(October 10th, 2022 Lake Norman, NC) – After three days of competition, we have crowned 17 World Champions for 2022. Over 130 of the best riders from different countries came together at Lake Norman and put it all on the line for what turned out to be one of the highest levels of competition ever seen at a WWSC event. We saw mind-boggling tricks, a ton of amazing personal bests and some new styles of riding introduced on the sport’s highest stage throughout the week, and we’re here to break down all the action for you. After two days of qualifying rounds, we headed into day three with somewhat rougher conditions on the water than the previous days. Some inconsistent gusts of wind added to the pressure that built around the final day of competition. Fortunately, the elements would prove not to be a factor, as our competitors battled through and pulled together great run after great run.
In the Juniors division, Centurion team rider Makenzie Hickey pulled out some incredible tricks, earning her a third-place finish on the podium at this year’s Worlds.
Chad Hudson battled in the Masters Male Skim division, eventually placing second on the podium for 2022.
Centurion Team Rider, Ava Stewart threw down a near perfect finals run, landing her a first-place finish and title of Outlaw Female Skim World Champion.
Ashley Kidd handled business in the finals of the Pro Female Surf division yet again, sealing the deal on her sixth World Champion title.
Centurion Team Rider, Whitley Stewart posted the highest score in her qualifying heat in the Pro Female Skim division, following that performance with the best run in the finals as well, placing her at the top of the podium on Saturday as the World Champ. Whitley was able to throw down some very technical tricks in the finals after a stand-up first pass, following her second pass with a front three shove at the end to seal the deal.
In the Pro Male Surf division, there was some serious fire power coming from these athletes. With a loaded deck of riders including Tyler Stewart, Jake Breedlove, Connor Burns, and Keenan Flegel we always knew this division would bring the heat. In the finals, two Centurion team riders would take the top two spots atop the podium as Tyler Stewart finished second behind a worthy opponent in Connor Burns. Both riders would end up leaving everything they had on the water as Connor Burns landed a huge 540 Big Spin to cap off his insane 2022 finals run, taking home the title as Pro Surf World Champ.
Tyler Stewart would not let that second-place finish in Pro Surf stop him as he threw delivered one of the wildest finals runs of the week in the Men’s Pro Skim division. This division also packed some serious heat with several other great riders including Centurion team riders Sean Silveira and Keenan Flegel. Sean ended up scoring a very respectable 94.5 in the finals, earning himself a third-place finals finish. Tyler Stewart seized the moment and posted a 104.8 on his scorecard and became the 2022 World Champ for Pro Skim.
The official competition boat for this year’s events was the 2023 Salute to Service Military Limited Edition Ri230. This premium luxury 23-foot wake boat supplied perfect wave after wave for our competitors all weekend long. The foundation upon which our best features are built is our unique Opti-V hull, enhanced by ballast capacity, ballast location, ballast convenience, RAMFILL2 and QuickSurf Pro. But the significance of this tow boat goes well beyond its performance. We take pride in building evolved wake boats with the world’s best waves, wakes and ride but, building water sports boats to honor men and women who serve our country, and our communities is our extreme privilege. This year we are showing our appreciation to first responders and service professionals by pulling a whole new class of World Champions behind a 2023 Salute to Service Limited Edition Ri230.
Official Link to Day 3 Results (CWSA Website)
(Go to “Event Documents” on the right-hand side of the page and select “Results Day 3” to view the most recent pdf.)
We know that none of this would be possible without the support from our Sponsors! GM Marine, Roswell, Wet Sounds, Boatmate Trailers, Extreme Trailers, and PCM Engines support the Centurion World Wake Surfing Championship each year. Also, our partners like Upstate Marine and Operation Wake Surf have been on site serving the community of Lake Norman and helping to make this year’s Worlds event one that we will not soon forget.
We’d like to thank anyone who tuned into the livestreams for this year’s WWSC, whether it was in person or logging on from work or home. We’d also like to give a special shoutout to X-Stream 365, for covering all the action for fans around the world. This year’s riders and athletes gave us a glimpse of how bright the future is for this sport, as more and more of these competitors will continue to excel at their craft. We can’t wait to do all this again next year and hope to crown 17 more World Champions in the process!
We’d like to give a huge additional thanks to Centurion & Supreme Boat Dealer Upstate Marine, whose team helped bring all this together and make it possible. Upstate is dedicated to bringing customers in North Carolina the top boats for sale and services you need to keep your watercraft running smoothly. Unlike most boat dealers seeking customers in North Carolina, they care about their clients and help them get the most out of their water adventures. Whether you’re in the market for boat repair, detailing, trading, or just simply looking for a boat dealer to sell you the watercraft of your dreams, their team can help customers like you in North Carolina. Thanks for your contribution to the 2022 WWSC!
About GM Marine: General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
About Centurion Boats: Centurion boats represent more than just evolving the style and performance of a Wake Boat. For Centurion, that evolution improves the ownership experience and owning a Centurion boat represents freedom, a family’s investment in joy and peace of mind. We create boats that deliver positive change in the lives of our valued customers, and we have the responsibility to handle our customer experience with extreme care. We measure our success in smiles – the involuntary humanization of God’s glory and confirmation that we aren’t just making boats, we’re making life better for our valued customers. Learn more about Centurion Boats at www.centurionboats.com.
About Correct Craft: Celebrating 97 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Bryant boat companies, Pleasurecraft Marine Engine Group, Watershed Innovation and Aktion Parks. For more information, please visit www.correctcraft.com.