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.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Raimi Merritt Wins Final Pro Wakeboard Tour Stop in Knoxville
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.
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.
Raimi Merritt Wins Wakeboard World Championships in Italy
I 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, 2011
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.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.
Tournaments for 2011:
- 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
Pro Wakeboarder Raimi Merritt Begins Quest for Queen of Wake Crown This Weekend
ORLANDO, 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.com
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.
Reigning World Cup Champion Wakeboarder Raimi Merritt Defends Her Title, Wins World Cup
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.
“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.
Merritt Takes Third in Orlando; Will Defend World Cup Title in Korea this Weekend
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."
"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.
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.
Merritt Looks to Win Wakeboard World Championships in Orlando
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.
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.
Merritt Takes Third at WWA Wakeboard Nationals in Reno
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.
Merritt Finishes Second at Pro Wakeboard Stop in Ft. Worth
ORLANDO, 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.
Teen Wakeboarder Merritt Wins World Cup Title in Upset Victory
ORLANDO, 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.
Merritt wins silver at World Games in Taiwan
KAOHSIUNG, 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
Merritt becomes second woman ever to land an S-bend in competition
KAOHSIUNG, 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
Number-two ranked pro wakeboarder Merritt to compete at Masters Tournament
ORLANDO, 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.
Merritt becomes first female wakeboarder to land S-bend behind boat
ORLANDO, 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.
Merritt wins gold at ISWF World Cup in Egypt
LANTANA, 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.
Merritt proves she's a rising contender in pro women’s wakeboarding
LANTANA, 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.
Merritt finishes third at Pro Wakeboard Tour in Reno
LANTANA, 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.
Wakeboarder Merritt finishes third in Portland; looks for repeat performance in Phoenix
LANTANA, 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.
Merritt in the running for Queen of Wake’s Rookie of the Year Award
LANTANA, 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.
Merritt takes second behind Friday at Masters Tournament
LANTANA, 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.
Rookie pro rider Merritt takes second place at Board Up Miami
LANTANA, 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.
Rookie pro rider Merritt is one to watch at Board Up Miami
LANTANA, 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.
Pro wakeboarder Raimi Merritt caps off 2007 season with a silver medal at World Cup in Qatar
LANTANA, 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.
Wakeboarder Raimi Merritt finishes second only to Dallas Friday in first pro tournament of her career
LANTANA, 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.
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.
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.
Girls' wakeboard champ Raimi Merritt wins second consecutive world title
LANTANA, FL [August 28, 2007]--Rising teen wakeboard star Raimi Merritt, 14, captured her second consecutive world championship title last weekend at the WWA World Wakeboard Championships in Reno, Nevada. She led the girls' division for two days in a row, scoring well ahead of her competitors.
Merritt's win is her sixth first-place victory for the season, and now she's looking to collect three more. Next month, she will compete against pro riders at the invitation-only Wakeboard World Cup Singapore 2007, which runs September 22-23 at the Bedok Reservoir in Singapore. Merritt is one of only 10 female riders to be invited. She earned her invitation with her win at the USA Wakeboard Nationals in Dayton, Ohio in August.
In October, she 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's coach, Mike Ferraro, describes Merritt as "fearless" and believes there is no limit to what she can do. "She's one of the very few girls I've coached who are really willing to work hard," said Ferraro. "She has the drive, she can deal with the pain, and she's getting great support from her family. As long as she stays healthy and keeps listening, she's going to go a long way--the sky's the limit for her."
Merritt, who first began wakeboarding six years ago at the age of nine, plans to turn pro next year. She 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.
Wakeboard world champ Raimi Merritt sets sights on winning back-to-back national and world championship tournaments
LANTANA, FL [August 17, 2007]--Fourteen-year-old wakeboarding extraordinaire Raimi Merritt has already nabbed four first-place wins this season and is looking to collect two more this month in back-to-back tournaments: the USA Wakeboard Nationals and the WWA World Wakeboard Championships.
This weekend, Merritt competes at the USA Wakeboard Nationals at Eastwood Lake Metro Park in Dayton, Ohio, August 18 – 19, where she'll defend last year's first place win and work to secure her spot on the USA Wakeboard Team. Team members selected at the tournament will compete at the ISWF World Championships in Doha, Qatar in October. Merritt has been selected for the USA Wakeboard Team every year since she was 11.
Next week, Merritt heads to the WWA World Wakeboard Championships to defend her title as the reigning girls' division world champion. The tournament runs August 23 – 26 at Sparks Marina near Reno, Nevada.
