Raimi Merritt
Five Time World Cup Champion
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Bio
At 18, Raimi Merritt is one of the toughest competitors in women’s wakeboarding. Since her pro debut in September 2007, the five-time world cup champion has pushed the envelope on women’s wakeboarding and given other riders a run for their money.
In 2011, Raimi won her fifth consecutive IWWF Wakeboard World Cup title in four years, took gold at the IWWF Wakeboard World Championships in Italy, and claimed her first victory on the Pro Wakeboard Tour. USA Wakeboard named Raimi “Female Pro Rider of the Year” for 2010 and 2009; she was named the Queen of Wake’s “Rookie of the Year” in 2008.
ESPN’s Rise Magazine has called Raimi an “up-and-coming phenom in an up-and-coming sport... she is a world champion who’s redefining women’s professional wakeboarding as the youngest and most daring rider on the International Water Ski Federation tour.”
Raimi is the youngest daughter of former World Champion and professional barefoot water skier Steve Merritt. Raimi is following in her father’s footsteps--only with a wakeboard strapped to her feet. Raimi began competing at the age of 11.
She lives and trains in Orlando, Florida. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3 Global.
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Achievements
- 2011 - IWWF Wakeboard World Cup (China) - second place, pro women's division
- 2011 - IWWF Wakeboard World Cup (Malaysia) - first place, pro women's division
- 2011 - Pro Wakeboard Tour (Knoxville, TN) - first place, pro women's division
- 2011 - Pro Wakeboard Tour (Indianapolis, IN) - third place, pro women's division
- 2011 - IWWF Wakeboard World Championships (Italy) - first place, pro women's division
- 2011 - Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament - third place, pro women's division
- 2010 - IWWF Wakeboard World Cup (South Korea) - first place, pro women's division
- 2010 - WWA World Championships - third place, pro women's division
- 2010 - Pro Wakeboard Tour (Knoxville, TN) - third place, pro women's division
- 2010 - WWA Nationals - third place, pro women's divison
- 2010 - Pro Wakeboard Tour (Ft. Worth, TX) - second place, pro women's division
- 2010 - Board Up Miami - third place, pro women's division
- 2009 IWSF World Cup (China) - first place, pro women's division
- 2009 World Games - second place, pro women's division
- 2009 Wake Games - second place, pro women's division
- 2009 WWA Wake Park World Championships (Philippines) - second place, pro women's division
- 2008 IWSF World Cup (Qatar) - first place, pro women's division
- 2008 IWSF World Cup (Singapore) - third place, pro women's division
- 2008 IWSF World Cup (Egypt) - first place, pro women's division
- 2008 Pro Wakeboard Tour (Reno, NV) - third place, pro women's division
- 2008 Tigé Pro-Am Wakeboarding Championships - third place, pro women's division
- 2008 Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament - second place, pro women's division
- 2008 Board Up Miami/IWSF Pan American Wakeboard Championships - second place, pro women's division
- 2007 IWSF Wakeboard World Cup in Doha, Qatar - second place, pro women's division
- 2007 Tigé Pro/Am Championships - third place, pro women's division
- 2007 Wakeboard World Cup Singapore - second place, pro women's division
- 2007 WWA Girls World Wakeboard Champion
- 2007 USA Girls Wakeboard National Champion
- 2007 WWA Girls Wakeboard National Champion
- 2007 Wake Games - First place, girls division
- 2007 IWSF Girls Pan American Wakeboard Champion
- 2006 WWA Girls World Wakeboard Champion
- 2006 WWA Girls Wakeboard National Champion
- 2006 USA Girls Wakeboard National Champion
- 2006 Wake Games - First place - girls division
- 2005 AWA Girls National Wakeboard Champion
- 2005 Member of the World Champion USA Wakeboard Team
- 2004 WWA Girls National Wakeboard Champion
- 2004 AWA Girls National Champion
- 2004 Member of the World Champion USA Wakeboard Team
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- 2011 was a big year for Raimi Merritt as she won major competition titles on three continents, including a gold medal win at the World Championship in Milan Italy. And now for 2012, the years starts out with a bang as January/February issue of USA WaterSkier magazine features Raimi’s coaching article, “Add Variety to Your Wakeboard Training.”
