Wakeboarding
EXPN.com
Essentially, wakeboarding is a cross between waterskiing and surfing. Pretty much like snowboarding on water.
One thing's for sure say all those who've tried, once you get started, you just can't stop.
Bonifay golden again in Bay
ESPN.com
SAN FRANCISCO -- Getting out of the first round seems to be the key for Parks Bonifay in X Games wakeboarding. Once he gets his feet wet so to speak, Bonifay usually gets better with each run.
Such was the case as the 1996 X Games gold medalist sensation returned to the top at the podium at X Games V.
Bonifay, who in the eighth and final spot to get into the semifinals, progressively distanced himself from the rest of the field to easily win the gold medal in the finals.
Bonifay posted a final score of 68.44 to ease the sting of not even making it into the semifinals last year. Darin Shapiro, who took gold a year ago in San Diego, settled for silver with a score of 62.56, while Brannan Johnson's first X Games medal was bronze.
"This victory means a lot more to me than the first one," said the 17-year-old Bonifay. "Back in 1996, the X Games was an unknown contest, now it's one of the biggest of the year."
A crowd of approximately 4,500 packed Treasure Island, filling every seat in the stands and lining the shore. It was the largest turnout ever for wakeboarding at the X Games.
The choppy San Francisco Bay waters were of concern for many riders during practice, but they adjusted to the conditions in time for the judges.
"I was bobbing and weaving through the rollers," said Shapiro, comparing his path through the waves to a boxing match.
Bonifay put together a difficult run including a "911," "Pete Rose," "OHH" and "S-Bend." He also went the biggest of the four finalists and captured the title despite missing his double-up.
Bonifay, however, nearly landed his new half-cab double back roll on the double-up. It was the first time he tried the trick at the X Games.
Shapiro missed his patented "Skeezer," which basically cost him the repeat. He also missed his "Speedball" on the double-up.
Shapiro took the setback in stride, congratulating and hugging Parks after his run. Shaun Murray, another finalist, went a step further and playfully tossed Parks into the waters of San Francisco.
Bonifay, Shapiro, Johnson and Murray made up possibly the strongest final four field in X Games history. In fact, this was the first time that the top three seeds going in made the finals with Johnson, Murray, and Shapiro filling those spots.
ESPN X Games research and Dean Turcol contributed to this report which is republished courtesy of espn.com.
http://www.wakeworld.com/
http://www.wakeboard.com.sg/
For in-depth news and reviews on the 1999 Summer X Games go to http://espn.go.com/extreme/xgames/index.html
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