The Red Bull Wake Open rode into downtown Tampa Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14, 2012, outside the Tampa Convention Center and Harbour Island. The event brought the best wakeboarders in the world to compete. The competition includes a park course with cable system and Big Air, where riders launch off a 50-foot ramp to wow the crowd and the judges with their best tricks. The event is a first for Tampa and the sport, with NBC and other national coverage. Spectators can see the event live at viewing locations located around the Channel.
Wake Art , paintings and mixed media made from wakeboards, will be on display at the Convention Center. It’s a project in conjunction with Kick Start My Art (the curators of all those cool art shows at the Bricks). The top three pieces were selected by judges and awarded to the top wakeboard athletes in the international wakeboarding competition. Chad Cardoza, Kick Start’s man in charge, RJ Runas, Lauren Rasch (pictured), Michelle Sawyer, Adam Graham and others competed for the honors. For more, read
Chris Girandola’s feature in the July 12 issue of CL . Â(Text by Kevin Tall ÂÂand Julie Garisto; photos by Daniel Veintimilla)
Chad Cardoza, “Make ’em Say Ahhh! (na nah na nah)”; fourth place winner. Credit: Daniel VeintimillaTiffa Minsal “Cat-astrophic Awakening” Credit: Daniel Veintimilla“Spaghetti Midler,” Lauren Rasch Credit: Daniel VeintimillaChris Deacon, “Zero Gravity”; third place winner. Credit: Daniel VeintimillaMichelle Sawyer, “The Unidactyl Saga, Pt. 1: The Quest for Ultimate Life” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaP$YNNER, “Mermaid Found” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaRJ Runas “Capt. Awesome and His Faithful Canine Companion” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaMarlon Huynh “Victory” won first place, awarded to winning Wake Open competitor Raphael Derome. Credit: Daniel VeintimillaBrandon McLean, “I Said, ‘Yes,’ Just So I Wouldn’t Have to Say Anything Else.” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaKen Hancock “The Golden Spirit” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaAdam Graham “Gimme Your Love” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaJohn Alexander Caravajal “Delusion of Anger” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaSamantha Helm, “America the Beautiful” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaJacqueline Ann Frierman, “If Elephants Grew on Trees” — Creative Loafing People’s Choice Award with the most text votes by the public. This board will now live on in the Creative Loafing Event Space. Credit: Daniel VeintimillaAshley Roper “The Light Factory” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaChristian Ricca and Jennifer Tran “The Mirths” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaDaniel Mrgan, “Ride” Credit: Daniel VeintimillaJunior wakeboarder Ava Waltz! Credit: Daniel VeintimillaRed Bull Wake Open and Wake Art Credit: Daniel Veintimilla