- 2011 was a big year for Raimi Merritt as she won major competition titles on three continents, including a gold medal win at the World Championship in Milan Italy. And now for 2012, the years starts out with a bang as January/February issue of USA WaterSkier magazine features Raimi’s coaching article, “Add Variety to Your Wakeboard Training.”
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- Nov 14, 11
Reigning champion Raimi Merritt won her fifth consecutive world cup title this past weekend at
the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Wakeboard World Cup in
Kuching, Malaysia. With thousands of spectators lining the Kuching Waterfront, the 18-yearold
Florida native ran a nearly flawless ride in the finals to beat out fellow pro rider Amber
Wing.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) September 21, 2011 -- Reigning champion Raimi Merritt won her fifth consecutive
world cup title this past weekend at the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Wakeboard
World Cup in Kuching, Malaysia. With thousands of spectators lining the Kuching Waterfront, the 18-year-old
Florida native ran a nearly flawless ride in the finals to beat out fellow pro rider Amber Wing.
“The entire week in Malaysia was an amazing experience,” said Merritt. “The crowd was so supportive and the
competition was very intense.”
Merritt had trailed Wing in points on the Pro Wakeboard Tour for much of the 2011 season. But Merritt’s win at
the IWWF Wakeboard World Championships in Italy in July helped Merritt regain her confidence and
propelled another win at the final stop of the Pro Tour in Knoxville, Tenn., in August.
For the World Cup, Merritt won her heat in the semi-finals and was the number-one seeded rider going into the
finals. She electrified the crowd with several of her signature tricks, including her S-Bend, and earned 68.79
points. Wing finished in second place with 67.23 points. Japan's Miku Asai finished in third with 65.22 points.
The riders will compete again September 23-25 in China for the final IWWF Wakeboard World Cup stop of the
season.
Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and began competing when she was 11. She lives and trains in Orlando.
She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit:
www.raimimerritt.com. - Nov 14, 11
Though Raimi Merritt has racked up four World Cup titles in her pro career and is the reigning
IWWF Wakeboard World Champion, victory on the Pro Wakeboard Tour had eluded Merritt
until this past weekend. At the final stop of the 2011 Pro Wakeboard Tour in Knoxville, Tenn.,
Merritt clinched the top spot on the podium with a gutsy, flawless ride that included several big
tricks such as an S-Bend, Tootsie Roll, and two 540s.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) September 01, 2011 -- Though Raimi Merritt has racked up four World Cup titles in her
pro career and is the reigning IWWF Wakeboard World Champion, victory on the Pro Wakeboard Tour had
eluded Merritt until this past weekend. At the final stop of the 2011 Pro Wakeboard Tour in Knoxville, Tenn.,
Merritt clinched the top spot on the podium with a gutsy, flawless ride that included several big tricks such as
an S-Bend, Tootsie Roll, and two 540s.
“After three years of riding on the Pro Tour, it feels awesome to finally win,” said Merritt, 18. “I’ve been
working on my consistency, and I’m really grateful to see it pay off. It gives me more confidence going into
next year’s season.”
Next month, Merritt will defend her World Cup title at the IWWF Wakeboard World Cup Tour September 16-
18 in Malaysia and September 23-25 in China. As the reigning champion, Merritt has won four World Cup
titles in the last three years.
Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and began competing when she was 11. She lives and trains in Orlando.
She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit:
http://www.raimimerritt.com. - Nov 14, 11
18-year-old Raimi Merritt has proved once again that she's a formidable force in women's wakeboarding. At the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Wakeboard World Championships in Italy this past weekend, Merritt took two gold medals: an individual medal in the open women's division and a team medal for the U.S.Raimi Merritt performs an S-Bend at the Wakeboard World Championships in Milan, ItalyI went in with more confidence, believing in myself instead of dwelling on past contests, and it worked. I broke through that spell.Orlando, FL (PRWEB) July 20, 201118-year-old Raimi Merritt has proved once again that she's a formidable force in women's wakeboarding. At the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Wakeboard World Championships in Italy this past weekend, Merritt took two gold medals: an individual medal in the open women's division and a team medal for the U.S.
