Keith Lidberg Dominates Red Bull Wake the Line With Sesitec’s System 2.0 Cable

Matt Hickman | Events, Uncategorized

The season opening for European Wakeboarding couldn’t have been better. At Red Bull Wake The Line more than 7,000 spectators saw incredible wakeboard action on a new level performed by top riders from all over the world. The obstacle setup included a massive quarterpipe at the end of the run and offered a platform for tricks never seen before in wakeboarding. Towed by Sesitec’s System 2.0 straight-line cable, the four pools in the stadionbad of Cologne made a total of 320 meters of wake heaven. In the superfinal, Keith Lidberg showed the best performance, winning ahead of Germany’s Bernhard Hinterberger and Shawn Watson (USA).

In the wakeskate divison of Red Bull Wake The Line, Jan Kissmann from Germany got first place. Jan Kissmann had to make his way through the warm-up session in Langenfeld, where he got his wildcard. With his technical skills on the rails and massive spin tricks at the kicker showing late backside 180 and a frontside 540, he was clearly the winner. Second place went to Leo Labadens from France and last year’s winner, Andy Kolb, came third. The winner of the Nike 6.0 best trick award was Kevin Calvez (FRA).

The rider lineup in the wakeboard division of Red Bull Wake The Line included Europe’s biggest names like Bernhard Hinterberger (GER), Christian Koester (UK), David Vervenne (BEL) and Laurent Perychou (FRA), completed by Parks Bonifay, Keith Lidberg, Shawn Watson and Collin 

Harrington all from the US. In the first duel at the head to head semifinals, Parks Bonifay had to ride against Bernhard Hinterberger. Both showed incredible runs with many similar tricks, including a 450 transfer to the A-frame and nice quarterpipe action. With his crow mobe 5 over the last kicker, Bernhard overruled Parks’ whirlybird and made his way to the superfinals.

There he met up with Collin Harrington, Keith Lidberg and Shawn Watson. The 20-minute jam session was dominated by Keith Lidberg, showing all his technical rail skills like big transfers, backside lipslides and tons of style in his kicker tricks. Last year’s second place, Bernhard Hinterberger, repeated his place ahead of Shawn Watson, who won the best trick in the quarterpipe.

The second edition of Red Bull Wake The Line has shown urban wakeboarding on a new level and opened doors for new tricks. Above all, the quarterpipe in combination with the Sesitec System 2.0 cable was a brand new element in wakeboarding offering tons of possibilities. 

Results

Superfinal Wakeboard
1. Keith Lidberg (USA)
2. Bernhard Hinterberger (GER)
3. Shawn Watson (USA)
4. Collin Harrington (USA) 

Best Trick Wakeboard/Quarterpipe
Shawn Watson (USA)

Superfinal Wakeskate
Jan Kissmann (GER)
Leo Labadens (FRA)
Andy Kolb (GER)
Kevin Calvez (FRA)

Nike 6.0 Best Trick Wakeskate
Kevin Calvez (FRA)