Merritt is excited and ready for both tournaments. Under the watchful eye of her coach, Mike Ferraro, Merritt has been progressing quickly this year. "Something just clicked for me this summer," said Merritt. "I started learning tricks faster. I'm getting much more comfortable with the wake, and so instead just doing flips, I'm doing spins with flips. I'm gaining more consistency with my tricks, perfecting my Heelside Five and KGB Wrap, and learning new tricks."
Merritt began wakeboarding at the age of nine and won the very first WWA National Championship she competed at in 2004. She's been on top of the awards podium ever since. Merritt's goals for 2007 are to win the IWSF World Championships in Qatar in October and turn pro next year.
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.
Reigning girls' wakeboard champ Raimi Merritt wins Wake Games’ first place title for second year
LANTANA, FL [June 27, 2007]--Girls' wakeboarding World Champion Raimi Meritt captured her third WWA National Championship this past weekend in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Merritt rode two flawless heats just three weeks after having a cast removed following an ankle injury.
Merritt, 14, caught the eye of many spectators at the tournament including the announcers, who asked her on the podium when she would be turning pro. "I want to enjoy this season and get my tricks consistent," Merritt told them. "I have a few tricks I need to learn and I need to get better on the rails. My goal is to turn pro next year." She also thanked her dad, former World Champion barefoot water skier Steve Merritt, for bringing her to the Nationals on his birthday.
Raimi now has her eyes set on the USA Wakeboard Nationals (another wakeboard organization) which will be held July 12-15, 2007 in Syracuse, New York.
Merritt began wakeboarding at the age of nine and has dominated the awards podium winning the very first WWA National Championship she competed at in 2004. She trains with two of the best wakeboarding coaches in the industry: Mike Ferraro and Dean Lavelle and has been a member on the USA World Championship Wakeboard Team since she was eleven years old. Merritt's goals for 2007 are to win the IWSF World Championships in Qatar in October and rack up enough tricks in her arsenal to turn pro next year.
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.
Reigning girls' wakeboard champ Raimi Merritt wins third WWA National Championship
LANTANA, FL [May 1, 2007]--Wakeboarding world champion Raimi Merritt blew the competition out of the water and captured the girls' first place title for the second year in a row at the 2007 Air Nautique Wake Games in Orlando, Florida. The tournament, which was held April 26-29 at the Orlando Watersports Complex, was the first of professional wakeboarding's King of Wake series.
On the first day of the girls' competition, Merritt had a clean ride, landing all of her tricks. But during the final heat the next day, she overcame a fall and still managed to finish well ahead of her competitors. "I fell on my heelside backroll, which is one of my easiest tricks, but despite that, the pass still went well, and I ended it by landing a big toe-side 540˚--one of my most difficult tricks," said Merritt.
The Wake Games title is Merritt's second straight win for the season. In March, she claimed the 2007 IWSF Girls' Pan American Championship title. Merritt won every tournament she competed in last year--including the 2006 WWA World Championships--and has her eye set on a repeat performance for this year. She competes next at the prestigious, invitation-only Masters Tournament in Callaway Gardens, Georgia, May 25-27.
Merritt, who began wakeboarding at the age of nine, has dominated the awards podium from the start, winning the very first WWA National Championship she competed at in 2004. She trains with two of the best wakeboarding coaches in the industry--Mike Ferraro and Dean Lavelle--and has been a member on the USA World Championship Wakeboard Team since she was eleven years old. Merritt's goals for 2007 are to win the IWSF World Championships in Qatar in October and rack up enough tricks in her arsenal to turn pro next year.
Merritt is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, Girls4Sport, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear.
Reigning girls' wakeboarding World Champ Raimi Merritt riding high as 2007 tournament season gets underway
LANTANA, FL [April 23, 2007]--Fourteen-year-old girls' wakeboarding World Champion Raimi Merritt won every tournament she competed in last year and is well on her way to repeating that feat again this year. In March, she claimed the 2007 IWSF Girls Pan American Championship title for the second year in a row, finishing well ahead of all other competitors. This week, she'll compete at the Wake Games in Orlando, Florida to defend last year's first place title. The Wake Games run April 26 – 29, 2007 at the Orlando Watersports Complex.
Merritt trains with two of the best coaches in the industry, Mike Ferraro and Dean Lavelle. They both believe this motivated high-flying kid from Lantana, Florida is one to watch. Mike Ferraro, who has coached many of the top names in wakeboarding, recently described Raimi as "fearless." "She's one of the very few girls I've coached who are really willing to work hard," said Ferraro. "She has the drive, she can deal with the pain, and she's getting great support from her family. As long as she stays healthy and keeps listening, she's going to go a long way--the sky's the limit for her."
Dean Lavelle, a four-time world champion who runs a wakeboarding school in Pompano Beach, Florida, said, "If Raimi continues at the pace she's going, with her attitude and her talent, she definitely has the potential to be the very best. She's that motivated."
