Duo of Hawkesbury wakeboarders win at Wakeboard Australia's Open Series

Participants and supporters gathered at Governor Phillip Park, Windsor, from early morning, in preparation for a full day of great competition.

Some of Hawkesbury's top wakeboarders were participating as Nic Rapa and Zahra Kell got out onto the river.

Rapa was competing in the Open Men's division and had a great run posting a score of 81.78, winning his heat by more than 15 points.

He followed that up with an even better score of 89.44 in the final, taking out the top spot as he was; 7.22 points ahead of second place Sam Brown (82.22) and 14.99 ahead of third place Parker Siegele (74.45).

Zahra Wells also had a day of success, she placed third in the semi final with a score of 65.56, 11.62 points away from first.

Wells returned to the water where she won the final by 6.67 points, posting a score of 81.67. Mackenzie McCarthy and Hinata Yoshihara followed in second and third with 75 and 67.78.

Other winners for the day were; Cody Fuller (Junior Men), Charli Russell (Junior Women), Noah Bollard (10-14 Boys), Laney Chadwick (10-14 Girls), Parka Edwards (Under 9 Boys) and Neve Boxer (Under 9 Girls).

There was a tribute to local Hawkesbury wakeboarder, Matt Napier, who died doing what he loved on the Hawkesbury River on January 28, 2020. At 12pm a minute's silence was observed, and Matt's brother Glen rode down the river in tribute.

Glen Napier's hand was on his heart and his head bowed as he passed the crowd on the riverbank during the first pass, before jumping the wake and getting some air three times during the second pass.

Those gathered on the riverbank hugged each other and gave a standing ovation in tribute to Matt.