Asian Wakeboard Competition

Asian Wakeboard Pro Tour

Get ready for some cool action as Pro Wakeboarders from all over Asia gather to defy gravity and the elements in the 2nd Wakeboard Pro Tour. Last year Pro wakeboarders from countries as diverse as Japan, Brunei and Singapore provided a fantastic weekend of thrilling stunts.

This year promises to be even better as the event becomes established on the international circuit. Expect lots of cool dudes, wakeboarding chicks, amazing skills and a great laid back weekend. There's even a spot in-between the wakeboarding shows and demonstrations for amateurs and locals to have a go. Recommended.

AWBA 1st Asian Wakeboard Tour

Water as smooth as butter and perfect conditions gave a great finish to the Asian Wakeboarding Pro Tour held in November at Nai Harn Lake Phuket, Thailand.

Riding on a wave of enthusiasm, stoked up Wakeboarders from Singapore, Japan, Thailand and Korea competed in the final leg of the tour which started in Osaka and included Singapore.

A crowd of curious locals and appreciative wakeboarding fans lined the banks of Nai Harn Lake Phuket, loudly cheering and clapping as the competitors performed a series of spectacular flips, frontside spins and whirlybirds - along with a few "wrecks' (wakeboard lingua for hitting the water.)

The grind, a long thin rail, located at a improbable height above the water, provided the biggest challenge for most of the riders.

Tweaking for extra points and top prizes of 30,000 Thai Baht were some of Asia's best competitors including 28-year old Manabu Nagasuka from Japan, who won the Men's Open with a great display that won the admiration of the crowd.
Kevin Tan from Singapore was topped from first place in the Men's Masters by another Japanese master, Natsuko of Japan in a competition that showed just how high a wakeboarder can fly.

Relatively new to Thailand, wakeboarding is beginning to attract a loyal following with Thai wakeboarders rapidly moving up the ratings.

In Phuket, places like Katu Waterski Park and Wakup Villa provide good opportunities to practise. Katu offers a cable-ski facility with water-ski, kneeboard and wakeboards available, while WakeUp Villa provides instruction and accommodation for those keen to learn or compete.

The next Asian Wakeboard Tour is expected to expand and include more Asian countries next year. All the participating Wakeboard Associations are planning for an even better and bigger event with more sponsors lined up and more competitors. Nai Harn Lake will be venue for the 2nd Wakeboard Tour 2005. Dates to be arranged.