Merritt, who began wakeboarding at the age of nine, has dominated the awards podium from the start, winning the very first WWA National Championship she competed at in 2004. In 2006, she racked up every major title including the WWA Girls World Wakeboard Championship, WWA Girls National Wakeboard Championship, and USA Girls National Wakeboard Championship. She's been a member on the USA World Championship Wakeboard Team since she was eleven years old. Merritt's goals for 2007 are to win the IWSF World Championships in Qatar in October and rack up enough tricks in her arsenal to turn pro next year.
Merritt's current sponsors are Liquid Force Wakeboards, Girls4Sport, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear.
Teen takes tour by storm
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
By Sharon Robb
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
September 3, 2008
LANTANA
With her fresh-scrubbed looks, outgoing personality and killer heelside backroll trick,
Raimi Merritt is about to become wakeboarding's new "It Girl."
The Lantana teenager, who turned pro last September, has all but clinched rookie of the
year honors her first year on the pro tour at age 15.
"You can get good really fast in this sport if you put the work in," said Merritt, the tour's
youngest pro.
"It's a lot of fun, and you get to travel everywhere. I never thought I would be this good
this early."
Merritt is scheduled to compete at this week's WWA Wakeboard Championships that
begin Thursday on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City. The event is the last in the
King of Wake/Queen of Wake Series. Merritt competes Saturday and Sunday.
Win or lose, Merritt will be awarded MonaVie's inaugural Queen of Wake Rookie of the
Year Award, a $2,500 cash bonus given to the most outstanding rookie female competing
in the Queen of Wake series.
"She had the rookie title at the halfway point of the tour," said Mike Ferraro, her
Orlando-based coach.
Since her first wakeboard victory at age 11 at the 2004 Tommy's South Florida
Wakeboard Tour, Merritt has been a natural on and off the water.
"The advantage of being so young as a pro is the experience down the road," said her
father, Steve, a former world champion water skier.
Merritt has won every major competition she has entered, including a world pro title.
If she were on the pro tennis or golf tour, she would be raking in endorsements and fat
prize money checks.
Merritt is home-schooled, which allows flexibility to train and compete.
She trains Monday through Wednesday at the Orlando Water Sports Complex, leaves
Thursday for competitions and returns home Sunday night.
Expenses for a pro wakeboarder average $50,000, including travel, coaching and personal
training. Because of her age, Raimi travels with a chaperone — her sister and manager
Mia, who handles most of her scheduling and appearances.
Merritt comes from an athletic family. Her father was a world barefoot skiing champion.
Her two sisters, Mia, 20, and Chloe, 17, and brother Blake, 11, are all athletic. The family
lives on a lake where it can wakeboard or ski.
"We were waiting for her to blossom and then boom," Ferraro said. "She's on the radar
now."
Sharon Robb can be reached at srobb@SunSentinel.com.
Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
By Sharon Robb
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
September 3, 2008
LANTANA
With her fresh-scrubbed looks, outgoing personality and killer heelside backroll trick,
Raimi Merritt is about to become wakeboarding's new "It Girl."
The Lantana teenager, who turned pro last September, has all but clinched rookie of the
year honors her first year on the pro tour at age 15.
"You can get good really fast in this sport if you put the work in," said Merritt, the tour's
youngest pro.
"It's a lot of fun, and you get to travel everywhere. I never thought I would be this good
this early."
Merritt is scheduled to compete at this week's WWA Wakeboard Championships that
begin Thursday on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City. The event is the last in the
King of Wake/Queen of Wake Series. Merritt competes Saturday and Sunday.
Win or lose, Merritt will be awarded MonaVie's inaugural Queen of Wake Rookie of the
Year Award, a $2,500 cash bonus given to the most outstanding rookie female competing
in the Queen of Wake series.
"She had the rookie title at the halfway point of the tour," said Mike Ferraro, her
Orlando-based coach.
Since her first wakeboard victory at age 11 at the 2004 Tommy's South Florida
Wakeboard Tour, Merritt has been a natural on and off the water.
"The advantage of being so young as a pro is the experience down the road," said her
father, Steve, a former world champion water skier.
Merritt has won every major competition she has entered, including a world pro title.
If she were on the pro tennis or golf tour, she would be raking in endorsements and fat
prize money checks.
Merritt is home-schooled, which allows flexibility to train and compete.
She trains Monday through Wednesday at the Orlando Water Sports Complex, leaves
Thursday for competitions and returns home Sunday night.
Expenses for a pro wakeboarder average $50,000, including travel, coaching and personal
training. Because of her age, Raimi travels with a chaperone — her sister and manager
Mia, who handles most of her scheduling and appearances.
Merritt comes from an athletic family. Her father was a world barefoot skiing champion.
