Going Out: Wakeboarders make a big splash at Al Forshan

Jay Asser 09:14 05/11/2015
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  • Something for everyone: Wakeboarding.

    Wakeboarding is set to take over the nation’s capital this weekend with the prestigious WWA World Wake Park Championship, bringing the sport’s best from across the world to Abu Dhabi.

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    Al Forsan International Sports Resort is the venue for the fifth edition of the event, which is running until tomorrow, November 6. Coming on the heels of the national wakeboarding competition, which took place on Friday, October 30 for competitors looking to qualify for the finals, the WWA World Wake Park Championship will continue the excitement at Al Forsan.

    “We are honoured to set the stage for what is sure to be an incredible event, which will see a host of international extremeathletes competing at the highest level,” said Rashed Al Qubaisi, managing director of Al Forsan.

    “With our top-of-the-range cable park offering competitors a distinct challenge, participants from all over the globe will perform to the best of their ability if they are to experience wakeboarding glory.

    “This is a great opportunity to showcase Al Forsan as a state-ofthe-art sporting venue and Abu Dhabi, our capital city, as a worldclass destination. We also wish all the athletes, especially our UAE representatives, all the best in the upcoming competition.”

    Fierce competition is once again expected in the event’s various categories and age groups. Local favourite and Emirati Omeir Saeed, who finished fourth in the Pro Men’s World Title last year, is expected to return with even more motivations to represent the UAE at the sport’s peak.

    Saeed said: “Last year I was the first Emirati to make it into a promen finals, and this year I hope do to the best I can. You never know what might happen when you are riding against the best in the world, but I am looking forward to the event at Al Forsan International Sports Resort.”

    Saeed will be joined by young American wakeboarder Chandler Powell, who has been competing since the age of 12 and is attempting to capitalise on the absence of 2014 World Champion Daniel Grant, currently injured.

    Everyone is chasing ‘King of Cable’ Tom Fooshee at the moment, who leads the world rankings. Plenty of action is also expected in the women’s competition, with Germany’s Julia Rick holding both of the Pro Women’s titles as she goes up against Australia’s Ange Schriber and Courtney Angus.

    As well as featuring the professionals facing on, the event will have wakeboarders aged nine and under, all the way to 40 and above with Men’s and Women’s Amateur Divisions.

    The open semi-final rounds, pro quarter-finals and pro semi-finals will be held today, with the pro, open and amateur finals concluding on Friday.

    Entry to the WWA World Wake Park Championships is free for all attendees. For more information about the event and a detailed schedule, visit www.thewwa.com/wakeparkworlds2015. For more information on Al Forsan, visit www.alforsan.com.

    WHAT: WWA World Wake Park Championship
    WHERE: Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi
    WHEN: Thursday, November 5 from 10:00 to 18:00 and Friday, November 6 from 12:00 to 18:15
    Sport360 VERDICT: Check out the exhilarating watersport and catch some of the top pro competitors in the world, along with young upand-comers.
    CONTACT: Visit www.thewwa.com/wakeparkworlds2015 and www.alforsan.com for more information.

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