The IWWF's Wakeboard World Championships are considered to be the Olympic Games of wakeboarding with over 250 athletes competing from 38 countries. The event ran July 13-17 in Milan.
Leading up to the finals, Merritt won both of her heats in the quarter finals and semi-finals. Then on Sunday, Merritt went head to head with fellow pro rider Amber Wing, from Australia, who is currently ranked number one on the Pro Wakeboard Tour. Merritt finished with 65.24 points to Wing's score of 58.02.
“I felt awesome,” said Merritt about her performance in Italy. “It was the first contest this season that I didn’t fall in the finals. I went in with more confidence, believing in myself instead of dwelling on past contests, and it worked. I broke through that spell.”
Merritt's seven-point lead over Wing helped to edge out the Australian wakeboard team and secure a gold medal for the U.S. team. The U.S. topped the podium with 525 points while the Australians finished in second place with 435 points.
Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and began competing when she was 11. At age 12, she won her first gold medal in the girls' division of the IWWF's Wakeboard World Championships. Since turning pro in 2007 at age 14, Merritt has dominated the international wakeboarding scene, winning four IWWF World Cup titles. She lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: http://www.raimimerritt.com.
For more information about the Wakeboard World Championships, visit http://www.federazionescinautico.com. - Nov 14, 11
- April 28-May 1, Wake Games, Orlando, Florida
- May 21, Pro Wakeboard Tour, Acworth, Georgia
- June 4, Pro Wakeboard Tour, Ft. Worth, Texas
- June 11, Pro Wakeboard Tour, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- July 9, Pro Wakeboard Tour, Monroe, Washington (near Seattle)
- July 13-17, IWWF Wakeboard World Championships, Milan, Italy
- July 27-31, WWA National Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- August 18-21, WWA World Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana
- August 27-28, Pro Wakeboard Tour, Knoxville, Tennessee
- September 16-18, Wakeboard World Cup, Malaysia
- Nov 14, 11ORLANDO, FL [April 27, 2011]—This weekend, Orlando’s own Raimi Merritt begins her quest for pro wakeboarding’s Queen of Wake crown as the season gets underway with the first of eight contests. The Pro Wakeboard Tour opens with the Wake Games in Orlando, Fla., which will be held Apr. 28–May 1 at the Orlando Watersports Complex.Last year, Merritt, 18, finished third in the Queen of Wake series and then capped her season with stunning win at the World Cup Championships in ChunCheon, South Korea—her fourth World Cup title in three years. This year, Merritt hopes to edge out her competitors to take both the Queen of Wake crown and the World Cup title.But with eight stops on the Pro Wakeboard Tour—up from five last year—and a tight field of competitors who keep upping the ante in women’s wakeboarding, Merritt has her work cut out for her.Beginning with this weekend’s Wake Games, Merritt and the other top pro riders will zig-zag across the country to compete for prize money and points. The female wakeboarder with the most points will be crowned the Queen of Wake at the tour’s final stop in Knoxville, Tenn., Aug. 27-28. Other Pro Wakeboard Tour stops this season include Acworth, Ga., on May 21; Fort Worth, Tex., on June 4; Colorado Springs, Colo., on June 11; Monroe, Wash., on July 9, Minneapolis, Minn., on July 27-31 for the WWA Wakeboard National Championships; and Indianapolis, Ind., on Aug. 18-21 for the WWA Wakeboard World Championships. For more information about the Pro Wakeboard Tour, visit www.kingofwake.comMerritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and now lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11
CHUCHEON, South Korea [August 30, 2010]— Reigning World Cup champion Raimi Merritt defended her title on Monday to win her fourth World Cup in three years at the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup in ChunCheon, South Korea. The World Cup was held in conjunction with the World Leisure Games which included 13,000 competitors from 50 countries. The 17-year-old Merritt overcame the pressure of thousands of spectators looking on as she rode on Lake Uiam in ChunCheon. “What a way to end the 2010 season!” said Merritt.Nicola Butler and Amber Wing, who had finished ahead of Merritt at the previous weekend’s WWA World Championships in Orlando, went off the dock on Lake Uiam just before Merritt. “They’re both phenomenal riders and after watching them, I knew I had to give it everything I had to take the win. Opening up with two 540’s was gutsy, but I think it was my S-Bend, which was huge and clean, that probably clinched the gold,” said Merritt.By winning this year’s World Cup, Merritt remains the number-one ranked pro women’s wakeboarder by the International Waterski Wakeboard Federation.
