MASTERCRAFT EURO
WAKEBOARD PRO TOUR
JB WATERSKI
THORPE - UK

more pics

So who said the sun never shines in England? Well it certainly did at JB Waterski for the 2nd stop of the 2002 MasterCraft Euroean Wakeboard Pro Tour, and the crowds who gathered there were certainly glad they made the trip as they were treated to awesome riding from Europe's best wakeboarders.

The South Africans stole the show with 3 riders competing in the 8 man finals and taking 1st, 2nd and 7th place. Matt Lammers, who was taking part in the Tour for the first time, took away 1st place with a well executed run, excellent composition and complex manoeuvres, including a Pete Rose, Handle Pass KGB and a mixture of rotational and numerous blind tricks. Fellow rider and also his first time competing on the Tour, Ross Astrup, came a close 2nd with strong intensity and he thrilled the crowd with a cool 720. Rodo Vinh-Tung (FRA), although still consistently in the top 3, fell on his second pass, which meant that he missed the opportunity of the double-up, thus losing out on the top two podium spots to the South African riders.

Ian Birdsall of MasterCraft said "The European Wakeboard Pro Tour is all about promoting the sport and giving the riders the opportunity to compete at the highest level in a professional event, this weekend proved how successful a concept this is, the standard of riding has once again moved up a level, and the crowds on Sunday got to witness some of the most amazing performances ever seen in Europe without doubt the Tour is now firmly established as the "showcase" of International Wakeboarding and Wakeboarders , we are all now looking forward to the finals in Austria, I guarantee this will be biggest Wakeboard event ever seen."

The heat is now on to see who will take the big bucks in Austria at the finals and who will walk away with the title of '2002 MasterCraft European Wakeboard Pro Tour Champion'. So if you haven't booked your flight yet, you better get on it. It's sure to be a real nail biter, as the title can be claimed by any one of the top 5 riders…..See you there.


Boat Crew
(L-R) Johan Callebert (Judge), Alain Neils (Judge), Ian Martin (Line-man), Colin Hart (Chief Judge), Christine Birdsall (Tour Admin & Photographer), Martin James (Boat Driver)

Matt Lammers (RSA)
Pro Men's Winner


Open Men
1st Julien Bonnet (BEL)
2nd Jamie Oliver (SPA)
3rd Michael Callebert (BEL)



Pro Ladies
1st Caroline Jansson (SWE)
2nd Will Christien (GBR)
3rd Justine Charriere (SUI)

Pro Men
1st Matt Lammers (RSA)
2nd Ross Astrup (RSA)
3rd Rodo Vinh-Tung (FRA)


Ian Birdsall of MasterCraft presents the big cash prizes to the winners

The top 8 Pro Men take to the podium for their well earned applause

The crowds were treated to the best of English weather and European riding all weekend


Matt Lammers walks up victory lane


Julien Bonnet (BEL) needs oxygen as he goes into orbit on his double up