By: Erika Langman

This past weekend the Roots made its way to Gravenhurst, Ontario for the third and final stop of the three event series. It has been awhile since a grassroots Wakeboard event has taken place in the legendary cottage country and it was great to see a huge crew of local riders and spectators out to support the event. The day started off with the future of wakeboarding – the Newbie and beginner boys and girls. There were 22 young guns out there ripping behind Basecamp’s 210 Nautique, including riders as young as four years old. 

As the day moved into the mid afternoon we watched the Open Men battle for not only the series title, but the title of Provincial Champ. Top seeded riders Christian Primrose, Gavin Hicks and Robbie McMillen all won their heats moving them into the leading positions for the semis and finals. At the end of the day it was Robbie McMillen taking home the Samsung Laptop for winning the Provincial gold, and Roots Stop #3 overall series title.

 The Wakeskaters were out in full force, with local pro riders Dan Brown, Mark Enns, Tommy Bailey and Addison Farr rounding up the wakeskate finals. On the ladies side of things local Steph King stepped up the level of intermediate riding taking the top spot, while series leader Ally Boothroyd told the boys what’s up stomping clean shuvs and flat water tricks in the Women’s Wakeskate division. The largest category of the day was the Intermediate Men’s Wakeboard which saw a lot of new talent from all over the province. It was great to see new faces to the series, including Tyler Nicholson who took the top spot, and Logan Enright claiming the series title. Overall the contest pulled 75 riders from eleven categories which is a testament to the growth of wakeboarding in Ontario. 

The day was a success, but it never could have happened without the support of all the volunteers. This year was a building year for grassroots wakeboarding in Ontario and we are excited to see how the series will evolve next year as more sponsors jump on board. A special thanks goes out to Pride of Muskoka and Basecamp for letting us use their loaded wakeboard boats, Off the Wharf and Cabana Boardshop for hooking up the riders with sweet prizes, G&G Electronics for the sound system, Ronix, Hyperlite and Liquid Force for the demo fleets, Metab Clothing for providing the riders with event shirts, Basecamp staff Leslie Sparkes, Scott Duke, Robbie McMillen, Dary Zneble, Mikey Henry, Gordie Lahare for all their help, Eric Snidal at Militia Marketing, Dan Seguin, Jer Eckford, Ally Boothroyd, Jono Boysen, Rem Diagle, Mitch Lowry, Harrison Carter, Andrew MacIvor and everyone who volunteered all their time to make this series a success!! Check out the overall series standings at www.rootswakeboarding.com.

Overall Series Champs:

Beginner Men: John VanGrunsven

Beginner Women: Kristine Tomlinson

Intermediate Men: Logan Enright

Intermediate Women: Ally Boothroyd

Amateur Wakeskate: Laurie Leblanc

Womens Wakeskate: Ally Boothroyd

Open Wakeskate: Brady Hicks

Open Men’s Wakeboard: Robbie McMillen

Roots #3 Results:

Newbie Boys:

Payton Schaley

Zack Ireland

Mike Evans

Shane Brandsetter

Theo Sastruck

Tristian Castelli

Tommy Sastruck

JoJo Sastruck

Beginner Boys:

Jesse Bryant

Dawson McLachlan

Jamie Panter

Payton Schaly

Matt Montgomery

Peter Newstead

Graeme Murry

Mike Evans

9. Remi Diagle

Beginner Girls

Jenn Evans

Kristine Tomlinson

Kaleigh Panter

Michelle Despins

Intermediate Women:

