Date: 11/13/04
Author: Tige Press Release

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KAUAI, HAWAII – Competition at the 2004 Tigé U.S. Open kicked off Saturday, November 13, on the Wailua River at the Wailua River State Park in beautiful, Kauai, Hawaii. With one of the world's most exotic settings as a backdrop, the innovative format promised lots of riding and excitement for the top wakeboarders in the world as the competition builds to a head-to-head elimination format on Sunday afternoon. The '04 Tige U.S. Open is the first-ever wakeboarding event to institute a head-to-head, rider bracket system of elimination. Eventually, a two-man battle will determine the '04 Tige U.S. Open Champion.

The day began with 28 riders in the Pro Men division competing behind the Tige 20V for the $5,000 first-place prize. Eight invited riders received a qualifying round bye. Parks Bonifay, Tino Santori, Erik Ruck, Brett Eisenhauer, Daniel Watkins, Danny Harf, Chad Sharpe and Jeff Weatherall looked on Saturday morning as the other 20 pro and amateur riders battled for a spot in Saturday afternoon's semifinal round. Shane Bonifay, Darin Shapiro, Rusty Malinoski, Keith Lyman, Trevor Hansen, Keith Lidberg, Andrew Adkison and Chris Law emerged as the top two men in each of their respective heats Saturday morning.

After a short rain delay and with light drizzle still falling, the 16 remaining riders, who will all receive part of the $25,000 purse, hit the water in the afternoon in a round to determine seeding on Sunday. The top riders in the four heats moved on to Sunday afternoon's head-to-head finals. The remaining 12 wakeboarders will compete on Sunday morning in a last-chance-qualify round for four spots in the head-to-head format final. Shapiro, Watkins, Hansen and Adkison, who had the round's top score at 81.67, won the four semifinal heats and will have the benefit of watching Sunday morning.

In the Pro Women Division, Dallas Friday edged out Amber Wing and Lauren Loe with a score of 79.43. Jeff House topped Rob Jacques, Danny Thollander and Kristian Kastari in first round action of the Junior Men division. All eight competitors in the Pro Women and all four riders in the Junior Men division will ride again tomorrow to determine their respective '04 Tige U.S. Open champions.

The '04 Tige U.S. Open is the first-ever wakeboarding event to be filmed in high definition (HDTV). Check tige.com for a listing of future tape-delayed broadcasts.

Tige Boats Inc. manufactures eight direct drive and sport V inboard models ranging from 20 to 24 feet in length and all are backed by the Tige LifePlus Lifetime Replacement Warranty. Each boat features the patented ConvexV hull and TAPS2 technology. Tige has more than 80 dealers in 10 countries.

Additional promotional support for the '04 Tige U.S. Open has been provided by Apple Vacations, Hawaiian Airlines, The Radisson Kauai Beach Resort, Liquid Mountain apparel and the island of Kauai. The '04 Tige U.S. Open is sanctioned by the American Wakeboard Association.

For more information, please contact media relations coordinator Dustin Clark at (325) 864-9274 or dclark@tige.com.

2004 Tige U.S. Open - Day One Results

Pro Men Semifinals (winner in each heat advances to final, three remaining riders compete in last-chance qualifier)

Heat #1
1. Darin Shapiro - 74.50
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2. Brett Eisenhauer - 73.33
3. Rusty Malinoski - 66.70
4. Jeff Weatherall - 66.10

Heat #2
1. Daniel Watkins - 78.35
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2. Tino Santori - 72.23
3. Shane Bonifay - 66.12
4. Keith Lidberg - 48.90

Heat #3
1. Trevor Hansen - 71.63
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2. Chris Law - 62.80
3. Danny Harf - 59.47
4. Shawn Watson - 53.33

Heat #4
1. Andrew Adkison - 81.67
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2. Parks Bonifay - 77.80
3. Erik Ruck - 70.00
4. Keith Lyman - 62.80

Pro Women Round 1 (all advance to Round 2)
1. Dallas Friday - 79.43
2. Amber Wing - 71.67
3. Lauren Loe - 66.68
4. Melissa Marquardt - 64.47
5. Leslie Kent - 51.67
6. Cathy Williams - 42.78
7. Jenacee Jackson - 40.00
8. Barrett Perlman - 19.43

Junior Men Round 1 (all advance to Round 2)
1. Jeff House - 58.35
2. Rob Jacques - 54.45
3. Danny Thollander - 51.70
4. Kristian Kastari - 46.63

Pro Men Qualifying (top two in each heat advance to semifinals)

Heat #1
1. Shane Bonifay - 72.22
2. Darin Shapiro - 67.22
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3. Corey Bradley - 44.45
4. Jesson Vedel - 38.88
5. Perry Richmond - 35.55

Heat #2
1. Rusty Malinoski - 75.57
2. Keith Lyman - 73.37
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3. Kevin Henshaw - 54.45
4. Taylor Ewing - 39.47
5. Jacob Clendenning - 33.35

Heat #3
1. Trevor Hansen - 84.43
2. Keith Lidberg - 67.78
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3. Nick Weinacker - 61.10
4. Ryan Siebring - 47.23
5. Robert Meierdierck - 19.43

Heat #4
1. Andrew Adkison - 73.90
2. Chris Law - 68.88
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3. Collin Harrington - 61.12
4. Cory Ziehe - 39.45
5. Tim Wolf - 20.00

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