If you weren’t able to make it out to the Orlando Watersports Complex (OWC) to experience all the action first hand, don’t worry! We’re going to give you the inside scoop, straight from the pro’s themselves.

WakeGirls: What are the conditions like?

Pro Wakeboarder Melissa Marquardt: The conditions are not that good. It’s pretty windy out there, so it’s a little tough to do your regular tricks…but it was fun!

Pro Wakeboarder Raimi Merritt: I think it’s amazing. It’s a little windy, but other than that, it’s pretty good. There’s lots of people that showed up and I’m riding ok, so, it’s all good.

WG: What are some of your thoughts about Wake Games?

Pro Wakeboarder Emily Copeland-Durham: It’s been pretty cool. For me it’s been a little bit different, because I’m not actually competing this weekend. Well, actually, I’m pregnant…so I’m not competing for the whole season. It’s really exciting! So, it’s a different take on it, but it’s fun to hang out and see all my friends and you know it’s the first kick off one of the year, so it’s cool to just see all the people you haven’t seen all season.

Pro Wakeboarder Jim LaRiche: It’s pretty cool. This is actually, my fourth year competing at Wake Games, but my first year in Pro. It’s always been a fun event. It’s really a good event that Nautique and Fox put on for all of us. We get to interact with the younger kids and it’s fun, it’s good vibes.

WG: What’s the competition like? Has it stepped up for both the men and women in the sport?

Pro Wakeboarder Ben Greenwood: I would say, standard for the competitive realm of wakeboarding. For the pro men’s, there’s now a couple more guys that can battle Phillip and Rusty. There’s JD, Rathy, and Adam. Those guys have really stepped up their game. On the women’s side, Nicola and Raimi Merritt are doing really, really well, making Amber and Dallas, you know, they’re going to have to step up to catch up to them.

Pro Wakeboarder Amber Wing: Yeah, this year the girls’ riding has improved a lot. All the girls have ridden a whole lot over the winter or summer, depending on where you live, and they’re coming, they’re throwing it down. There’s six girls in the finals. It’s going to be a really great finals!

WG: What did you think about having the Toe Jam with the Wake Games this year?

Pro Wakeskater Brandon Thomas (a.k.a BT or DJ Drop Top): It’s definitely different. Definitely doing a different routine at Toe Jam this year, keeping it in Florida, which I think is somewhat nice…saves me a lot of money. The event was good; we had the boat going on and the pool stunt. The pool stunt was a new type of pool stunt we tried out. I thought it went well; it was a good time.

Pro Wakeboarder, Emily Copeland-Durham: I think it’s cool, it adds a little bit of something for everyone. I think it’s a good thing and it’s cool to watch. I had fun watching it last night!

Pro Wakeboarder Keith Lyman: I think that’s pretty cool. I think if they did it right, I don’t really know the scheduling, but I think it would be cool, because you’d obviously get some of the people from Wake Games to go over there and vice versa, so yeah. Good idea, Byerly!

WG: Who are some of the pro men’s favorite women riders?

Pro Wakeboarder Keith Lyman: I’m gonna root the most for Amber Wing this weekend.

Pro Wakeboarder Jim LaRiche: Well, Nicola’s killing it. I really like how Nicola’s been riding, but I’ve always really liked Emily Copeland-Durham. Her riding is sick. We go on Nautique trips a lot and stuff like that. She’s just such a nice lady; she’s cool. She’s awesome; she’s one of the best people in our sport. I’d say she’s probably one of my favorite girl riders.

WG: What’s one word to describe the weekend?

Melissa Marquardt: Fantastic.

Amber Wing: Fun.

Raimi Merritt: It’s hard to think of a big word, but it’s been pretty cool.

Ben Greenwood: Windy.

Keith Lyman: Windy. If I had to say something else…sandy eyes.

Jim LaRiche: Fun. These contests are always so much fun and, especially, the first one of the year. Getting back, everyone’s in town, so it’s really fun to hang out and see all your friends, for sure.

Wakes Games was an all-around fun time for both pro and amateur riders, family members, and spectators. Big thanks to Rockstar Energy Drink for supplying free drinks the whole weekend!

In the finals, on Sunday, Dallas Friday proved that she was back and ready to take on the young guns of the industry. For those that don’t know, Dallas suffered a severe injury when competing in the finals at the 2006 World Cup in Singapore. She had nine spiral fractures, broke her femur, and suffered acute respiratory distress while in surgery. Three years later, she’s on top of her game and winning her first ever Wake Games title, defeating the current Queen of Wake, Nicola Butler. Here are the Pro Women Final results:

1. Dallas Friday (USA) : 89.75

2. Raimi Merritt (USA) : 88.25

3. Melissa Marquardt (USA) : 74.25

4. Nicola Butler (UK) : 73.75

5. Amber Wing (AUS) : 70.25

6. Hayley Smith (AUS) : 53.75