Parks Takes the Redbull Depth Charge

BONNE TERRE, MO - Red Bull Depth Charge challenged fourteen of the world's top professional wakeboarders and wakeskaters with the most unusual course ever. The Bonne Terre mine (a retired lead mine) is now the world's largest underground lake. Running one mile north to south and two miles east to west, the lake hosted this year's Red Bull Depth Charge. Riders were towed through a series of six railslides, kickers and gaps in 55-degree water by a personal watercraft through a limestone maze of unchartered caverns and pillars. At the riders suggestion, a $500 prize was awarded to each athlete, but the ultimate bragging rights and two mini XR50 Honda motorcycles went to Parks Bonifay of Orlando, Florida, who was voted by his peers as pulling off the events best overall performance and trick.

"This event was insane! I think Red Bull Depth Charge opened up a whole new world for wakeboarding. It was barely even a competition; it was more like a one-of-a-kind opportunity to ride with all the bros. I just went out there and tried to hit it. Guess everyone thought I hit it the best," said a humble Bonifay after receiving the keys to his news bikes.

The Men, The Myths, The Legends

The first annual Red Bull Depth Charge pushed wakeboarding further as athletes reviewed and judged each other. Never before has the wakeboarding community seen such amazing skills and risk-taking raw talent in an unprecedented venue like the Bonne Terre mine. Each hit, kicker and railslide was filmed so that the athletes could review videotape from the competition and vote on one another from footage that was edited down overnight.

The morning began with three rounds of freeriding so athletes could get a handle on the course. The adrenaline rush was still at an all-time high by the end of the day when competitors conquered three last runs to complete the final round. "This is the craziest thing I have ever seen? I don't know how we're going to top this, but knowing Red Bull, they're already looking to push it to the next level," said Josh Sanders of Sydney, Australia.

Riders included Parks Bonifay, Erik Ruck, Josh Sanders, Daniel Watkins, Shaun Murray, Shawn Watson, Daniel Harf, Brett Eisenhauer, Darin Shapiro, Brian Grubb, Thomas Horrell and others.

The Abyss

The variance of the shadow-filled chambers, 100 foot tall rock pillars, and snaking three-quarter mile course offered an element of calming mystique and charming allure. In the mid-80's the Bonne Terre mine was the backdrop for the film, The Abyss. Today, the mine offers 24 scuba diving tours due to its extremely clear and deep waters. Ore carts, pick axes, and even submerged steam engines lie lost in time in the 125 foot deep mine where close to 100 square miles of tunnels burrow through solid limestone.

The entire event will be compiled for a television special to air November 2, 2002 on The National Network (TNN). Check local listings for details.