SOVEN & COPELAND WIN IN FRONT OF RECORD CROWDS AT HSBC WAKEBOARD WORLD CUP SINGAP0RE 2005 – 22 nd & 23 rd October 2005

 American wakeboarding sensation Phillip Soven completed his domination of the IWSF Wakeboard World Cup series by winning the HSBC Wakeboard World Cup Singapore 2005 in front of a record turnout of 15,000 spectators over two days at Bedok Reservoir, 22 nd & 23 rd October 2005.

 The 16-year-old phenomenon has been undefeated on the IWSF Wakeboard World Cup series since October last year when he won the inaugural HSBC World Cup Singapore 2004. This year, the Florida native won the Paris and Moscow legs, before topping the podium for a third time in Singapore.
 
 In the head-to-head quarterfinals, top seed Soven easily overcame South African Matt Lammers to face European champion Dan Nott of England in the semifinals. Despite a strong run by European champion Nott (74.33), Soven cruised to the final with a score of 81.01. 

 The other semi-final featured an intense battle between 2004 World Cup champion Daniel Watkins and reigning WWC World Champion Jeff Weatherall of New Zealand.

 In one of the best head-to-head clashes ever seen around the world, Kiwi Weatherall scored a massive 80.22 in a run which included a Backside 540, 720, Nuclear Tantrum to Blind, Whirlybird 540 and Crow Mobe.  Australian Pro Tour champion Watkins fell midway into his second pass and only received a score of 77.12.

 
 In the ensuing Pro Men final, Weatherall, who beat Soven in this year's WWC Wakeboard World Championships in Moscow, went for broke with  but fell near the end of his second pass to score 84.67.  Defending HSBC Wakeboard World Cup Singapore champion Soven then stole the show by pulling off a 720, Backside 540, Nuclear Whirlybird 540, Moby Dick, Skeezer 540 and Pete Rose to score 94.89. 

 “This is one of the best wins of my career, because all the top guys were here in Singapore and were riding well all weekend,” said an ecstatic Soven. “I didn't fall in any my passes the whole day and it was good win because it helped me clinch the overall series title. The crowds in Singapore are massive and I could hear them cheering for me when I was out in the water. This is a great event and a superb venue and I want to be back next year.”

  Soven claimed US$15,000 for winning the HSBC World Cup Singapore and another US$10,000 for winning the 2005 World Cup Overall Series Champion. Weatherall and Watkins meanwhile finished second and third on the Overall Series. 

 Over in the women's competition, American ace Emily Copeland took her third title in three weeks easily to take home the US$4,000. In the six-women final, Copeland was a clear winner with a massive 64.45 run.

  “I feel that I performed better today (compared to Saturday), landing on all my passes. My tricks were pretty clean and it felt pretty good,” said Copeland Durham, who edged out fellow American rival Gretchen Hammarberg (57.58) and Kiwi WWC World Champion Andrea Fountain (53.90).

  2005 World Games Cable Wakeboard gold medalist Denis De Haan and 2005 World Games Wakeboard gold medalist Chen Li Li, and last year's winner in Singapore, were fourth (48.02) and fifth (47.82) respectively.

 The top three finishers in the Wakeboard World Cup Overall Series after the Singapore leg were England's Louise Moore, Sweden's Caroline Jansson and New Zealand's Andrea Fountain.

 Seven riders tried their best but failed to ride their way in action sports history on Saturday at Bedok Reservoir.  Despite a tantalizing US$10,800 prize on offer to the first person to land a 1080, seven riders - Phillip Soven, Daniel Watkins, Jeff Weatherall, Brett Eisenhauer, Dan Nott, Chad Sharpe and Keith Lidberg – all failed in their attempts.

 “We took a battering out there, but it was fun,” said 2004 World Champion Soven. “The falls can really knock you out but it's a chance to make history so we were really going for it.”

FINALS RESULTS - PRO WOMEN

1. Emily Copeland(USA)
2. Gretchen Hammarberg(USA)
3. Andrea Fountain(NZL)
4. Denise De Haan(NL)
5. Chen Li Li(CN)
6. Robbie Rendo(ARG)

FINALS RESULTS - PRO MEN

1. Philip Soven (USA)
2. Jeff Weatherall (NZL)
3. Dan Nott(UK)
4. Daniel Watkins (AUS)
5. Lockey Price(CAN)
5. Morgan Krause(ZA)
5. Brett Eisenhauer (AUS)
5. Matt Lammers(ZA)