When
Danny Harf fell on one of his first tricks in the Men's Pro Wakeboard Final in the 2002 X Games on the Schuylkyll in Philadelphia, most observers thought maybe the pressure of defending his X Games Gold Medal had gotten to him. But then Harf got back up and stomped two great passes highlighted by a 720 at the end of his second pass and a 900 off the double up to take home the victory in 2002.
"I never expected to be able to do this again," said Harf of his repeat performance in the 2002 Pro Men's Final. "I didn't expect to win the first time, and I didn't expect to win this time."
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| Danny Harf. |
The Men's Final ended up much the same as 2002 with
Darin Shapiro finishing second to Harf, behind the MasterCraft X Star, the official towboat of the X Games.
Shaun Murray, still looking for the elusive X Games Gold Medal, finished third.
When Harf wins, he wins big. Of his three professional wins, two have been at the X Games.
"I guess I don't let the pressure get to me," said Harf. "That's why I do so well here."
In the Pro Women's Final the X Games Gold Medal came down to the same two women who have owned the women's competition over the last two seasons,
Emily Copeland and
Dallas Friday. In a reverse of the 2001 final, Copeland took the Gold Medal leaving Friday second and
Leslie Kent in third.
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| Women's podium shot. |
"The X Games is such a huge title," said Copeland. "People all over the world, know about this competition. I'm so excited to win this. I've never had a feeling like this after winning an event."
In the Men's Final, the first rider off the dock, Chad Sharpe, came out and set the standard with two big stand up passes. Sharpe made good use of all the obstacles with a good mixture of wake tricks. Sharpe posted a good run, but with such a great field to follow, it was hard to stay on top. Sharpe ended the day just off the podium in fourth.
Harf was the next rider off the dock. After falling on his first trick, Harf started with a whirlybird, then gapped the slider, followed by a KGB, Off-Axis 540 and finishing his first pass with a blind 360.
Harf's second pass began with a Pete Rose, Moby Dick then transfer from the deck of the slaughter box up to the top rail to a backside board slide into the water. Harf ended his run with a toe side back roll another backside board slide on the rainbow slider and the 720 before the 900 on the double up.
Copeland was the last rider off the dock in the Women's Final. She had to wait as Friday went out and threw out a clean pass with a good mixture of tricks. It is not often in a competition that both Copeland and Friday go out and both stand up their passes. In this instance all the pressure was on Copeland, and she performed.
Copeland's first pass was highlighted by a back roll, a scare crow, a heel side back roll, and an indie toe side back roll. Her second pass began with a KGB, then tootsie roll, she finished with an off axis 540 and threw an off axis 360 on the double up.
Full Wakeboard Results
Related Photos:
Wakeboarding Finals Gallery
