Long-time Wakestock competitor Matt Crowhurst had a great time trying out the new Relentless-sponsored leviathan obstacle, part of the wakeboarding jumps placed out in the sea off Pwllheli.

"We haven't had a floating obstacle before," said Matt. "They usually stake them into the bed of the sea, so it's been a bit of a mission creating this contraption.

"It gives lots of options; you can hit the handrail, the box lower down or use the banked wall rail on the other side. Or you can mix all these up. It's a chance for the riders to show their individual flare."

But the riders also faced the challenge of the weather. "It was very choppy out today and I crashed a few times, so it wasn't great for me," said Jonty Green, the 2005 champion. "But you do learn how to crash, so it wasn't too bad."

Not everyone emerged from the water so lucky though. "There have been a couple of bad ones," said Jonty. "Someone broke their leg and another hurt their knee. But that was mainly on the sliders, which is basically a big obstacle you can crash into!"

World champion Nick Davies wasn't too happy with the weather either. He said: "Today the weather has come for the worst; it's pretty windy, which means you've got to ride stronger and harder than anyone else."

But he managed to stay on his board and become 2009 Wakestock champion. "I managed a 720 down at the end of the course, which is pretty technical in this weather, so I'm really happy with my performance."

This was despite a sleepless night on the festival site. "All the riders are camping. I don't camp often, but when I do, it rains! My tent is absolutely disgusting."

Nick also took the Big Air prize after competing at Abersoch on Friday. "That's where you get pulled behind a jetski and whoever does the biggest, highest trick and lands it, wins. I won it because I did my 720 and landed it when everyone else was crashing, which was lucky for me."

Jonty Green was going to try his luck at the on-site Pool Gap instead. "I like riding with the winches at the pool. It's a bit different because it pulls you up higher than a boat. It's a brilliant invention.

"There are lots of new moves you can do and it's easier because the water in the pool is flatter than the sea. The only thing is, you only get one hit, then you have to climb all the way to the top again."

So what advice do the pro-riders have for anyone wanting to follow in their energetic footsteps?

"If you're new at it, have as much fun as you can," said Nick. "Don't get stressed; you won't get anywhere if it's not fun. There are lots of places round Abersoch to give it a go, so try it out."

And if you want to make it your full-time career you've got to get yourself known, says Jonty. "You've got to enter as many competitions as you can and if you've got talent, you'll get noticed and get help from sponsors."

But given the acrobatics the riders perform, you've also got to keep yourself fit.

"I've got a trampoline at home and I'm always bouncing on it, trying to keep myself as flexible as possible," said Nick. "You do a lot of work with your arms too, grabbing the rails and so on, so you've got to keep them strong."