SANTA CRUZ , CA —Thirteen-year-old wakeboarding extraordinaire Raimi Merritt is well on her way to becoming the next big name in wakeboarding. The gregarious high-flying kid with the long blonde ponytail has blown her competition out of the water and nabbed first place in every event she’s competed in this year.... all without ever getting her hair wet.
Merritt won the girls’ division world championship title last weekend at the No Fear WWA Wakeboard World Championships in Forth Worth, Texas. In August, she took gold at the WWA Wakeboard National Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In July, she clinched her third consecutive girls’ division national title at the Malibu USA Wakeboard Nationals in Polk City, Florida. And in June, she placed first at the Wake Games at Lake Elsinore, California.
The eighth grader from Lantana, Florida, has dominated the awards podium from the start, taking first place in her debut competition, the 2004 Tommy’s South Florida Wakeboard Tour. Merritt also won world championship gold medals in Spain and Russia, first place overall wins on the Florida Gravel Tour, first place at the 2005 Pan American Wakeboard Championships and first place at the 2005 U.S. Pro Am Wakeboard Championships.
Merritt says she is surprised by her own accomplishments; she’s also very appreciative. “I’m really grateful to my dad for letting me train with the best coaches and traveling around the world in support of me,” said Merritt. In November, she heads to Marathon, Florida, to defend her Pro Am Wakeboard Championship title.
“Raimi is a phenomenal rider with incredible drive and unlimited potential,” said Kim Ruby, president of Girls4Sport, one of Merritt’s sponsors. “Plus, she’s a great kid, a great student, and while she’s competitive in the water, she maintains an admirably gracious attitude. For Raimi, wakeboarding remains first and foremost a way to have fun.”
In addition to Girls4Sport, Merritt is also sponsored by Liquid Force Wakeboards, MonaVie, R3 Global, and Fly High Wakeboard Gear.
About Girls4Sport:
Girls4Sport is dedicated to creating performance clothing with the female body in mind. Girls4Sport's line includes rashguard sets designed for women by women with super comfy SPF 65-rated fabrics, built-in shelf bras, out of the ordinary prints, and flattering fits. In addition to its products, Girls4Sport has established the Girls4Sport Foundation, a charitable arm of Girls4Sport to support organizations and programs that provide girls of all ages with the support and inspiration to lead active, confident lives. Girls4Sport products are distributed through a variety of retail outlets and online. For more information about Girls4Sport products and team riders, please visit www.girls4sport.com or call 831.423.8755.
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