Her two sisters, Mia, 20, and Chloe, 17, and brother Blake, 11, are all athletic. The family
lives on a lake where it can wakeboard or ski.
"We were waiting for her to blossom and then boom," Ferraro said. "She's on the radar
now."
Sharon Robb can be reached at srobb@SunSentinel.com.
Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Merritt the new "It" girl of wakeboarding
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Sharon Robb, staff writer
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
LANTANA
With her fresh-scrubbed looks, outgoing personality and killer heelside backroll trick,
Raimi Merritt is about to become wakeboarding's new "It Girl."
The Lantana teenager, who turned pro last September, has all but clinched rookie of the
year honors her first year on the pro tour at age 15.
"You can get good really fast in this sport if you put the work in," said Merritt, the tour's
youngest pro. "It's a lot of fun and you get to travel everywhere. I never thought I would
be this good this early."
Merritt will compete at this week's WWA Wakeboard Championships that begin
Thursday on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City. The event is the last in the King of
Wake/Queen of Wake Series. Merritt competes Saturday and Sunday.
Win or lose, Merritt will be awarded 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. She has a handful of events
remaining overseas.
"She had the rookie title at the halfway point of the tour," said Mike Ferraro, her
Orlando-based coach.
Since her first wakeboard victory at age 11 at the 2004 Tommy's South Florida
Wakeboard Tour, Merritt has been a natural on and off the water.
"The advantage of being so young as a pro is the experience down the road," said her
father, Steve, a former world champion water skier.
Merritt has won every major competition she has entered including a world pro title. If
she were on the pro tennis or golf tour, she would be raking in endorsements and fat prize
money checks.
Because wakeboarding isn't mainstream, Merritt is seldom mentioned in the same
sentence as golfing phenom Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton or tennis sisters Venus and
Serena Williams of Palm Beach Gardens.
"Tennis and golf is a little bigger than wakeboarding," Merritt said with a laugh.
Still, with major U.S. and international events, the potential for Merritt to cash in is there,
said Ferraro, who works with her and several other elite wakeboarders at the Orlando
Water Sports Complex.
Merritt comes from an athletic family. Her father was a world barefoot skiing champion.
Her two sisters, Mia, 20 and Chloe, 17, and brother Blake, 11, are all athletic. The family
lives on a lake where they can wakeboard or ski.
"She has always been driven," Ferraro said. "Her father was driven and her mom Gina is
competitive. I knew if one of their kids had the drive of Steve and focus of Gina, this was
going to be easy and it turned out to be Raimi."
Merritt is home schooled which allows flexibility to train and compete. She trains
Monday through Wednesday in Orlando, leaves Thursday for competitions and returns
home Sunday night.
The average cost for a pro wakeboarder is $50,000 including travel, coaching and
personal training. Because of her age Raimi travels with a chaperone, her sister and
manager Mia, who handles most of her scheduling and appearances.
She has trampoline and slider coaches and works with retired pro golfer Annika
Sorenstam's personal trainer and sports nutritionist, Kai Fusser, a former competitive
water skier. "Kai is teaching her how to have the power of a football player and finesse of
a ballerina," Ferraro said.
After a series of injuries including dislocated kneecap, ankles and hips, "our goal was to
get through the year healthy and she did that," Ferraro said.
"It's tough to say what the future holds for her but I see her excelling," Ferraro said. "She
has a lot to offer and I see her doing corporate endorsements, movies and video games.
We were waiting for her to blossom and then boom. She's on the radar now."
Sharon Robb can be reached at srobb@SunSentinel.com
Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Sharon Robb, staff writer
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
LANTANA
With her fresh-scrubbed looks, outgoing personality and killer heelside backroll trick,
Raimi Merritt is about to become wakeboarding's new "It Girl."
The Lantana teenager, who turned pro last September, has all but clinched rookie of the
year honors her first year on the pro tour at age 15.
"You can get good really fast in this sport if you put the work in," said Merritt, the tour's
youngest pro. "It's a lot of fun and you get to travel everywhere. I never thought I would
be this good this early."
Merritt will compete at this week's WWA Wakeboard Championships that begin
Thursday on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City. The event is the last in the King of
Wake/Queen of Wake Series. Merritt competes Saturday and Sunday.
Win or lose, Merritt will be awarded 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. She has a handful of events
remaining overseas.
"She had the rookie title at the halfway point of the tour," said Mike Ferraro, her
Orlando-based coach.
Since her first wakeboard victory at age 11 at the 2004 Tommy's South Florida
Wakeboard Tour, Merritt has been a natural on and off the water.
"The advantage of being so young as a pro is the experience down the road," said her
father, Steve, a former world champion water skier.