“I was glad to have my sister Chloe and Dad with me in Korea. They really helped keep my head in the game. They also made runs to get me pizza all weekend so my stomach would stay calm—and finding pizza while competing in Asian countries is a tough job to do,” said Merritt.Merritt will finish the 2010 season in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the WWA Wake Park National Cable Championships September 17-19.Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and now lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com. - Nov 14, 11
ORLANDO, FL [August 24, 2010]—17-year-old pro wakeboarder and Florida native Raimi Merritt rode through a downpour on Sunday to finish third at the WWA World Championships in Orlando.
"In the semi-finals, I rode really well. I had a clean run, I did everything I wanted to do, and I won my heat," said Merritt. "But for the finals, it was pouring rain, and I couldn’t see very well. I did well with some of my tricks, but I fell on the transfer switch and a wildcard trick. I wanted to ride better."World Championships marked the final event for the five-stop 2010 Queen of Wake series. Merritt's third-place finish secured her number-three ranking in this year's Queen of Wake.
This week, Merritt flies to Chuncheon, Korea, where she will compete in the IWSF Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup August 28-30 to defend her World Cup title. The reigning champion has won three World Cup titles in the last two years. Merritt returns to the international competition with a repertoire of many more difficult tricks off the wake."I'm excited to see what tricks the other competitors have been practicing, and how what I've been working on in the last year will place me in the ranking," said Merritt.After the World Cup, Merritt will finish the 2010 season in Dallas, Texas at the WWA Wake Park National Championships September 17-19.Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and now lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com. - Nov 14, 11
ORLANDO, FL [August 17, 2010]—Women’s pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt will compete in her home state this weekend for the WWA World Championships in Orlando, Florida. The event is the fifth and final stop for the Queen of Wake series, where the winner of the all-female pro wakeboarding circuit will be crowned.
Coming off a third-place finish at last weekend’s Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Knoxville, Tennessee, Merritt is currently ranked third in the Queen of Wake point standings with 325 points. She narrowly trails Nicola Butler and Amber Wing, who have 355 and 340 points, respectively. The 17-year-old Merritt hopes to close the point gap with a win at the World Championships.
“I feel really good going into the World Championships,” said Merritt. I’m riding the best I’ve ever ridden, and I have all the tricks and qualities I need to win this event. I just need to focus and ride with the same consistency I have outside of the tournaments.”
The World Championships run August 19-22 at the Orlando Watersports Complex. The finals for the pro women’s division will be held Sunday afternoon.
Following the World Championships, Merritt will compete next at the IWSF Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup in Chuncheon, Korea. She'll finish the season in Dallas, Texas at the U.S. Wake Park Nationals September 17-19.
