Bermudez reaches wakeboard final

MANILA, Philippines - Top RP bet Samantha Bermudez stole some of the thunder from the world’s best and brightest as she came through with a near impeccable effort to qualify for the finals in the women’s side of the 2011 Ultimate Wake Championship at the Camsur Watersports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur.

Bermudez, 24, drew strength from her poise and grace to draw a 100-point score in her semifinal performance, edging a fancied Elizabeth Fuchs in making the final cut of this prestigious tournament staking a total cash purse worth $82,000.

Fuchs was slowed down a bit by one fall but recovered in time to amass 90 points, enough to land her a berth in the finale. Another RP representative, Andres Tanjangco, failed to make the cut.

“I think I did well. I didn’t fall while my opponent fell. I just try my best. Eli (Fuchs) is really good also. She rides often here,” said a gushing Bermudez. “Wakeboarding is difficult. You can’t determine who’s going to win. It really depends on the run, like there are some who choke.”

Former world champion Tom Foshee of the United States and 13-year-old sensation Daniel Grant, a Great Britain native with Thai roots, lived up to their top billing by coming up with a pair of strong efforts to top their respective heats.

Foshee, the 2008 and 2009 champion from Texas, registered a men’s division best 100-point score to reign supreme in Heat 4 while Grant, listed as the youngest competitor in the pro circuit, emerged the best in Heat 2 with a score of 97.50 to establish their dominance early in the tournament matching riders in all three major disciplines in extreme water sports.

“I’m satisfied with my performance but there are still tricks that I want to do,” said Grant. “It’s a little bit scary competing against older and more experienced guys but it’s kind of fun also for me.”

The Philippines is the last stop of the World Wakeboard Association (WWA) World Series 2010, the only international event where riders switch it up among the boat, cable and System 2.0 winch disciplines.

Nieuwegein, The Netherlands kicked off the series last June, before heading to Hamburg, Germany and Antalaya, Turkey.

Riders earn points based on technical versatility and trick difficulty, with the highest scorer bagging the overall wake championship.

“We’re proud of hosting this world-class event for the third straight year now, it’s really a prestigious tournament,” said gracious host CamSur Gov. LRay Villafuerte.

The event’s eight categories feature the pro men, junior men, pro wakeskate, open women, obstacles, open women wakeskate, CWC rail park contest and the CamSur Rider’s Cup.