstock 2010.

The clouds parted after much-needed rain in the Twin Lakes Area, calm winds left the water flat and the sun served as spotlight on Little Sister Cove. Temperatures were in the 90s.

“The conditions are as close to perfect as you’re going to get in a contest,” said judge Brian Grubb.

More than 200 spectator boats of all kinds lined the entrance to the secluded spot. People swam, floated on mattresses and noodles, batted beachballs, played music and cheered as the pros rode by within yards of them, encouraging exuberance.

“It’s a great crowd,” Smith said. “People in town have been amazing.”

“The town has made us feel more than welcome,” said rider Shawn Watson. “Everyone’s hitting their best tricks because conditions are so good. All previous BROstocks have been windy or had bad conditions.”

The efforts behind the scenes

Kevin Eastwold, son of Steve and Cindi Eastwold, three of the owners of Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock, gets primary credit for making BROstock happen.

“I’m overwhelmed with emotion right now,” Cindi said Saturday at the close of the event. “This is the most amazing thing that has happened to this little town. I’m so proud of my sons. Kevin went door to door getting the whole community involved. It took a village and one very determined young man.”

Kevin worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , the organization that controls the lake, and Liquid Force, creators of BROstock.

He also had a little help from his friends.

“I’m a good friend of Kevin Eastwold’s,” Harf said. “I’ve skied here with him before. The conditions are perfect. I was one of the guys working to bring BROstock here.”

The results

Harf, 25, went home with the winning $13,000 purse. Second place and $5,000 went to Adam Fields. Adam Errington took third and a $3,000 purse.

But places on the podium weren’t the only results of the big weekend.

Ty Fowler, a park ranger with the Corps of Engineers, was pleased with Saturday’s event.

“Everyone is being safe and respecting the area,” he said. “There’s no trash. There have been no accidents.”

Bull Shoals Police Chief David Hotchkiss was happy, too. He was on duty Saturday at the police department auxiliary’s Beer and BBQ party in town. At 4 p.m. Saturday, the auxiliary had only three trays left of John Clark’s barbecued pork for those unable to join the party on the lake. He smoked 16 eight-pound Boston butts for the occasion.

“There were no problems at the party last night, and the two tickets we’ve given out were written to local people for stealing signs,” Hotchkiss said. “This town needs tourism. We need this event.”

Would Hotchkiss like to see BROstock back next year?

“Oh, yes,” he said.

Spectators voted for a return of BROstock, too.

“Evan and I watch these competitions on TV,” said Rhonda Singletary of West Plains. “We always see red flashing lights along the line of boats as officials keep people back. We haven’t see red lights once here. Everyone has been respectful and they’re keeping our lake clean.”

Singletary’s 14-year-old son, Evan, had the thrill of hanging out with some of the pros after he and his dad, Dan Singletary, helped the Eastwolds set up for the event.

Every pro signed the shirt Evan was wearing the day before the event. His mother has firm instructions never to wash it.

“It was cool hanging out with the pros,” Evan said. “They gave me tips to make my 180s smoother, like rope position. And they said, ‘Don’t think about it, just do it.’ ”

Every pro asked expressed interest in returning to Bull Shoals Lake for BROstock 2011.

“My vote is yes,” Bonifay said.

“I’ve been with Liquid Force for four years and competing since I was 15,” said Danny Hampson, 22, “and this is the most fun I’ve ever had.”

dpeterson@baxterbulletin.com

photos www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/galleryAvis=D3&Dato=20100710&Kategori=PHOTOGALLERIES&Lopenr=710002&Ref=PH.html

Abrams, WI (July 12, 2010)–Greaves Motorsports headed to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to their “home track” at Bark River, Michigan for the Traxxas TORC Series’ rounds 3 and 4 this past weekend. The rural track, that snakes its way around hills, a gravel pit and even a cemetery, is the fastest track on the circuit. This “drivers’ track” features the biggest jump–rightfully dubbed “Monster Energy Jump” where the 800 hp trucks get some sick air of nearly 200 ft!

Johnny Greaves and his Monster Energy/ Toyota/ MasterCraft with BFGoodrich tires dominated the Pro 4×4 class taking wins in both races and in the process earning two Oakley Bomb Awards for the fastest lap times. Jeremy McGrath suffered bad luck with mechanical problems in both races but showed a lot of power and prowess as he ran up front in most of the two weekend races. He earned the Oakley Bomb, fastest lap time award in the Saturday race–a race that had him running blind with a broken hood in his face much of the race!