Merritt has won every major competition she has entered including a world pro title. If
she were on the pro tennis or golf tour, she would be raking in endorsements and fat prize
money checks.
Because wakeboarding isn't mainstream, Merritt is seldom mentioned in the same
sentence as golfing phenom Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton or tennis sisters Venus and
Serena Williams of Palm Beach Gardens.
"Tennis and golf is a little bigger than wakeboarding," Merritt said with a laugh.
Still, with major U.S. and international events, the potential for Merritt to cash in is there,
said Ferraro, who works with her and several other elite wakeboarders at the Orlando
Water Sports Complex.
Merritt comes from an athletic family. Her father was a world barefoot skiing champion.
Her two sisters, Mia, 20 and Chloe, 17, and brother Blake, 11, are all athletic. The family
lives on a lake where they can wakeboard or ski.
"She has always been driven," Ferraro said. "Her father was driven and her mom Gina is
competitive. I knew if one of their kids had the drive of Steve and focus of Gina, this was
going to be easy and it turned out to be Raimi."
Merritt is home schooled which allows flexibility to train and compete. She trains
Monday through Wednesday in Orlando, leaves Thursday for competitions and returns
home Sunday night.
The average cost for a pro wakeboarder is $50,000 including travel, coaching and
personal training. Because of her age Raimi travels with a chaperone, her sister and
manager Mia, who handles most of her scheduling and appearances.
She has trampoline and slider coaches and works with retired pro golfer Annika
Sorenstam's personal trainer and sports nutritionist, Kai Fusser, a former competitive
water skier. "Kai is teaching her how to have the power of a football player and finesse of
a ballerina," Ferraro said.
After a series of injuries including dislocated kneecap, ankles and hips, "our goal was to
get through the year healthy and she did that," Ferraro said.
"It's tough to say what the future holds for her but I see her excelling," Ferraro said. "She
has a lot to offer and I see her doing corporate endorsements, movies and video games.
We were waiting for her to blossom and then boom. She's on the radar now."
Sharon Robb can be reached at srobb@SunSentinel.com
Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Teen Splash on a Wakeboard
Posted on Sun, Aug. 24, 2008
BY JIM VARSALLONE
Queen of Wake's Rookie of the Year front-runner Raimi Merritt of Lantana proved
she is a rising contender during the WWA Wakeboard National Championships from
Aug. 6-10 in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
Battling high wind, choppy water and tough competition, Merritt, 15, upset five-time
national champion Dallas Friday in the semifinals to claim the top spot in her heat and
become the top-seeded rider entering the final.
''It was the first time this year that I led my heat, so I was pretty stoked about it,''
Merritt said in a release.
She also was excited to take the lead for the first time over Friday, whom Merritt
admires.
The cold, windy conditions got the best of Merritt in the final, and she fell three times.
She finished fourth behind Amber Wing, Shelby Kantar and Friday. Merritt was
disappointed with her performance in the final but said, ``It was still fun.''
Merritt trains primarily at Crystal Lake in Pompano Beach and Lake Osborne in
Lantana, near her home. She is 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.
She is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3
Global and Fly High Wakeboard Gear.
Visit raimimerritt.com.
© 2008 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miamiherald.com
BY JIM VARSALLONE
Queen of Wake's Rookie of the Year front-runner Raimi Merritt of Lantana proved
she is a rising contender during the WWA Wakeboard National Championships from
Aug. 6-10 in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
Battling high wind, choppy water and tough competition, Merritt, 15, upset five-time
national champion Dallas Friday in the semifinals to claim the top spot in her heat and
become the top-seeded rider entering the final.
''It was the first time this year that I led my heat, so I was pretty stoked about it,''
Merritt said in a release.
She also was excited to take the lead for the first time over Friday, whom Merritt
admires.
The cold, windy conditions got the best of Merritt in the final, and she fell three times.
She finished fourth behind Amber Wing, Shelby Kantar and Friday. Merritt was
disappointed with her performance in the final but said, ``It was still fun.''
Merritt trains primarily at Crystal Lake in Pompano Beach and Lake Osborne in
Lantana, near her home. She is 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.
She is sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie Nutrition Beverage, R3
Global and Fly High Wakeboard Gear.
Visit raimimerritt.com.
© 2008 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miamiherald.com
Raimi Merritt Wakeboard Profile
Teen wakeboarder Raimi Merritt finished second only to Dallas Friday in the first pro tournament of her career. Meet this remarkable girl and find out what makes her Pretty Tough.My dad was a professional barefoot water skier and had a ski school where he taught water skiing. He would take us out on weekends as a family to go water skiing. I was four when he first tried to teach me how to ski, but it never quite clicked for me. I was nine when my dad helped me try wakeboarding for the first time. I thought it was a lot easier and a lot more fun.
