Three East Kootenay riders have returned from the Centurion Boats’ 23rd annual World Wake Surf Championship with a podium finish to cap-off their competitive seasons.

Ryder and Dagen Duczek of Cranbrook and Caroline Villeneuve of the H2O School on Lake Koocanusa advanced to the finals and took second place in the Men’s Amateur Skim, Juniors, and Pro Women’s Skim divisions respectively. Cranbrook’s Isaac and Gabrielle Hockley also competed; however, did not advance to the finals at the three-day event near Park City, Utah.

Ryder, 13, was the youngest competitor in his division and competed against athletes from Canada, the US and Russia. He finished first in his heat with a flawless run in the qualifiers. In the finals, it was an absolute throw-down, with only two points separating first and second place.

Younger brother Dagen, 11, finished first in his qualifying heat coming back from two falls in his first pass to land a shuv-in, shuv-out, 360 combo. He stomped out another strong run in the finals to take second overall in his first year of competitive riding in this association.

Caroline Villeneuve, who is one of the most consistent and technical riders on the tour, showed why she continues to be one of the top riders in the world as she finished first in her qualifying heat and took second overall.

Off the water, Villeneuve was also a nominee for a legacy award in recognition of her years of dedication, and her tireless efforts to develop and encourage growth of the sport.

In total, 122 athletes from North America, Europe and Asia converged on Pineview Reservoir near Park City, Utah. Each of the athletes earned their spot at the invitation-only event by fighting for a top CWSA WRS ranking against over 1,000 wakesurfing athletes from around the world, in several of 30 World Series of Wake Surfing and WRS Qualified events worldwide.

“For the East Kootenay to have five riders qualify and compete at Worlds is pretty amazing,” said Ryder. “We are so lucky here to have so many amazing riders, who support and encourage each other.”

The three-day World Championship featured over 265 competition runs, with riders in 17 divisions battling it out to claim World titles.

For the Duczek brothers, who reached the podium on the Provincial, National and International stage in 2018, the support of their sponsors was key to their success. An innovative fuel sponsorship by Rocky Mountain Agencies Ltd., Snap-On Tools (Jeff Fancy Proprietor), Alfred Hummel Contracting Ltd, Rocky Mountain Appraisals and Hebditch Contracting along with community sponsorships by Boston Pizza (Cranbrook/Golden), Just Liquid Sports, Isaac Hockley East Kootenay Royal Lepage Realty, and the H2O School and gear sponsorships by Phase 5 Surfboards and Hyperlite Wakeboards made it possible for them to train, enter and compete.

“Without these sponsors, this incredible season would not have been possible for us,” added Ryder. “On behalf of my brother and I and our family, we want to say thank you. We will remember this experience for the rest of our lives and the support of our sponsors and this community is a huge part of that.”

Duczek Brothers 2018 Season Results:

Water Ski and Wakeboard Alberta (WSWA) Tour Stop 2 – Pine Lake, Alberta

1st Place – Amateur Men’s Skim – Ryder Duczek

3rd Place – Junior Boys– Dagen Duczek

1st Place – Novice Boys Wakeboard – Dagen Duczek

Competitive Wake Surf Association – Koocanusa Wakesurfing Challenge – Lake Koocanusa

3rd Place – Men’s Amateur Skim – Ryder Duczek

3rd Place – Junior Boys – Dagen Duczek

Water Ski and Wakeboard Alberta (WSWA) Tour Stop 3 PROVINCIALS – Chestermere, Alberta
1st Place – Amateur Men’s Skim – Ryder Duczek

3rd Place – Junior Boys Wakesurf– Dagen Duczek

2nd Place – Outlaw Wakeboard – Dagen Duczek

Idaho – INT League – Willow Bay Surf Fest – Priest River, Idaho

1st Place – Men’s Open Skim – Ryder Duczek

1st Place – Juniors – Dagen Duczek

CWSA Nautique Canadian Wakesurf National Championship – Chestermere, Alberta

1st Place – Amateur Men’s Skim – Ryder Duczek

2nd Place – Junior Boys Wakesurf– Dagen Duczek

CWSA Centurion World Wake Surfing Championship – Pineview Reservoir, Utah

2nd Place – Men’s Amateur Skim – Ryder Duczek

2nd Place – Juniors – Dagen Duczek

Lead image: Top: Ryder Duczek getting some air during the first pass of his final run at Worlds (coming in second due to size). Bottom, Dagen Duczek with a double board grab during his final run at Worlds (coming in second email due to size). Photos contributed

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