Merritt is a three-time IWSF World Cup Champion. She grew up in Lantana, Florida and now lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com. - Nov 14, 11
ORLANDO, FL [July 19, 2010]— At the WWA Wakeboard National Championships this past weekend in Reno, Nevada, pro rider Raimi Merritt took the third spot on the podium and held fast to her second place overall standing in the Queen of Wake series.The 17-year-old from Orlando, Florida led both of her quarter-final and semi-final heats with strong rides, but she trailed Nicola Butler and Amber Wing in the finals. Merritt’s third-place finish brought her point total for the Queen of Wake series up to 245.Merritt is a three-time ISWF World Cup Champion and the 2008 Rookie of the Year. She’ll compete next at the Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Knoxville, Tennessee in August.Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and now lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com. - Nov 14, 11ORLANDO, FL [June 15, 2010]—17-year-old Raimi Merritt took second place in the Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Fort Worth, Texas this past weekend.Leading up to the event, Merritt had been working on rails and riding well, but a poor run in the semi-finals nearly cost her the chance to advance to the finals. Fellow competitor Dallas Friday injured her knee upon landing the final trick of her run in the semi-finals and had to be taken to a local hospital. Five women advanced to the finals, while Friday was forced her to sit out due to the injury.For Merritt, it was a chance to prove her skills on the rails and behind the boat. She pulled off her signature s-bend, a tootsie, a scarecrow, a 911, and a wrapped KGB among others, landing the second spot on the podium.Merritt is a three-time IWSF World Cup Champion, winning gold in China in 2009 and in Egypt and Qatar in 2008. She is currently in second place in the Queen of Wake point standings. She’ll compete next for the National Championship title at the WWA Nationals in July in Reno, Nevada.Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and now lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11ORLANDO, FL [October 8, 2009]—In a stunning upset victory, 16-year-old Raimi Merritt beat out the world’s top women riders to win gold at the IWSF Wakeboard World Cup Championships in Liuzhou, China last weekend. The competitors for the prestigious, invitation-only event included X Games and World Champion Dallas Friday (USA), former World Champion Amber Wing (AUS), Queen of Wake Pro Tour Champion Nicola Butler (GBR), and Asia/Australasia Champion Chen LiLi (CHN).Despite the challenging water conditions of the Liu River and the pressure of 50,000 spectators, Merritt lead each of her qualifying heats to secure the last start off of the dock in the final round. Top-seeded rider Dallas Friday performed well in the finals, scoring 60.69, but Merritt’s two passes in the finals were flawless. Her first pass included a 911, front roll, heel-side grab, a toe five, and a heel three. Her second pass featured an s-bend, toe-side back roll, tantrum, scarecrow, and wrapped KGB. The tricks earned her a score of 62.78 and the women’s Wakeboard World Cup title.Merritt was surprised by her performance. “Getting first place was amazing,” said Merritt. “The water was really rolling and rough because of other boats and the backwash on the river. I was last in both the semis and the finals, so I had the privilege of watching the other girls ride before me. It looked pretty bad out there, but once you were actually out on the water, it was even worse. I just watched and saw what the girls did. I knew what I needed to do if I wanted to get the gold, so I went out there and tried my best and pulled it together.”Merritt’s win in China marks her third World Cup title since turning pro two years ago. In 2008, the teenager took gold at IWSF World Cups in Qatar and Egypt. This past year, Merritt also took second place in the World Games in Taiwan, the Wake Games in Orlando, and the WWA Wake Park World Championships in the Philippines.Merritt grew up in Lantana, Florida and now lives and trains in Orlando. She is sponsored by Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN [July 29, 2009] — Pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt narrowly missed winning gold last weekend at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The 16-year-old from Lantana, Florida, finished seven-tenths of a point behind Dallas Friday to take home the silver medal.“It was an amazing experience for me at the World Games,” said Merritt. “To be able to fly across the world and wakeboard on an amazing lake with all those spectators was awesome. I have never seen so many people in a stadium before. And getting second place by seven-tenths of a point was pretty crazy. I’m going to cherish this experience because who knows if I’ll ever get a chance to go or do something like that again.”Merritt and Friday were the only two women wakeboarders selected to represent the United Sates at the 2009 World Games, which were held July 16-26. Selections were based on overall world rankings and availability. The World Games is held every four years and showcases sports not contested in the Olympics.Merritt will compete next at the Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Reno, Nevada, August 14-16, and then the WWA World Championships in Orlando, Florida, August 27-30.Merritt trains in Orlando, Florida, with her coach, Mike Ferraro. She is sponsored by Mastercraft, Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3 Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.For more information about the World Games, visit: http://www.worldgames2009.tw