How old are you? Birthday?
I’m 14 and my birthday is April 12.
Other sports/hobbies?
Racquetball, trampoline, just kickin it.
Fave subject?
Recess
Typical training regimen?
I train every day, alternating between jumping on a trampoline, and riding behind a cable and boat.
What’s the most important skill needed for wakeboarding?
The ability to have fun!
Fave movies/tv shows?
High School Musical
Most listened to songs on your iPod?
Everything
Heroes/Role Models?
My parents and my sisters
Fave Trick?
Toeside backroll
Fave place in the world to ride?
OWC (Orlando Watersports Complex)
Most memorable competitive moment?
Winning the girls’ division WWA World Championships in Texas in ’06.
Goals?
Win the World Championships and World Cup in the pro women’s divsion.
Anyone you’d like to give a shout out to?
My family. They’ve done everything for me and supported me along the way.
Also Liquid Force wakeboards, Girls4Sport clothing, Fly High wakeboard gear, and Mona-vie.
Thanks Raimi.
LANTANA, 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.
For more information about Merritt, visit: www.raimimerritt.com.
Merritt Continues Dominance
Posted on Fri, May. 18, 2007
BY JIM VARSALLONE
Raimi Merritt, who won every tournament she entered en route to winning last year's
13-and-under girls' wakeboarding world championship, is on her way to repeating that
feat this year.
In March, she claimed the IWSF Girls' Pan American Championship title for the
second consecutive year.
She continued by winning the Air Nautique Wake Games, which were April 26-29 at
the Orlando Watersports Complex.
The 14-year-old trains primarily at Crystal Lake in Pompano Beach and Lake Osborne
in Lantana, near her home.
An eighth-grader, she is home schooled to accommodate her training and event
schedule.
Her father, Steve, is a former professional barefoot water skier who also taught water
skiing.
She first learned to ski from her father when she was 4. She tried wakeboarding for the
first time at age 9.
''I got hooked on wakeboarding because it came easier for me,'' she said. ``It was more
fun, and there were more tricks to learn.''
Merritt continued to learn and improve.
''When I was just starting, I liked it, but I didn't like it as much as I do now,'' she said.
``We'd go out just to have fun instead of trying stuff and getting frustrated.''
Merritt trains with two of the top coaches in the industry, Mike Ferraro and Dean
Lavelle.
They both believe this highly motivated, high-flying kid is one to watch.
''She's one of the very few girls I've coached who is really willing to work hard,''
Ferraro said. ``She has the drive. She can deal with the pain, and she's getting great
support from her family. As long as she stays healthy and keeps listening, she's going
to go a long way. The sky's the limit for her.''
Lavelle, a four-time world champ who runs a wakeboarding school in Pompano
Beach, said: ``If Raimi continues at the pace she's going, with her attitude and her
talent, she definitely has the potential to be the very best.''
Merritt has dominated the awards podium from the start, winning the first WWA
National Championship she competed at in 2004. In 2006, she won every major title,
including the WWA Girls' World Wakeboard Championship, WWA Girls' National
Wakeboard Championship and USA Girls' National Wakeboard Championship.
''I wanted to be the best,'' she said. ``I wanted to be a world champion. I wanted to be
on the top with the other top wakeboarders. I had the drive to keep going. I never
thought I'd ever be able to do the tricks that they do. Now I can do half of them or
more, and I'm still working on getting better.''
Tournament schedule: Today-Sunday, Pro Wakeboard Tour, Acworth, Ga.; May 25-
27, Masters Tournament, Callaway Gardens, Ga.; June 20-24, WWA National
Wakeboard Championships, Kenosha, Wis.; July 12-15, USA National Wakeboard
Championships, Syracuse, N.Y.; Aug. 23-26, WWA World Wakeboard
Championships, Reno, Nev.; Oct. 30-Nov. 2, IWSF World Wakeboard
Championships, Qatar, a neighboring country of Saudi Arabia.
© 2007 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miamiherald.com
BY JIM VARSALLONE
Raimi Merritt, who won every tournament she entered en route to winning last year's
13-and-under girls' wakeboarding world championship, is on her way to repeating that
feat this year.
In March, she claimed the IWSF Girls' Pan American Championship title for the
second consecutive year.
She continued by winning the Air Nautique Wake Games, which were April 26-29 at
the Orlando Watersports Complex.
The 14-year-old trains primarily at Crystal Lake in Pompano Beach and Lake Osborne
in Lantana, near her home.
An eighth-grader, she is home schooled to accommodate her training and event
schedule.
Her father, Steve, is a former professional barefoot water skier who also taught water
skiing.
She first learned to ski from her father when she was 4. She tried wakeboarding for the
first time at age 9.
