2001 Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding, the Ford Ranger Pro

Pensacola, FL – With $50,000 on the line and NBC cameras taping off the dock, the world’s best wakeboarders let it rip in the first jewel of the Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding, the Ford Ranger Pro.

Pensacola’s Bayview Park was the site of all the action in Sunday’s final rounds as all of the riders took their turns behind the MasterCraft X Star boat, powered by the howling Indmar engine. It must have been something about riding at home that led Shane Bonifay to the biggest day of his career, taking home the men’s Ford Ranger Pro title.

The day looked grim after Shane’s brother Parks failed to make the finals, to the disappointment of the partisan Pensacola crowd. But, Shane, the younger of the two brothers, still had a few tricks up his sleeve, putting together one of the best runs of his career in the finals.

However, it almost didn’t happen. Shane Bonifay backed his way into the finals, coming in fourth in his semifinal heat. For his efforts, Bonifay will walk away with the substantial $15,000 prize.

For the women it was business as usual. Dallas Friday didn’t do anything to tarnish her image as the undisputed queen of women’s wakeboarding, taking home her first Vans Triple Crown Event and $7,000. Admittedly nervous, Friday executed her run to perfection to distance herself from the competition. Marie Botved-Studd confirmed her place as one of the elite women’s riders, finishing second to Friday.

Sunday’s Results

Pro Men Finals

1. Shane Bonifay (FL) 66.78
2. Josh Sanders (AUS) 64.44
3. Erik Ruck (WI) 63.56
4. Chris Law (FL) 63.00
5. Shawn Watson (FL) 62.56
6. Darin Shapiro (USA) 59.78
7. Brett Eisenhauer (AUS) 59.56
8. Rob Struharik (OH) 44.89

Ford Ranger Best Trick

1. Collin Harrington 22.20
2. Erik Ruck 20.50
3. Shane Bonifay 18.00
4. Parks Bonifay 11.50
5. Darin Shapiro 10.50

Pro Women Finals

1. Dallas Friday (FL) 60.22
2. Marie Botved Studd (DEN) 50.22
3. Emily Copeland (CO) 45.89
4. Cheryl Newton (CA) 45.22
5. Christy Smith (AR) 38.89
6. Lauren Loe (TX) 37.11
7. Melissa Marquardt (CA) 36.78
8. Maeghan Major (FL) 32.67

Pro Men Semifinals
(Top 4 each heat advance to Finals)

HEAT # 1

1. Rob Struharik (OH) 70.11
2. Brett Eisenhauer (AUS) 66.44
3. Shawn Watson (FL) 62.89
4. Josh Sanders (AUS) 62.22
5. Parks Bonifay (FL) 59.78
6. Collin Harrington (FL) 54.78

HEAT # 2

1. Chris Law (FL) 62.78
2. Erik Ruck (WI) 61.11
3. Darin Shapiro (USA) 55.78
4. Shane Bonifay (FL) 52.56
5. Zane Schwenk (FL) 52.44
6. Joel Cahill (FL) 39.00

Amateur Women Finals

1. Louise Moore (ENGLAND) 46.02
2. Tiffany Landry (MS) 39.71
3. Tristan Seley (FL) 35.71
4. Liquid Liz Gardner (FL) 32.01

Jr Boys Finals

1. Tadpole Robert Soven (FL) 60.00
2. Robert Southworth (LA) 51.34
3. Casey Dorner (FL) 41.70

Super Grom Boys Finals

1. Corey Miner (FL) 54.67
2. Devin Austin Rogers (FL) 51.70
3. J D Webb (FL) 48.43
4. Ian Reid (FL) 47.36


Jr Men Finals

1. Robin Friday (FL) 61.37
2. Joey Arcisz (TX) 60.02
3. Kyle Murphy (CA) 57.02
4. Joey Bradley (TX) 53.35
5. Justin Sellers (NC) 45.03
6. Robert Bonifay (FL) 44.70
7. Jonathan Nadolski (FL) 40.05
8. Keith Lyman (FL) 39.73
9. Brad Allen (TX) 31.70