CJ Greaves had outstanding races in his Monster Energy/ Traxxas/ BFG Super Buggy and walked away from the weekend’s races still leading in the points standings.

Saturday Blow-Out

Jeremy McGrath started his Monster Energy/ MasterCraft/ Toyota/ BFG on the third row for the rolling start in front of a crowd of 5,000 of the most rabid off-road racing fans on Saturday’s opening round of racing in Bark River, MI. Mike Oberg got the hole shot but Jeremy was able to land in the fifth spot through lap 1. By lap 3, Rob MacCachren started loosing air in a tire due to some early contact and had to pull into the hot pit for a tire change. Jeremy passed Chad Hord and moved into second. Part of Jeremy’s hood broke loose and causing him to drive blind leading up to the competition caution.

At the restart… lots of dust! Kincaid moved around Hord for third and set his sites on Jeremy, who was driving blind in several turns. On lap 7, Oberg went wide on the front stretch and “Showtime” McGrath made a strong move to his inside to make the pass for the lead. Jeremy made it around the track in the lead, but just before the start finish line, with two laps to go, he pulled off the track with mechanical problems. He did manage to get the Oakley Bomb Award for the fastest lap.

Johnny Greaves took his turn on the familiar Bark River track–a track that he has owned in the past and was looking to makeup some ground on fellow Monster Energy/ Toyota driver Rick Huseman. Johnny started on the third row for the rolling start but emerged in first after taking the turn one hole shot. His Monster Energy/ MasterCraft Safety/ BFG clad Toyota was dialed in and basically checked-out. The Toyota of Rick Huseman would be the only pressure Johnny would feel the rest of the race.

At the competition caution restart, Huseman saw this as his chance to get around Johnny. But Greaves was able to win the hole shot once again. He began to put some distance between Rick but knew that he could not make a mistake with Huseman on his heels. The Toyotas of Greaves and Huseman pulled away from the rest of the field and finished up one and two followed by Scott Douglas who finished a distant third.
Johnny would also take home the Oakley Bomb Award for the fastest lap.

CJ Greaves had his Monster Energy/ Traxxas/ BFG Super Buggy lined up for the land-rush start in the 9th position. He didn’t get a very good start, missing a shift and tangling with one of the other buggies as they sailed 5-wide into turn one. But he worked hard and pushed quickly into the top four behind Steve Krieman, Bob Klause, and John Frana, who was in the lead. CJ was in a tight race for third and made the move around Krieman in the gravel pit leading up to the mandatory caution.

Not to be make the same mistake twice, CJ made a great inside move on the restart to pass Krieman in turn one to move into second. The inside position allowed him to hold the spot through turn two. CJ tried to make ground on John Frana who had pulled away for a sizeable lead. Greaves ran out of time but kept his composure and held off pressure from Krieman to take the runner up spot on the podium.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Greaves Completes the Sweep

With the threat of rain in the Upper Peninsula, the pro races were moved up to early afternoon. Jeremy McGrath would represent Greaves Motorsports first to the line in the Pro 2WD class. He started once again on the third row in the sixth position.

Jeremy made it though the first laps clean, moving all the way up to third. But by lap 4, bad luck would hit McGrath once again and he pulled off the track, finishing his day appropriately in “Cemetery Corner.”

The Pro 4×4 race featured a lot of carnage, taking some of the top drivers out of competition in the early going. Nobody had anything for Johnny Greaves. He passed Steve Barlow on lap two in one of his favorite places to pass, “Cemetery Corner”, and pulled away to a 10-car link lead.

At the restart following the mid-race caution, it was a Monster move for the two Toyotas of Greaves and Huseman. Greaves won the hole shot and Rick Huseman, who had recovered from a lap one crash, made a couple of moves and took second at the AMSOIL turn. It looked like another Monster combo punch, but Huseman’s truck would succumb to the early damage and pull out of the race. Johnny had smooth sailing to the checkered flag to complete the weekend sweep, earn two Oakley Bomb Awards, and move to the top of the points standings.