''I got hooked on wakeboarding because it came easier for me,'' she said. ``It was more
fun, and there were more tricks to learn.''
Merritt continued to learn and improve.
''When I was just starting, I liked it, but I didn't like it as much as I do now,'' she said.
``We'd go out just to have fun instead of trying stuff and getting frustrated.''
Merritt trains with two of the top coaches in the industry, Mike Ferraro and Dean
Lavelle.
They both believe this highly motivated, high-flying kid is one to watch.
''She's one of the very few girls I've coached who is really willing to work hard,''
Ferraro said. ``She has the drive. She can deal with the pain, and she's getting great
support from her family. As long as she stays healthy and keeps listening, she's going
to go a long way. The sky's the limit for her.''
Lavelle, a four-time world champ who runs a wakeboarding school in Pompano
Beach, said: ``If Raimi continues at the pace she's going, with her attitude and her
talent, she definitely has the potential to be the very best.''
Merritt has dominated the awards podium from the start, winning the first WWA
National Championship she competed at in 2004. In 2006, she won every major title,
including the WWA Girls' World Wakeboard Championship, WWA Girls' National
Wakeboard Championship and USA Girls' National Wakeboard Championship.
''I wanted to be the best,'' she said. ``I wanted to be a world champion. I wanted to be
on the top with the other top wakeboarders. I had the drive to keep going. I never
thought I'd ever be able to do the tricks that they do. Now I can do half of them or
more, and I'm still working on getting better.''
Tournament schedule: Today-Sunday, Pro Wakeboard Tour, Acworth, Ga.; May 25-
27, Masters Tournament, Callaway Gardens, Ga.; June 20-24, WWA National
Wakeboard Championships, Kenosha, Wis.; July 12-15, USA National Wakeboard
Championships, Syracuse, N.Y.; Aug. 23-26, WWA World Wakeboard
Championships, Reno, Nev.; Oct. 30-Nov. 2, IWSF World Wakeboard
Championships, Qatar, a neighboring country of Saudi Arabia.
© 2007 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miamiherald.com
Raimi Merritt - Wakeboarding Champion
By Elisabeth Deffner
Florida native Raimi Merritt loves being in the water. So do her two older sisters, her younger brother, and both her parents—especially her dad, Steve, a former world and national champion water-skier. Like her siblings, Raimi learned to water-ski practically as soon as she could walk—and she was ready for a new challenge.
So when her father suggested Raimi give wakeboarding a try, she agreed.
“I tried it and I liked it, so I just started doing that,” says Raimi, 13.
Wakeboarding is an extreme sport that combines waterskiing with snowboarding and surfing techniques. Raimi started wakeboarding when she was 10—and she started competing almost immediately. “I like to beat everybody,” she says with a giggle.
And that includes her elder sister Chloe, now 15. Because they’re so close in age, the sisters often competed in the same division. It could be kind of weird, Raimi admits. “We used to switch off; sometimes I would win, and sometimes she would win,” she explains.
Mostly, though, they enjoyed wakeboarding so much that they didn’t let their competition cause any stress in their relationship. “We didn’t really put that against each other,” Raimi says. “We just had fun.”
Now focused on soccer, Chloe is taking a break from competitive wakeboarding. So Raimi is on her own in the wakeboarding competitions she enters.
A Career in the Water
Two years ago, when she was 11 years old, Raimi won the national wakeboarding competition. That same year she was picked for the U.S. Wakeboard Team and won a gold medal wakeboarding at the world championships in Seville, Spain. She has traveled around the world to compete (she’s even wakeboarded in Moscow, Russia!). This season she’s looking forward to the Pan-American Games, as well as the nationals and the world championships. But she has her eyes on an even bigger goal than winning those competitions.
“I want to turn pro this next coming year or the year after,” she says. “I want to turn pro and be a world champion professional.”
It’s “pretty crazy” to say something like that at just 13 years old, Raimi admits with a laugh. But she enjoys the sport so much—the friendly people she meets, being out on the water on a sunny day, challenging herself by learning new tricks and improving old ones—that she doesn’t want to do anything else.
“I always wanted to be a world champion since I first started,” she explains. One of the reasons she wants that title so much is because she so often heard how difficult it was to earn it. That excited her competitive streak. “I could see that it’s really special,” she says.
So she made up her mind to become a champion—just the way she makes up her mind to learn a new trick, even one that scares her because she has to flip upside down and she’s worried she might get hurt. “It’s a lot in your head,” she explains. She just reminds herself that her coach would never let her attempt something she isn’t ready to do—and then she gives it her best shot.
“I’ve been around the water for so long—it’s fun,” she says. Plus, she adds, “I want to be the best. I kind of want to follow in my dad’s footsteps.”