- Nov 14, 11KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN [July 24, 2009]—Pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt won her heat Wednesday at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and became the second woman ever to land an S-bend in competition. The 16-year-old from Lantana, Florida, will advance to the finals on Saturday, where she’ll compete against Dallas Friday and other female riders for the gold medal.Merritt and Friday were the only two women wakeboarders selected to represent the United Sates at the 2009 World Games. Selections were based on overall world rankings and availability. The World Games is held every for years and showcases sports not contested in the Olympics.Following the World Games, Merritt will compete at the Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Reno, Nevada, August 14-16, and then the WWA World Championships in Orlando, Florida, August 27-30.Merritt trains in Orlando, Florida, with her coach, Mike Ferraro. She is sponsored by Mastercraft, Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3 Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.For more information about the World Games, visit: http://www.worldgames2009.tw
- Nov 14, 11ORLANDO, FL [May 21, 2009]-- Sixteen-year-old pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt is set to compete this weekend at the 50 th Anniversary Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament. The prestigious, invitation-only event will be held May 22-24, in Callaway Gardens, Georgia.Merritt, who was named “Rookie of the Year” last season, just entered her second year as a pro rider and has quickly become a serious contender for the podium. Last month, Merritt finished second at the Wake Games in Orlando, Florida--just one point behind Friday. At the World Cup stops in Qatar and Egypt last season, Merritt beat out Friday for two first place wins. Merritt is currently ranked number two behind Friday in the pro women’s Queen of Wake standings.On May 29-31, Merritt will compete at the Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Ft. Worth, Texas. Then in July, she’ll compete at the WWA National Championships in Oklahoma City and the 2009 World Games in Kaoshiung, China, where she is only one of three wakeboarders selected to represent the Unites States.Merritt trains in Orlando, Florida, with her coach, Mike Ferraro. She is sponsored by Mastercraft, Hyperlite, MonaVie, and R3 Global. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.For more information about the Master Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament and to watch Merritt ride on the Masters’ live web cast visit: www.masterswaterski.com.
- Nov 14, 11ORLANDO, FL [March 19, 2009]--On Monday, pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt became the first woman to land an S-bend behind a boat. Next week, the 15-year-old from Lantana, Florida, hopes to land the trick in competition at the WWA Wake Park World Championships. The tournament, which is the first for the 2009 season, will be held March 25-29 in the Philippines.Merritt has been practicing the S-bend behind a cable for the past two months, but on Monday, she set out to try the trick behind a boat and landed it on her second try. Merritt describes the trick as an Air Raley with a 360˚ turn. “It feels so cool when you’re in the air,” said Merritt.In addition to the S-bend, Merritt has been practicing a host of other new tricks which she hopes to incorporate into her repertoire and continue to push the envelope on women’s wakeboarding.In other news, Merritt was recently selected as one of only three wakeboarders from the U.S. to compete at the 2009 World Games in Kaoshiung, China in July.Merritt also recently made her screen debut in the scripted action sports film, “Ride the Wake,” which is the story of an up-and-coming female wakeboard star. The film is now available on DVD from Best Buy, FYE, Amazon.com, Buy.com and Netflix.Merritt is the youngest of the pro women wakeboarders. She capped off her rookie season last November with a with a stunning first-place victory at the IWSF Wakeboard World Cup Championships in Doha, Qatar, and was named MonaVie’s “Rookie of the Year” by the World Wakeboard Association.Merritt trains in Orlando, Florida, with her coach, Mike Ferraro. She is sponsored by Mastercraft, Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [August 19, 2008]--Rookie pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt beat out Dallas Friday and Shelby Kantar for the gold medal at the ISWF World Cup in Egypt on August 15. Merritt’s first place finish was her first for the 2008 season.The ISWF World Cup was to be held at Hacienda Bay Beach on the Mediterranean Sea, but rough conditions prompted a last-minute change of venue. Riders were brought inland to a man-made lagoon at Palm Hills Development, where the riders themselves constructed an impromptu obstacle course, making a jump out of two floating pontoon docks stacked on top of each other and rails out a variety of poles. "The whole thing was kind of sketchy," said Merritt.The improvised jump and rails proved challenging, as Merritt watched as other riders fell or failed to hit the rails. "The pro women only had one run, so I planned ahead, and luckily, I managed to do better than anyone else," said Merritt. "It was pretty exciting."Next, Merritt competes at the WWA World Championships in Oklahoma September 4-7, the IWSF World Cup in Singapore October 10-12, and the IWSF World Cup in Qatar November 13-16.She remains the frontrunner for MonaVie’s Queen of Wake Rookie of the Year Award, which is a $2,500 cash bonus prize given to the most outstanding female rider of rookie status competing in the Queen of Wake series. The winner will be announced this fall.