Steph King

Ally Boothroyd

Amanda Robinson

Jenn Evans

Amateur Wakeskate

Dan Seguin

 Christian Primrose

Adam Fairbrass

Kane Gasparotto

Aaron Turek

Russell Braive

Mitch Lowry

Josh Vlaming

Open Men Qualifiers

Heat 1

Christian Primrose

Chris Sinkic

Dylan Rivait

Mike McBreaty

Jake Thompson

Jeremy Eckford

Heat 2

Gavin Hicks

Gordy Lehare

John Eckensviller

Jordan Long

Dary Zneble dns

Heat 3

1.Robbie McMillen

Chad Rivait

Mikey Henry

Andrew MacIvor

Drew Austin

Intermediate Qualifiers

Heat 1

Tommy Bailey

 Will Morris

Cody Bryant

Matt Udon

Logan Rettie

Heat 2

Tyler Koller

Mike Case

Grant Hefferman

Mitch Lowry

Adam Lewis

Heat 3

Tyler Nicholson

Logan Enright

Harrison Carter

Charlie Murphy

Wakeskate Semi-Finals

Heat 1

Dan Brown

Addison Farr

Jeff Braun

Laurie Leblanc

Adam Lewis

Christian Primrose

Heat 2

Tommy Bailey

Mark Enns

Brady Hicks

Dan Seguin

Gordy Lehare

Austin Farr

Open Semi-Finals

Heat 1

Mike McBreaty

Christian Primrose

Dylan Rivait

Chad Rivait

Heat 2

Gavin Hicks

Mikey Henry

Chris Sinkic

Heat 3

Robbie McMillen

Gordy Lehare

John Eckensville

Intermediate FINAL

Tyler Nicholson

Logan Enright

Tommy Bailey

Tyler Koller

Will Morris

Mike Case

Open Skate FINAL

Tommy Bailey

Dan Brown

Addison Farr

Mark Enns

Open Men’s FINAL

Robbie McMillen

Gavin Hicks

Mike McBreaty

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tommy
Tommy Bailey, 19, Halliburton ON, and probably 4 summers ago I would say, not positive though

Vince
What got you into wakeskating?

Tommy
I started waterskiing when I was really young, then eventually started wakeboarding. Every time I went to ride with at the McMillin’s cottage I saw a wakeskate that Robbie won at a contest, and always wanted to try it. Robbie always pushed me to wakeboard though because they had a better wake than I did at my cottage. One day we had already had a few sets and we went for a wakeskate set and ever since then I couldn’t stop

Vince
I’ve definitely competed with you a lot the past couple years, when did you first get into that game?

Tommy
It must have been 3 summers ago in an xcup contest at Deerhurst, I came 2nd and I was stoked so I started going to every contest I heard of after that

Vince
Oh that was your first one? Snap! You beat me in that one haha.
You got any cool guys hooking you up with stuff these days?

Tommy
Haha nah, not unless your considering my dad a cool guy. My parents have been really supportive helping me out a bunch with boat gas and all that

Vince
In this climate? They sound pretty cool. What are your plans for next summer?

Tommy
Haha true enough, and probably just the usual. Working and riding as much as I can with everyone up at the cottage.

Vince
Fun stuff, what do you do with yourself in the wintertime? Any off-season training techniques?

Tommy
Well I’m playing hockey for a junior team up here in Ottawa this year, so that keeping me in shape. But other than that not really, I’ve been talking about hitting the gym this semester, but who knows if that will happen

Vince
How many push-ups can you do?

Tommy
Haha I will check, hold on one second.

Tommy
36. That’s kind of weak, I should probably seriously consider going to the gym

Vince
I did 50 sit-ups earlier, think you can beat that?

Tommy
Maybe, or at least get close… but after doing those pushups, im not going to try haha

Vince
Haha ok. Favourite dinosaur?

Tommy
Raptor, for sure. They’re the fastest / favourite basketball team

Vince
So here’s some short stuff. What’s the gear you’re rocking?… Byerly legacy, reef Byerly II shoes, jet pilot vest

what’s your favourite wake flick?… Aquafrolics or fun boots

do you do any other board sports?… skateboard and wakeboard. I don’t snowboard though, unfortunately I’m a skier…

where do you see yourself in 5 years? I have no idea. Just doing something I love.

damn good answer, I’m definitely going to use that in my next job interview. Ok finally…
Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, you gotta marry one, bang one, kill one, GO!… marry Jessica Alba for sure, bang Angelina and kill Halle berry

Vince
ok, that about does it any hollerbacks?

Tommy
My whole family for sure, the McMillin family, the Halliburton crew, and you Vince, haha I always looked up to you and the whole Levelthirtn crew growing up and you’ve been a super good guy to me over the past couple years!

ps. SHORTEST-EDIT-EVER.

Click here to view the embedded video.