2013 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour Season Opens in Acworth

The world’s top professional wakeboarders opened the 22nd season of the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour in grand fashion Friday at Lake Acworth Beach, according to the press release. Taking to the water at Cauble Park, the season-opening day featured remarkable performances from a slew of athletes across all three divisions, including last year’s Pro Men’s season champion Harley Clifford.

Looking as focused and talented as ever, MasterCraft team rider Clifford used the X-Star’s huge wake to put on a fan pleasing run that was highlighted by massive aerials, gravity-defying rotations and technical rail work. Clifford placed first in his heat, posted a division high-score of 90.00 and advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals. In addition to Clifford’s performance, fan favorite Rusty Malinoski also put in a top-tier run posting an 88.33 score to claim his heat and place him as a favorite going into the final day of competition.

“It’s great to start another season of the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour here in Acworth,” said Chris Bischoff, competition director. “The city is great to work with, the venue is a favorite among the athletes and the conditions on the lake today, matched with the perfect wake from the X-Star, things were firing on all cylinders.”

The Pro Women also showed up in Acworth in top form. Leading the charge were Nicola Butler and Raimi Merritt, who both put in scores of 73.33 to tie for the day’s best among the females. The sport’s all-time winningest woman, Dallas Friday, also dropped a stellar score of 71.33 and will be among the six finalists Saturday.

Wakeboarding’s future stars in the Overton’s Junior Pro Series competed at today’s event as well. Poised to have a huge year, Aussie-ripper Tony Iacconi had a perfect run posting the day’s only 100-point ride. The Junior Pro Men will commence competition again Saturday with the semifinals elimination round followed by the finals.

Following the final rounds of action on Saturday, fans can stay for the jaw-dropping Polaroid Action Big-Air Contest. The event will feature top athletes performing exciting and innovative new tricks that aren’t typically attempted in a traditional contest setting. 

Immediately following the event, a Block Party will be held in Historic Downtown Acworth that will feature an awards ceremony, live music, outdoor dining opportunities, and much more.  The Block Party will run from 7 to 11 p.m.  Parking will be available in Historic Downtown Acworth and shuttles will be running from various locations to bring visitors down to the party.

 Tickets for Saturday’s finals are available online for $7 (46 percent off the gate price) and include an exclusive Overton’s discount code for online buyers only. Gate prices are: $13 (adult); $5 (ages 6 to12); free (ages 5 and under).

For information on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, visit www.kingofwake.com.

The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by ROCKSTAR is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: MasterCraft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Polaroid Action, Indmar, Peavey, Billabong, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, Sayiwon’t, Epiphone and TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine.

Day 1 Results from the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour Acworth

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 1 (Top 2 advance)

1. Christian Primrose                80.00
2. Austin Hair                            78.33
3. Sam Crane                             68.33
4. Daniel Powers                        57.33

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 2

1. Jimmy LaRiche                        83.33
2. Oli Derome                               78.33
3. Keenan Allen                             60.00
4. Ben Allbright                              41.67

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 3

1.  Shota Tezuka                         73.33
2. Chad Sharpe                           53.33
3. Ryan Anderson                        26.67
4. Stephen Pierce                        18.33

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 4

1. Aaron Rathy                          81.67
2. Adam Errington                    75.00
3. Brett Lee                                61.00
4. Josh Twelker                           45.00 

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 5

1. Andrew Adkison                        81.67
2. Danny Thollander                      58.33
3. Jason Bannatyne                        50.00
4. Brandon Lee                              21.00

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 6

1. Tony Carroll                        81.67
2. Jeff Langley                        66.67
3. Vinny Knapp                        43.33
4. Brad Smeele                        36.67

Pro Men Qualifying Heat 7

1. Dean Smith                             80.00
2. Trevor Hansen                        71.67
3. Josh Palma                              66.67

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 8

1. Rusty Malinoski                  88.33
2. Kyle Rattray                        76.67
3. Gunnar Shuler                      46.67

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 9

1. Phil Soven                               83.33
2. Pierce Homsey                        66.67
3. Dylan Prideaux                        46.67

Pro Men Qualifying Round Heat 10

1. Harley Clifford                        90.00
2. Dante Digangi                        40.00
3. Kirby Liesmann                        35.00

Pro Women Semifinals Heat 1 (Top 2 advance)

1. Dallas Friday                        71.67
2. Melissa Marquardt                55.00
3. Tarah Mikacich                       53.33
4. Corrie Dyer                              38.33           

Pro Women Semifinals Heat 2

1. Raimi Merritt                        73.33
2. Amber Wing                         68.33
3. Emily Durham                        61.67
4. Shelby King                           41.67
5. Charlotte Bryant                     35.00           

Pro Women Semifinals Heat 3

1. Nicola Butler                        73.33
2. Bee Gange                            68.33
3. Taylor McCullough                   61.67
4. Chloe Mills                               53.33
5. Raequel Hoffman                     43.33

Junior Pro Men Quarterfinals Heat 1 (Top 2 advance)

1. Parker Siegele                          93.00
2. Brad Teunissen                        89.25
3. John Hunt                                   87.75
4. Ian Cole                                      50.75

Junior Pro Men Quarterfinals Heat 2

1. Gordon Harrison                 91.75
2. Yangsu Kim                        86.00
3. Joey Buss                            83.25
4. Justin Lee                             79.00

Junior Pro Men Quarterfinals Heat 3

1. Noah Flegel                        97.75
2. Cory Teunissen                   92.25
3. Jorge Gill                              74.25
4. Arnie Watkins                        70.50
5. James Loisel                        65.25

Junior Pro Men Quarterfinals Heat 4

1. Freddie Wayne                        98.50
2. Gus Shuler                             80.50
3. Robby Holihan                        80.25
4. Jimmy Frandsen                        76.25
5. Jeongwook Kim                        64.50

Junior Pro Men Quarterfinals Heat 5

1. Massi Piffaretti                        97.25
2. Kyle Evans                              83.00
3. Jamie McCauley                        77.50
4. Damien Adam                             73.75
5. Merrett Fay                                 68.50

Junior Pro Men Quarterfinals Heat 6

1. Tony Iacconi                        100.00
2. Juan Mendez                        83.75
3. Marc Kroon                            78.75
4. Mac Schramm                        73.25
5. Zachary Brown                        64.25

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