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [August 11, 2008]—Queen of Wake’s Rookie of the Year frontrunner Raimi Merritt proved she’s a rising contender this weekend at the 2008 WWA Wakeboard National Championships, which ran August 6-10 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.Battling high winds, choppy water, and tough competition, Merritt, 15, upset five-time national champion Dallas Friday in the semifinals Saturday to claim the top spot in her heat and become the top-seeded rider going into Sunday’s finals.“It was the first time this year that I led my heat, so I was pretty stoked about it,” said Merritt. She was also excited to take the lead for the first time over Friday, who Merritt had always looked up to as a younger wakeboarder.But unfortunately the cold, windy conditions got the best of Merritt in the finals, and she fell three times. She finished fourth behind Amber Wing, Shelby Kantar, and Friday. Merritt was disappointed with her performance in the finals, but said “It was still fun.”Later this week, Merritt will compete at the IWSF World Cup in Egypt, which runs August 13-15. She is also scheduled to compete at the WWA World Championships in September, the IWSF World Cup Singapore in October, and the IWSF World Cup in Qatar in November.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [July 14, 2008]—At the Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Reno, Nevada this weekend, rookie pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt nabbed the third spot on the podium behind Emily Copeland-Durham and Nicola Butler.Climbing up in the ranks, Merritt now stands fifth overall in the Queen of Wake series and is in the running for Monavie’s Queen of Wake Rookie of the Year Award. The award is a $2,500 cash bonus prize given to the most outstanding female rider of rookie status competing in the Queen of Wake series.Next month, Merritt will compete at the WWA National Championships in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and the IWSF World Cup in Egypt.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [June 26, 2008]—Coming off a third-place win at the Tigé Pro-Am Wakeboard Championships in Portland, Oregon last weekend, rookie pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt is looking for a repeat performance at this weekend’s Pro Wakeboard Tour stop at the Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona, June 28-29.The youngest of the pro female wakeboarders, Merritt, 15, is giving the older pro riders a run for their money. She is currently ranked sixth among the pro women and is in the running for Monavie’s Queen of Wake Rookie of the Year Award. The award is a $2,500 cash bonus prize given to the most outstanding female rider of rookie status competing in the Queen of Wake series.Merritt will arrive in Phoenix a day early on Friday to practice on the sliders at the Firebird Raceway and add to her repertoire of tricks in an effort to up the ante for this weekend’s competition among the pro women.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [June 18, 2008]— Fifteen-year-old pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt is looking to land a spot on the podium for this weekend’s Tigé Pro-Am Wakeboard Championships in Portland, Oregon. The young rookie, who just turned pro last September, has been heating up the competition among older, more experienced female riders and is in the running for Monavie’s Queen of Wake Rookie of the Year Award.At last year’s Tigé Pro-Am Wakeboard Championships in Mexico in October, Merritt finished third behind Dallas Friday and Emily Copeland-Durham. She is confident she can do it again. “I’ve been practicing my tricks really hard all week, and I’m really excited,” said Merritt.Last month, Merritt took second place at the prestigious Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament in Callaway Gardens, Georgia just three points behind Dallas Friday. Earlier this year, Merritt finished second at Board Up Miami for the IWSF Pan American Wakeboard Championships behind Emily Copeland-Durham.Merritt is in the running for MonaVie’s inaugural Queen of Wake Rookie of the Year Award, which is a $2,500 cash bonus prize given to the most outstanding female rider of rookie status competing in the Queen of Wake series. The Tigé Pro-Am Wakeboard Championships in Portland is the fifth of nine stops on the series tour.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [May 27, 2008]—After an injury kept her out of the Wake Games last month, rookie pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt roared back onto the water with a stunning second place finish this weekend at the Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament. The prestigious, invitation-only event was held May 23-25, in Callaway Gardens, Georgia. Merritt finished just three points behind the pro women's division leader, Dallas Friday.Merritt, who just turned 15 in April, is the youngest of the pro women wakeboarders and one of the most promising. Her coach, Mike Ferraro, believes she has the ability to be among the best in the sport. Since turning pro last September, she's been heating up the competition among older, more experienced female riders.