Aqaba to host Wakeboard World Cup next month

AMMAN — Jordan’s watersports enthusiasts will have the chance to experience wakeboarding at its best at the upcoming IWWF Jordan’s Ayla Cable Wakeboard World Cup, taking place next month at Ayla in Aqaba. 

In collaboration with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the event will witness the participation of more than 33 countries, a press release said on Monday. 

During a press conference held on Monday, Managing Director of Ayla Jordan Sahl Dudin announced the details of the 48th Wakeboard World Cup organised by the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF), which will take place during the period from May 10-12. 

“We are proud to host this international championship that will take place for the first time in Jordan and at Ayla in Aqaba with the participation of 50 riders from around the globe, competing for a $60,000 prize,” Dudin said. 

Dudin further noted that; hosting such international championships highlights Ayla’s ability to provide cutting-edge infrastructure to host world-class sporting events, in addition to promoting Jordan and Aqaba, 330km south of Amman, as premier destinations for large-scale events in the region. 

On the sidelines of the World Cup, visiting delegations will be introduced to Jordan’s “Tourism Triangle” (Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum) with Jordan Tourism Board-sponsored site visits, and will convey to the world their experience in Jordan through social media channels and through international media coverage of the international championship, according to the statement.

Chris White, director of operations at Ayla, said: “Ayla’s Wake Park, which was launched in May last year, has helped garner Jordan immense visibility within the global wakeboarding community and has drawn sports fans from around the globe to experience the seaside wonders of Aqaba.”

White noted that the Ayla Cable Wakeboard World Cup will take place on Ayla’s B12 Beach, and will feature Rixen cables extending as long as 442 metres. The Ayla Wake Park will provide all equipment and facilities necessary for the event, including obstacles, skis, cables and expansive areas for acrobatic displays. 

Key wakeboarding champions from around the globe are participating in the competition, including the winner of the Shanghai Cup Jula Rick and her opponent Sanne Meijer, German champion Ariano Blanik, and Dutch champion Sam de Haan, who currently ranks second on a global scale, the statement said. 

The launching ceremony of the tournament will take place at 5:00pm on May 9, while qualifying rounds will begin at 10:00am the following days, on May 10-11. Semifinals and finals will take place on May 12, leading up to the closing ceremony at 6:30pm later in the day, the statement added. 

Participating countries include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, China, Taipei China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan and Mexico, as well as The Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, the Republic of South Africa, Spain, Thailand and the US.