The event drew 86 athletes from 11 countries, including Japan, Tunisia, South Korea, Zimbabwe, Portugal, Israel, China, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Belarus, and Russia. Competitors showcased their skills in both wakesurfing and wakeskiing, across professional (Pro) and amateur (Amateur) categories, demonstrating the sport's global appeal and growing diversity.
Shields praised the organization and atmosphere of the Moscow event, emphasizing that “the political situation cannot influence the decision to hold the competition.”
He reaffirmed the association's commitment to inclusivity in sport, stating, “We don't suspend athletes if they don't violate the rules of the association. If someone wants to involve politics, be my guest. But we have a more important task here – sport.”
Alexander Vainshtein, President of the Russian Surfing Federation, echoed this sentiment, noting the high standard of international competitions in Russia since 2019.
“The international competitions were held at the highest level and brought together athletes and spectators from different parts of the world: both from Asia and Europe. The Wakesurf Cup 2024 was a true sporting event where the strongest wins,” Vainshtein remarked, highlighting the event’s festive atmosphere, complete with sun, water, and vibrant festival activities.
Russian athletes dominated the podium in the wakesurfing disciplines. Among the women, Tatyana Dobryakova, Veronika Prokopyeva, and Yulia Smirnova stood out, while the men’s competition saw Stepan Gordanov, Nikita Shamakhanov, and Sergey Danilov claim top spots.
In wakeskiing, Kristina Kolesnikova of Russia, Sun Hwa Kim of Korea, and Alexandra Tunenko of Russia excelled among the women, with Russian Stanislav Korolkov, Japanese Kenta Nakayama, and Sergey Danilov leading the men's category.
Notable attendees included Rodion Plitukhin, Secretary General of the Russian Olympic Committee, San Han Jung, President of the Wakesurfing Federation in Korea, and actress Snezhana Samokhina.
Anastasia Zakharova and Master of Sport Alexandra Tunenko, key figures in the Russian wakesurfing scene, served as the main judges, further solidifying the event’s prestige and professionalism.