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [April 14, 2008]—Rookie pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt landed the second spot on the podium behind Emily Copeland-Durham at the 2008 Board Up Miami/IWSF Pan American Wakeboard Championships in Key Biscayne, Florida.The event, which ran April 10-13 at Marine Stadium Basin, marked the start of the 2008 wakeboard tournament season.The 14-year-old from Lantana, Florida, is the youngest of the pro women wakeboarders and one of the most promising. Despite having only turned pro in September 2007, Merritt has given the other pro riders a run for their money. She finished second against Dallas Friday at the IWSF Wakeboard World Cup in Doha, Qatar, and third at both the Tigé Pro/Am Championships and Wakeboard World Cup Singapore last fall.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com. For information on Board Up Miami, visit www.board-up.net.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [April 9, 2008]—Rookie pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt will be one to watch this weekend as the 2008 wakeboarding season gets underway at Board Up Miami.The 14-year-old from Lantana, Florida, is the youngest of the pro women wakeboarders and one of the most promising. Despite having only turned pro in September 2007, Merritt has given the other pro riders a run for their money by landing spots on the podium in each of the three pro tournaments she’s competed in thus far--including a second place finish against Dallas Friday at the IWSF Wakeboard World Cup in Doha, Qatar last November.The Board Up Miami event runs April 10-13 at Marine Stadium Basin in Key Biscayne, Florida. Round-one of the pro heats begins on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The finals begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com. For information on Board Up Miami, visit www.board-up.net.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [November 7, 2007]— Rookie pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt capped off a triumphant year last weekend with second place finish against Dallas Friday at the IWSF Wakeboard World Cup at the Diplomatic Club on the Arabian Gulf in Doha, Qatar. As a newcomer to the pro circuit, Merritt was seeded last among the eight pro women competitors, but as a two-time world champion and the winner of over a dozen amateur titles, she quickly rose through the heats to take home the silver.“The competition at the World Cup was really tough, but I’m really happy with my finish,” said Merritt. “It’s so exciting to be competing against the pro riders that I’ve always looked up to.”The 14-year-old from Lantana, Florida, is the youngest of the pro women wakeboarders and one of the most promising. Despite having only turned pro in September, Merritt has given the other pro riders a run for their money by landing spots on the podium in each of the three pro tournaments she’s competed in thus far.In addition to her success as a pro, Merritt racked up nearly every major girls division amateur title in 2007, including the WWA World and National Wakeboard Championships for the second year in a row.Merritt is now looking forward to the 2008 tournament season and turning some of her silver and bronze pro wins into gold.Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, Girls4Sport, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
- Nov 14, 11LANTANA, FL [September 24, 2007]--Watch out, Dallas Friday. In the first pro tournament of her career, 14-year-old Raimi Merritt gave Friday a run for her money at the invitation-only Wakeboard World Cup 2007 in Singapore, snagging second place behind Friday--the most decorated female in wakeboarding's history.
Merritt was one of only ten female riders in the world invited to compete at the event, which ran September 22-23 at the Bedok Reservoir in Singapore and attracted a crowd of 20,000 people. She was also the youngest, but age was no matter for Merritt, who won both of her heats before advancing to the finals."I rode well both days," said Merritt. "I stuck my pass perfectly in the semi finals, then I was a little sketchy in the finals, but I still stuck everything. It was really exciting to ride pro for the first time and have the chance to compete against Dallas Friday. I’m really happy with my finish."Merritt's impressive finish at the Wakeboard World Cup in Singapore comes on the tail of an equally impressive season in which she's racked up six first-place victories so far, including winning the WWA Girls' World Wakeboard Championship title for the second year in a row.October 19-21, Merritt heads to Cancun, Mexico for the Tige Pro-Am Wakeboard Championships. Then October 30- November 2, Merritt is off to the ISWF World Championships in Doha, Qatar where she will ride as a member of the USA Wakeboard Team and try to capture her second individual world championship title for the season.
Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, Girls4Sport, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear. For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
