World’s top wakeboarders give resort welcome boost at start of Lifeboat Week.

The summer finally arrived at the weekend and thousands flocked to Lyme Regis for the start of the RNLI Lifeboat Week, which kicked off with a bang - thanks to the Red Bull Harbour Reach 2012 wakeboarding competition.

More than 6,000 spectators were wowed as 16 of the world’s top wakeboarders showed off their skills before somersaulting over the harbour wall.

Lyme Regis harbour presents the most progressive and challenging wakeboard contest in the UK. The Grade I Listed harbour wall, which width-ways measures the same as a dual carriageway (eight metres), tested the athletes both physically and mentally.

Big names, such as Sam Carne (Red Bull Harbour Reach Winner 2011), JD Webb (2008 Rider of the Year) and Adam Errington (2007 Rookie of the Year), competed on features including the UK’s first Quarter Pipe, a 50ft fun box and a 30ft pipe slider to push them further than ever before.

After being treated to an aerobatic master-class from the Red Bull Matador stunt-plane team, the qualifying top six riders were given a chance to pull out their biggest and most technical tricks in the grand final which was a showcase of modern wakeboarding.

JD Webb was sitting in top spot before the final runs, but let the handle slip from his grasp.

His last ditch heroic effort of a double-flip proved unfruitful as he crashed dramatically into the water.

Adam Errington landed a huge 540 over the enormous gap, but was outdone by fellow Red Bull rider Dominik Hernler who stunned the crowds with an Oh-Lay 720 which clinched the coveted title.

Prizes were awarded on a floating pontoon by Harbour Master Grahame Forshaw MBE, who was also presented with his own wakeboard bearing a panoramic photograph of last year’s competition.

The final standings were: 1st, Dominik Hernler (AUT); 2nd, Adam Errington (USA) and 3rd, James Young (UK).

Harbour Reach champion Hernler reflected on his success, saying: “I am so happy with the win; it’s so special to be able to ride in this amazing harbour and I can’t wait for next year.”