Qualifying rounds for the X-Games were held today in Orlando as part of the U.S. Pro Water Ski & Wakeboard Tour’s Hang Ten Open. Five male and three female riders advanced to the X-Games today from qualifying rounds held at the Orlando Watersports Complex; The X-Games has been called the Olympics for extreme sports.
At 16 yrs old, and in his rookie season on the Pro Tour, Danny Harf is headed to San Francisco saying his goal this season was to make the X-Games. Cobe Mikacich, on his 28th birthday, and in his 8th year as a professional wakeboarder qualified for his fifth trip to X-Games. Erik Ruck, Ricky Gonzales and Chad Sharpe also qualified.
On the women’s side it was Christy Smith, Lauren Loe and Marie Botved qualifying for the X-Games.
Nine riders in total pre-qualified to the games based on 1999 Pro Tour results as well as the 1999 X-Games Champions. Pre-qualified riders include Brannan Johnson, Darin Shapiro, Shaun Murray, Parks Bonifay, Zane Schwenk and Daniel Watkins for the men and Tara Hamilton, Emily Copeland, and Maeghan Major for the women.
The Hang Ten Open will continue at the Orlando Watersports Complex Friday April 14, with qualifying rounds in women’s slalom, men’s and women’s wakeboard.
Complete Results – X-Games Qualifying Rounds
Men
FINAL
Heat #1 (Top 2 in each heat go to X-Games, 3rd in each heat go to Last Chance Qualifier)
1. WI Erik Ruck 71.64
2. ORL Danny Harf 69.01
3. ORL Gerry Nunn 68.67
4. FL Shawn Watson 67.36
5. ORL Matt Staker 59.34
6. ORL Ryan Wolfe 56.69
Heat #2
1. CA Ricky Gonzales 63.67
2. ORL Cobe Mikacich 61.98
3. CAN Chad Sharpe 57.35
4. AUS Brett Eisenhauer 56.73
5. FL Evan Kennedy 51.04
6. OH Rob Struharik 45.00
Last Chance Qualifier (Winner Goes to X-Games)
1. CAN Chad Sharpe 62.34
2. ORL Gerry Nunn 49.39
Women
FINALS (3 got to X-Games)
1. AR Christy Smith 52.35
2. TX Lauren Loe 52.02
3. Denmark Marie Botved 44.73
4. ORL Dallas Friday 44.69
5. ORL Cathy Williams 38.35
6. ORL Jamie Necrason 36.00
Men Qualifying Round
Heat #1 (Top 2 in each heat advance to Finals)
1. FL Evan Kennedy 66.67
2. ORL Ryan Wolfe 63.35
3. FL Kyle Schmidt 62.01
4. FL Shane Bonifay 61.33
5. HI Ryan Siebring 61.37
6. FL Rob Mapp 41.02
7. FL Brian Crawford 36.70
Heat #2
1. OH Rob Struharik 66.68
2. AUS Brett Eisenhauer 64.36
3. ORL Billy McKee 62.33
4. AUS Josh Sanders 59.34
5. FL Bryan Kennedy 53.69
6. FL Ryan Wynne 22.00
7. DEN Bart Copeland 21.02
Heat #3
1. ORL Danny Harf 70.00
2. ORL Matt Staker 55.99
3. CA Justin Evans 55.00
4. ORL Mike McLin 54.01
5. CAN Jeremy Kovak 53.72
6. FL Hunter Brown 30.33
7. ORL Trevor Hansen 18.35
Heat #4
1. CA Ricky Gonzales 58.66
2. ORL Cobe Mikacich 56.01
3. FL Dean Lavelle 53.05
4. ORL Chase Heavener 50.03
5. FL Andrew Lazarus 43.70
6. JAN Domu Narita 43.35
7. SWE Cyril Comaro 11.70
Heat #5
1. FL Shawn Watson 57.32
2. CAN Chad Sharpe 55.36
3. TX Jacob Koncak 54.34
4. FL Jay Munster 52.35
5. AUS Shannon Best 43.02
6. FL Doug Homan 41.36
7. ORL Charley Patterson 3.00
Heat #6
1. ORL Gerry Nunn 60.86
2. WI Erik Ruck 60.33
3. GBR Julz Heaney 55.36
4. FL Joel Cahill 47.67
5. FRA Stephane Tranne 46.03
6. ORL Greg Necrason 43.68
7. ORL Freddy Krueger 13.35
Women Qualifying Round
Heat #1 (Top 2 in each heat advance to Final)
1. Dennark Marie Botved 55.67
2. ORL Jamie Necrason 55.00
3. ORL Cathy Williams 46.70
4. ORL Leslie Kent 39.01
5. USA Buster Lutgert 37.40
6. ORL Lauren Harf 32.36
7. TX Evelyn Zerr 11.02
8. ORL Sonja Scheffler N/A
Heat #2 (Top 2 Advance to Final)
1. USA Lauren Loe 57.33
2. AR Chrsity Smith 55.00
3. ORL Dallas Friday 48.03
4. JAN Mero Narito 43.02
5. USA Cheryl Newton 36.36
6. ORL Tina Bessinger 13.35
7. ORL Sara Cline 12.67
For further information please visit:
prowakeboartour.com and prowaterskitour.com
For ticket information, please call Overton’s Ticket Hotline at + 1 800-334-6541.
For more information on the Pro Tour 2000,