> 09/18/2009
International Freeride Watercraft Association (IFWA)
September 17, 2009
Photo
Gallery USA Oregon - click here
Competitors and spectators alike witnessed some large surf and challenging
conditions for the 2009 Blowsion Surf Slam. Tierra del Mar, just north
of Pacific City Oregon was host to this round of the 2009 International
Freeride Watercraft Association’s World Championship Tour (IFWA)
and the International Jet Sports Boating Association’s Motosurf
Western National Championships (IJSBA). Professional Freeriders and
racers from around the world were on hand for this inaugural event.
Although the tides proved challenging earlier in the weekend, the
athletes and event organizers pushed through Sunday and completed
all rounds of freeride competition and motosurf racing.
Over 30 of the world’s best freeride watercraft pilots were
on hand competing for the event win and points towards the 2009 IFWA
World Champion title. Current points leader American Ross Champion
displayed his skills throughout the weekend and ended up taking the
win in the finals against fellow American Mike Serlin. Friend and
teammate Serlin gave Champion a run for his money in the final. It
was a close heat but Ross Champion’s big maneuvers and incredible
wave riding skills edged Serlin out for the top podium spot.
Former World Champion Pierre Maixent rounded the top three, as he
competed in his first 2009 IFWA event after returning from an injury.
Maixent moved up through the pre-qualifying rounds and was pitted
head to head with British competitor Graham Reid in the consolation
final. Freeride Judge Randy Laine said, “Pierre’s riding
was amazing. It was the most technical I’ve seen and he displayed
the biggest amplitude of the weekend.” Graham Reid’s 4th
place finish advances him to 4th Place overall in the 2009 IFWA World
Tour Points.
The competition was strong and full of high energy through all the
rounds. International riders included Italian Federico Bufacchi, Brazilian
Tiago Geitens, German Marc Sickerling, Arkadius Schramek from Poland
and first time IFWA competitor Peter McLoughlin from Australia along
with fellow Aussie Jeremy Fleming. Americans Eddie Bettencourt, Jerry
Jones and Jerry Brandon showed that they could compete with the best
in the world in the crashing Oregon waves.
In the Amateur Freeride Category, first timer Mark Gomez battled
it out in the 3- man final to emerge the victor. Chris Rosner came
in second and Staton High rounded out the podium. The IFWA Amateur
division also included international competitors Ramon Ferre from
Spain and British newcomer Stephen Foot. The amateurs had rough conditions
all weekend and won respect from both the judges and the professional
riders.
Unpredictable ocean conditions delayed the IJSBA’s MotoSurf
race until Sunday’s schedule. The first moto combined both Pro
and Pro/Am Ski classes and served as a qualifier for the main event.
In the main event, Former World Champion, Pro-Class Dustin Motzouris
won the moto in spite of a debilitating foot injury received in the
earlier Freeride Pre-Qualifying Round. Former British Pro Ski Champion
Jordan Fielder was on hand and hit the big buoy course sporting a
fractured wrist and cast from his recent domination of the European
Mini Bike Championships. Showing the same strength in the face of
painful injuries as Motzouris, Jordan still managed to take second
place showing the crowd on hand why both riders are so highly respected.
South African Tyrone Motzouris stood next to his brother in 3rd place
on the Pro Ski podium. In the Pro/Am Ski main event, Brazilian Tiago
Geitens edged out Americans Mike Hackler and Ian Benson for the win.
“The Oregon Coast is a beautiful area and I am happy that we
were able to share it with competitors and media from around the world,”
said event organizer CarolAnne Giustina from On Course Events. “The
Freeriders and racers put on a great show and we look forward to coming
back to Pacific City next year.”
The Blowsion Surf Slam is sponsored by Blowsion and presented by
Worx. Kommander, On Course Events, R&D, ODI, Slippery, Rockstar
Energy Drink, Power Motorsports, Fullgaz, Gottard, and Jet Import
France also support the event.
The Blowsion Surf Slam is part of the 5th year of IFWA Freeride World
Championship Tour. The tour consists of 5 events held in Portugal,
Spain, France, Brazil and the United States. The competition is a
head to head format with pilots being judged equally on wave surfing
and aerial maneuvers. Each stop on the tour features a beautiful tourist
location along with the potential for large surf and impressive competition.
The IFWA is the International Freeride Watercraft Association and
the sanctioning body for the sport of Freeride. The IJSBA (International
Jet Sports Boating Association) is the world’s sanctioning body
for organized PWC competitions. The IJSBA has affiliates in more than
50 countries worldwide and each October, since 1982, holds the annual
World Championships in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The Blowsion Surf
Slam and MotoSurf Western Championships marks the return to IJSBA
and IFWA co-sanctioned events.
For more information please contact:
CarolAnne Giustina
On Course Events
carolannegiustina@mac.com
