Harf and Friday Rip It Up -- XGames

Youth was served today at the wakeboarding competition of the 2001 X Games in both the men and women's event. 16-year-old Danny Harf and 14-year-old Dallas Friday took the gold medals, each putting on a dazzling display. The entire field stepped up their runs; in fact, the judges told EXPN.com exclusively after the contest, "it was the best riding ever."

Two moves never seen before in a contest highlighted the day on the Schuylkill River. Darin Shapiro's 900 off the kicker and in a move not even named as Erik Ruck threw out a overhead mute off-axis 5 handpass to 7 which basically is an off-axis 720 with one handle pass.

Both of those first-ever moves put the pressure on Harf as he took the water behind the MasterCraft X-Star boat. He knew Shapiro and Ruck had put up impressive scores, and he needed a near flawless run to win the title; and he nailed it. Harf threw a string of moves including an off-axis 5 and a batwing before hitting it big at the end of his first pass with an off-axis 540 off the kicker. He also did a flawless second pass before hitting a huge 900 off the double-up. The estimated crowd of 7,000 people erupted when Harf landed the double-up all knowing they just witnessed the winning run. Harf scored an 82.67 to take over first place. "It was the best run of my life," said Harf, who just got back from a contest in Japan last week. "After seeing Darin and Erik, I had to step it up."

This was only Harf's second professional win. He won the Oklahoma City Pro Wakeboard Tour stop last year, but this win elevates him to the top tier of wakeboarders.

Shapiro, the defending and two-time X Games champion, was not disappointed with his silver, "I came into the X Games to hit a 900 off the kicker and I did it. You may not believe this, but hitting that was the best feeling I've ever had at the X Games including winning it." Strong words from a man considered the best ever contest rider in the history of wakeboarding.

Two of the favorites coming into the contest made a push for the podium, but fell short. Shaun Murray, who was the last rider of the day, littered his run with multiple moves, the most of any rider, but it only got him a fourth. Parks Bonifay, the number-one seed coming into the event, fell early off the "Slaughter Box" apparatus, and was never a factor, finishing sixth.

Women's wakeboarding phenom Dallas Friday duplicated Bonifay's feat in the '96 X Games by winning at the age of 14 years old. The women's final came down to the last two riders on the dock, Friday and Emily Copeland.

The two girls were in this same position just last month for the Pro Tour Finals. Then, Friday went out first and fell leaving the door open for Copeland to capture the title. Friday again went out first this time around, but the result was very different. Friday put together an impressive run including a big Raley and huge KGB. Copeland gave a gallant effort but fell on her second pass clinching the championship for Friday. "I feel so happy right now. I'm so stoked I stood up my run. This is just a great day," said Friday. Nearly all of the riders we spoke to were thrilled with the X Games contest. This year marked the first time several sliders were added to the course at the X Games, giving the event a street skating/snowboard park feel for the first time.

SCORES
Men's Wakeboarding Finals
1. Danny Harf 82.67
2. Darin Shapiro 76.44
3. Erik Ruck 68.89
4. Shaun Murray 67.67
5. Zane Schwenk 66.22
6. Parks Bonifay 61.78
7. Brett Eisenhauer 49.11
8. Shane Bonifay 47.56

Women's Wakeboarding Finals
1. Dallas Friday 64.22
2. Emily Copeland 58.56
3. Tara Hamilton 54.67
4. Leslie Kent 50.78
5. Lauren Harf 45.44
6. Maeghan Major 42.33
7. Marie Botved Studd 38.11
8. Buster Lutgert 37.11