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Daniels, Reed Earn Coveted Awards At the Second Annual Wake Awards Author: Wakeskating.com Staff
On September 17, industry personnel, wake supporters, and a few people who were interested in the free drinks would get together for an evening to celebrate the successes in wakeboarding and wakeskating from the past year. From best rider, to best video part, to the legend award, glasses would be lifted and chalices would be awarded. The event? The second annual Wake awards, which are thrown on behalf of Wakeboarding Magazine.
All categories, with the exception of "Move of the Year", are voted on by over 30 industry professionals, ranging from photographers, to videographers, to editors. Scott Byerly also had a vote as the first member of the legends club, and Shaun Murray will be able to vote next year as well.
"Move of the Year" is different, in that the winner is chosen on behalf of the Wakeboarding Magazine editorial staff. Some of the criteria for the wakeskate move of the year included the impact each particular move might have on wakeskating, and the direction it could potentially take the art.
Though there were 14 categories, most of which had five nominees in each category, three pertained to wakeskating, with two of them being wakeskate specific. Drew McGuckin managed to find himself as the lone wakeskate nominee in the "Best Video Section" category among four other wakeboarders. In the end, Shawn Watson would emerge as the victor, but Drew's nomination was well-deserved, and wakeskating had a great rider and a great video section to represent itself in that competitive category.
"Best Wakeskater" was one of the wakeskate specific categories of the evening. The nomination list was heavy with names like Aaron Reed, George Daniels, Brandon Thomas, Philip Basino and Brian Grubb up for consideration. However, it would be flip-trick-collector George Daniels who would walk away with the title of "Best Wakeskater" for 2005.
The stacked category of "Wakeskate Move of the Year" would have some big names with even bigger tricks. The ever impressive list of nominees (10 tricks from eight riders) was whittled down to one, and that one happened to be Aaron Reed. Aaron was one of two riders who managed to have two tricks nominated in this category, with his wake-to-wake backside big spin being the trick that earned him his coveted chalice.
Wakeboarding magazine also announced the winners of their annual Reader's Poll. It is the one category where the fans and supporters of wakeboarding and wakeskating can vote for who they think is the best. In the wakeskate category, repeat offender Danny Hampson won the majority vote to regain the title of "Reader's Poll Champion--Wakeskate Division".
After looking back on this year and looking down the list of riders and their tricks in the "Wakeskate Move of the Year" category, it should be pretty apparent that almost anything is possible on a wakeskate. It's hard to believe that the future is the present, the impossible is now possible, and any new trick is up for grabs for any rider, whether they be established or they're lurking from the shadows of the underground. From 360 flips, to backside bigflips, to kickflips onto rails, to wake-to-wake backside big spins, wakeskating has progressed in a significant way this past year.
When looking through the photos from this past year's event, I feel they speak more than a thousand words could ever say. To see one or two wakeskaters on their feet in a sea of wake riders and viewers alike is a powerful image. It's one of the few times they can all get together to see the best of the best for that year and see how far they've been able to progress. I hope they're proud of the history they're creating and the art they're molding by progressing faster than anyone could have hoped, or even dreamed. To see what they're doing, especially with the tricks that were nominated this year, is really a privilege, and it's an honor to be a part of wakeskating at this very moment.
As always, congratulations to all of the riders who were recognized for their respective feats at the awards ceremony. And congratulations should go out to Wakeboarding Magazine for recognizing so many riders who worked so hard this past year.
To Check out the official press release for the event, go to www.wakeboarder.com. To view over 60 photos from the event, check out www.wakeboardingmag.com.
A special thanks goes out to Zach Stovall for taking the photographs that were used throughout this article.
2005 Wake Awards Results
Reader's Poll (Presented by Nick and Julz Heaney)
Wakeskate: Danny Hampson
Best Video Section (Presented by Ryan Lamos and Danno the Manno)
Shawn Watson/Justin Stephens- Relentless
Rusty Malinoski/Sean Kilgus- The Butter Effect
Keith Lyman/Sean Kilgus- The Butter Effect
Pat Panakos/Keith Lidberg- Genetics
Drew McGuckin/Papa Jay- Volume Issue #1
Best Wakeskater: The Best Wakeskater is someone who is most dominant considering all aspects, including lip tricks, wake moves, rails, contests, video sections and special events, with proficiency in PWC, boat and winch riding.
Nominees:
George Daniels
Aaron Reed
Brandon Thomas
Philip Basino
Brian Grubb
Move of the Year: Nominees:
Aaron Reed: Backside big spin, wake-to-wake
Aaron Reed: 360 shove off of the double up
George Daniels: Frontside big spin, wake-to-wake
George Daniels: Kickflip onto a flat rail
Drew McGuckin: Frontside flip over a picnic table
Nick Taylor: 360 flip
Reed Hansen: Backside big flip
Brian Grubb: Heelside board varial off of the double up
Brandon Thomas: Radar Lake pool gap boardslide to down rail
Scott Byerly: Locked in noseslide, shove-out off kinked rail
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