Canadians take gold and silver medals at wakeboard championship

Published Sunday September 7th, 2008

THE CANADIAN PRESS

OKLAHOMA CITY - Rusty Malinoski led Canada to a 1-2 finish in the men's wakeboard final for the gold medal on Sunday at the World Wakeboard Championships with Aaron Rathy of Nanaimo, B.C., taking the silver.

Malinoski of Humboldt, Sask., earned 94.00 points in the final and is the first Canadian world wakeboard champion since Jeremy Kovac in 1997.

Rathy continued an impressive return from an injury-plagued 2007 season for the silver at 85.50. Defending champion Philip Soven took the bronze at 82.00 and Olivier Derome of Coteau-du-Lac, Que., was fourth at 70.25.

In junior competition, Jimmy Lariche of the U.S., was the winner with Raphael Derome of Coteau-du-Lac second and Harley Clifford of Australia third.

Canadian champion James Balzer of Langley, B.C., who broke his leg in March, took fourth spot in the men's pro wakeskate final.

Canada's Jess Polley took the silver in the boys wakeboard in the 10-13 age group.

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