Rivers Hedrick and Gavin Stuckey dominate at Pooltastic 2026

Pooltastic 2026 in Hall 17 at boot Düsseldorf wasn’t just the women’s premiere – it also delivered next-level men’s action and a crowd pushed to the limit!

The Pooltastic Wakeboard Contest, one of the biggest indoor wakeboard competitions in the world, once again proved in 2026 why it’s one of the standout highlights of boot Düsseldorf. Inside the completely packed Surf Sport Hall 17, the roughly 60-meter pool—equipped with two Unit features and a System 2.0 setup—turned into a stage for world-class wakeboarding: loud, up close, and more intense than ever before.

Friday kicked things off with the men’s qualification round, where six riders were fighting for a spot alongside the pre-seeded finalists for Saturday. Claiming those coveted tickets were Maxi Mooser from the Allgäu region, Jan Gnerlich from Oldenburg, local hero Pepe Kienzler from Langenfeld, and last-minute rookie replacement Simon Kamlage from Bersenbrück. They impressed judges Niklas Dorfer, Miles Töller, Rivers Hedrick, and Nike Hauser the most and earned their place in Saturday’s finals.

Saturday then delivered the full Pooltastic experience: first-round head-to-head battles in a best-of-three format, followed by 100-second jam sessions in the super final that pushed the riders to their limits. In total, 14 riders—six women and eight men—threw down technical tricks, massive airs, and creative lines in front of an electrified crowd. The short course and tight setup demanded fast reactions, pinpoint landings, and total focus—mistakes were punished instantly.

Up-close with the action – that’s Pooltastic at boot Düsseldorf

Smiles all around the pool – here’s Joelina Gerards

Women join Pooltastic for the first time

One of the standout moments of the weekend was the long-awaited women’s premiere at Pooltastic. The riders faced off in three head-to-head heats, with the winners advancing straight into the super final. The remaining riders battled it out in the LCQ for one last spot in the final.

After a controlled and tactical start in the early heats, the women seriously turned it up. In the final, they showed just how much is possible on a tight indoor setup: bigger airs, more rotation, inverts, and pure energy. Rivers Hedrick from Marietta, Georgia (USA) claimed the win with an exceptionally clean crow mobe. Joelina Gerards and Nike Hauser, both from Düren, completed a strong podium and highlighted just how important—and overdue—this contest was.

But the spotlight wasn’t only on the podium. Lotta Süß, who secured her place through the LCQ with a smart and consistent safety run against Theresa Karl and Mia Pralas, was clearly stoked as well—grateful for the chance to put on a show in front of such a massive crowd.

The judges were closer to the action than ever before

Rivers Hedrick impressed from the very first second on the water …

… and secured the win ahead of Joelina Gerards and Nike Hauser

Maxi Mooser impressed with loads of style and made it all the way to the super final

Favorite leaves no room for doubt

The men’s head-to-head round already delivered the first major upset. Matty Muncey from the UK was knocked out by challenger Maxi Mooser in a dramatic fifth and deciding run. Big respect to Maxi for taking down one of the favorites. The following heats were more clear-cut: Tobias Färbers advanced confidently against Pepe Kienzler, Gavin Stuckey allowed young gun Simon Kamlage just a single consolation point, and Jan-Luca Schulz clearly shut down Jan Gnerlich.

Things briefly got tense again in the super final when Gavin Stuckey from Orlando, Florida (USA) didn’t land a perfect run right away. Staying calm under pressure, he came back strong at the end of his 100-second session and left no doubt about who’s setting the pace right now. A Mobe 5 Mute and a BS 180 to nosepress, FS 360 off the rail sealed the deal. Behind him, German riders Jan-Luca Schulz in second and Tobias Färbers from Wankum in third delivered strong performances and earned their well-deserved podium spots.

“It’s an amazing experience to travel to Germany and win this event,” Gavin said after the contest. “I had so much fun. It’s completely different from anything I’ve ever done before.” With his open and relaxed attitude, he also won over the crowd, who packed the poolside to the very last corner and created an electric atmosphere.

You rarely get this close to riders like Matty Muncey anywhere else than at boot Düsseldorf

Veni, vedi, vici ...

... Gavin Stuckey on top of the podium ahead of Jan-Luca Schulz and Tobi Färbers

Wakeboarding voice Clint Liddy on the mic is another key factor behind the event’s success

Cable Mekka Awards & Pooltastic complete the wakeboard weekend

By Friday night, it was already clear that this weekend was about much more than just a contest. The Cable Mekka Awards 2026 officially kicked off the new season by honoring the athletes and creatives who shaped the 2025 season. Following a combined vote from the community and an expert panel, the Riders of the Year were crowned across 14 categories. The vibe was exactly what wakeboarding stands for: high energy, pure stoke, and nothing but mutual support.

Pooltastic at boot Düsseldorf 2026 delivered once again—sporty, emotional, and closer to the fans than ever before. An indoor setup, world-class riders, and a hall filled to the absolute limit made it clear: this is wakeboarding the way it’s meant to be.

Photos: Eigner