Nouvelles-sport canadien
June 3, 2007
Canada�s Rusty Malinoski wins Pro Tour wakeboard competition
FORT WORTH, Texas � Rusty Malinoski of Humboldt, Sask., won the gold medal Sunday in men�s wakeboard at the second stop on the Pro Tour circuit.
Malinoski defeated four-time X Games champion Danny Harf of the U.S., in the final. Malinoski entered Fort Worth coming off a second-place finish at the tour's first stop in Acworth, Georgia. With two top-two finishes this season, Malinoski is now the current leader on the circuit with three events to go.
��It was definitely good,�� said Malinoski. ��Danny went up first in the final and had a couple of falls so I knew what I had to do. I did a lot of tricks and I did them well and it all worked out. Some weekends it clicks and this was definitely my weekend.��
In the semifinals, Malinoski eliminated Adam Errington of the U.S., while Harf took out Chad Sharpe of Cloverdale, B.C.
��My semifinal was the best ride of my career,�� said Malinoski. ��It was unbelievable and intense. I definitely wanted a win here.��
In the quarterfinals earlier Sunday, Sharpe had knocked out the hottest rider this season in the sport Philip Soven of the U.S., the winner at the season-opening stop. Malinoski meanwhile defeated compatriots Kyle Rattray of Guelph, Ont., in the quarters and Aaron Rathy of Nanaimo, B.C., in the round of 16. Olivier Derome of Coteau-du-Lac, Que., also reached the round of 16.
Malinoski enjoyed a phenomenal 2006 season on the various pro circuits. He won the four-stop World Series title, was second overall on the five-stop Pro Tour circuit and the King of Wake Series and was third overall on the World Cup circuit. In March, he kicked-off 2007 with the Pan Am Championships title.
In the junior competition for ages 14-18 Raphael Derome of Coteau-du-Lac was fourth in the final. A.J. Racinelli led the U.S., to a medal sweep.
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