A Schedule Full of Fun
Raimi is homeschooled, so she has the freedom to attend competitions and schedule training sessions—from personal training to trampolining to weight training—whenever she needs them. In her free time she likes to do other water sports, like wakeskating, wakesurfing, and tubing, but she also likes to do some things on dry land—like racquetball.
Wakeboarding can be an expensive activity, but since Raimi started winning championships she’s been able to land sponsorships to help cover her expenses like equipment and travel costs. On top of that, she can win prize money in the competitions she enters. But money isn’t the point.
“I just like going out there for fun, not just for money. I like doing it,” Raimi says. “I like going out in the boat, teaching other people how to do it, going out with my sisters and stuff.”
Wakeboarding is an activity Raimi wants to stick with for the rest of her life. But she realizes it’s unusual for someone her age to know exactly what she wants to do for a career! Most 13-year-olds aren’t sure which career path interests them. But that’s OK, because they still have time to explore lots of different options.
“Just go out there and have fun. Try new stuff,” Raimi suggests. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
And, she adds, don’t let other people put pressure on you—especially the pressure to try things that you know aren’t good for you. In the wakeboarding industry some people have abused substances. Performance-
enhancing drugs are becoming enough of a problem that there is now random drug testing at competitions. In the 2007 Pan-American Games, the United States Anti-Doping Agency—which conducts drug tests on behalf of the U.S. Olympic Movement—will be testing competitors.
Raimi doesn’t pay attention to the people who use drugs—and she has no intention of trying them herself.
“I don’t want to ruin my career,” she says.
Raimi has gained confidence, traveled around the United States and the world, and faced her fears as she’s grown into a champion wakeboarder—but her attitude about substance abuse is one of the best things to develop from her passion for the sport.
“I think it’s just important for [kids] to have anything, when they’re growing up, that they’re involved in,” says Steve Merritt. “The key thing . . . is to have fun.”
Big Aspirations for this Girl
By Ben Volin
Palm Beach Post
October 8, 2006
Big Aspirations for this Girl
Palm Beach Post
October 8, 2006
Big Aspirations for this Girl
POMPANO BEACH — Raimi Merritt is impressing her coach as she practices her new wakeboarding trick, the Air Raley, Wednesday morning at Crystal Lake.
With the power boat tugging her at 17 miles per hour, Raimi starts out wide, shoots toward the 10-foot wake, jumps 6 or 7 feet in the air, kicks her feet and her board behind her back, clears the wake and lands safely on the other side.
She learned the trick five days earlier and now is practicing it over and over until she gets it right. "There's probably maybe been a dozen girls ever in the whole history of the sport that have done Raleys," said Dean Lavelle, her coach and a former world champion wakeboarder who has competed professionally since the sport became popular in the early 1990s
"I've got big aspirations for this girl. No one her age is doing Raleys."
Raimi, 13, a home-schooled eighth-grader from Lantana, is a three-time wakeboarding national champion. She also is the daughter of Steve Merritt, a former barefoot water-skiing world champion.
Raimi became a world champion herself last month when she finished first among 16 girls, ages 8 to 13, at the No Fear WWA Wakeboard World Championships held in Forth Worth, Texas.
Her score of 60.56 easily beat the second-place finisher, fellow U.S. competitor Ashlan Pegden of Indiana, who finished with a score of 47.56.
Moments after Raimi won, she sent a text message to her mom, Gina, who was in Utah on a business trip.
"My mom was in the middle of a huge conference, and she went on stage and told everybody," Raimi said. "My dad called her, and you could hear everybody in the auditorium was screaming."
Raimi's world championship capped off a successful year, her third in competitive wakeboarding.
She won the other three tournaments that she entered, including the WWA Wakeboard National Championships in Wisconsin and the Malibu USA Wakeboard Nationals in Polk City.
Merritt also has won events in Spain and Russia, on the Florida Gravel Tour, at the 2005 Pan American Wakeboard Championships and the 2005 U.S. Pro Am Wakeboard Championships.
"She hasn't gotten her hair wet once this year," said Steve Merritt, pointing out that his daughter did not fall in any of her competitions.
Although she's only been wakeboarding for about three years, she executes flips (or backrolls) - 180-, 360- and even 540-degree spins - with the fearlessness of a 13-year-old and expertise of an adult.
Raimi will compete in the girls 13-and-under division at competitions in 2007, with her first event scheduled to be the PanAm Wakeboard Championship in March in Miami.
She already has several sponsors, including a wakeboard manufacturer and an energy drink company, and dreams of turning pro in 2008.
"She picked it up real quick once she put her heart and soul into it," Lavelle said.
"Give her a little more time and training, and she'll be one of the best."
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