LF’s Tezuka Wows at WWA Wakeboard World Championship Opener
Indianapolis, Ind. – The top wakeboarders from throughout the globe hit the waters of The Precedent today in northern Indianapolis to kick off the 18th annual Rockstar Energy Drink WWA Wakeboard World Championships, presented by Supra. The invitation-only pro-am event, which runs through Sunday, Aug. 21, opened with preliminary rounds for 14 of the 23 skill-level divisions competing over the course of the four-day competition.
Among the 110 amateur riders who competed in today’s opening rounds was 17-year-old Japanese native Shota Tezuka, who continued to show why he is one of the best riders in the world and why he can soon be called a world champion.
During today’s Jr. Pro Men division quarterfinals, Tezuka won his four-man heat after landing several big tricks, including a Toe-side 720, a Heel-side 720 and a Front Mobe.
“I was super nervous this morning, but it was a good nervous,” said Tezuka. “I had Tony Iacconi in front of me and Michael [Dowdy] behind me in my heat. I knew they would kill it, so that really pushed me to ride better.”
That motivation paid off for Tezuka, as his run earned a perfect score of 100 points and advanced him to the Jr. Pro Men’s division semifinals, which is scheduled for tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.
Tezuka’s run today was indicative of his overall performance in his first year on the U.S. amateur wakeboarding circuit, where he has finished in third place or better at five of six events, including two wins in those contests.
The breakout star in the Jr. Pro Men’s division grew up in Gotenba, Japan, located on the southeastern flank of Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka. Tezuka started wakeboarding eight years ago with his family and eventually started training with a coach.
“My dad and my coach taught me a lot, but now my tricks are too hard for them,” said Tezuka. “I started to watch wakeboard DVD’s and practiced the tricks I saw on a trampoline.”
Once Tezuka mastered a few technical tricks, he convinced his family to let him compete in the U.S. amateur series this year to see how he would measure up against the competition in the States.
“I wanted to ride the whole tour this year to see how I would do,” said Tezuka. “My parents were really supportive and before I knew it, I was riding in contests here.”
Tezuka did not do well at his first event, but quickly bounced back and won the following contest to become the first Japanese born rider to win a Jr. Pro Tour stop. Since then, Tezuka has earned spots on the podium of every contest and hopes to win the 2011 WWA Worlds this weekend.
“It would be awesome to win Worlds,” said Tezuka. “But I don’t want to get ahead of myself because there are a lot of good riders here.”
The Jr. Pro Men world title will be decided on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 11 a.m.