In the Super Buggy race, CJ Greaves wound up in the fourth spot as the field went through turns one and two but he quickly took third in the “Cemetery Corner” on lap one of Sunday’s final race. On lap three, he made a great inside move to take the lead in front of the crowd at the start/finish line. Greaves would hold the lead up to the caution at the halfway point. On the rolling start, he missed a gear in the horseshoe turn, loosing 4 positions. But Frena spun in front of him putting him in third and in position to battle back for the lead. With two laps to go, CJ had made his way to second. He tried one last charge to get around the buggy of Steve Krieman in AMSOIL corner but ran out of time and had to settle for the second spot on the podium.

CJ maintained his points standings lead and stretched it to 33 points over the next competitor.

Knoxville, Tenn. – To help commemorate one of the most exciting and innovative seasons yet, the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour will host its 19th annual Pro Tour Awards ceremony on Saturday, August 14 from 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. at the Bijou Theater in downtown Knoxville. The Awards will take place immediately following the conclusion of the season-ending contest, held at Volunteer Landing, just three blocks south of the Theater.

“The 2010 Pro Tour has been one of the most impressive and exciting seasons yet,” said Sean Dishman, Sales and Marketing Director of the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour. “Everyone works extremely hard during season and this ceremony is a celebration of those season-long efforts.”

Awards will be presented to the Knoxville tour stop winners, as well as the overall Pro Men and Jr. Pro Men champions. Rookie of the Year honors for the Pro Men’s division will also be presented during the ceremony.

The ceremony will also include drinks and an end of the season video, highlighting of some of the most memorable moments on the 2010 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour.

The Bijou Theater is located on the corner of Cumberland Ave. and Gay St. at 803 South Gay Street Knoxville, TN 37902

For more information on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, including news, daily schedules, tickets, TV info, photos, videos, athlete bios, results, standings and more, visit www.allisports.com.

The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: MasterCraft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Indmar, Peavey, Mona Vie, Billabong, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, Sayiwon’t, Epiphone, WakeBoarding magazine, Fuel TV and Allisports.com.

Sparks, Nev. — The King of Wake — the world’s elite pro wakeboarding series — makes its fifth stop of the 2010 season on July 14-18 in the greater Reno area of Sparks, Nev., for the Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by ROCKSTAR. With four of the eight stops already in the books for the 2010 season, only 27 of the 62 riders remain in contention for the King of Wake crown, and from those 27 pros, only 10 will still be alive in the points chase, following the Air Nautique WWA Nationals.

The Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by ROCKSTAR serves as the final contest in the series before the “Chase for the Crown.” The Chase tightens the points race in the series by adjusting the totals of the top 10 riders in the standings, following the fifth stop of the season.

Only the 10 riders involved in the Chase will have the three remaining stops in the series to top each other in the standings for the King of Wake crown.

“The Chase is kind of like our version of the playoffs,” said defending King of Wake Aaron Rathy, who currently ranks 20th in the standings. “Nationals is going to be a high-stakes contest, with a lot of added pressure to step up our riding. Nobody wants to end their season early.”

Currently, 16-year-old Aussie phenom Harley Clifford leads the King of Wake standings with 360 points. Two-time King of Wake crown-bearer Phillip Soven trails closely behind Clifford with 335 points, while former wakeboard world champion Rusty Malinoski rounds out the top three with 246 points.

While the top three point leaders are very likely to remain in the Chase even if they don’t compete at the Air Nautique WWA Nationals, for everyone else this event will be their last chance to save their season.

For the Pro Women’s division, the Air Nautique WWA Nationals serves as the third stop in the five-event Queen of Wake series. While the Queen of Wake does not use the Chase format, the Air Nautique WWA Nationals does mark the midway point in the season, when the top riders begin to break away from the rest of the competition.

Former crown-bearer Nicola Butler sits at the top of the standings with 190 points, while 2008 Rookie of the Year Raimi Merritt trails closely behind with 165 points. Current Queen of Wake and defending U.S. national champion Dallas Friday rounds out the top three in the standings, tied with Merritt at 165 points.

Unfortunately, Friday suffered a season-ending injury to her right knee during the second stop of the series and will be unable to continue to defend her crown. With Friday out for the season, the door has been opened for newcomers to step up to contend for the Queen of Wake title.

For more information on the Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar, visit www.allisports.com.

The Air Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships, presented by Rockstar is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: Correct Craft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Peavey, MonaVie, Fox, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, PCM Marine Engines, WakeBoarding magazine, Fuel TV and Allisports.com.