Heavy Rainfall Moves Pro Wakeboard Tour to Lake Acworth, Cauble Park

Due to significant recent rainfall and the projected water level of Lake Allatoona in the coming week, the world’s top professional wakeboarders will move to Lake Acworth to open the 22nd season of the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour.

Originally set for Dallas Landing Park, the Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, event now will take place at Lake Acworth Beach at Cauble Park, according to a Pro Wakeboard Tour press release.

An for the 2012 tour stop, but the new venue won't accommodate public access to the water by way of boat.

Spectators who planned to enjoy the event by boat on Lake Allatoona are encouraged to line the shores of Lake Acworth Beach—on land—with thousands of other fans to watch the competition, enjoy food and music; athlete autograph signings; chances to win free gear; and shopping, the press release says.

Visitors will shop "the most cutting-edge stores for water-sports equipment, including boats, wakeboards, wakeskates, sunglasses and the latest in wakeboarding and surfing fashions," according to a city of Acworth press release.

“This nationally televised event has a significant economic impact on our local economy and we are very fortunate to have an alternate site in our community to host this event given the circumstances,” Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources James Albright said. “We are appreciative of our partnerships with MasterCraft, Rockstar Energy Drink, the Bonnier Corporation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for still being able to make this event a reality.”

Among the top riders expected to compete are 2012 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour champion Harley Clifford and top-rival Phil Soven, as well as wakeboarding icon Rusty Malinoski, young guns Steel Lafferty and Shota Tezuka, and rookie-of-the-year candidate Mike Dowdy. 

Also in the water during the event will be the highly-competitive women’s pro division and the junior pro men’s division showcasing a stacked field of the sport’s future stars.

“Each year the city of Acworth puts in an amazing amount of effort to make this event one of the best on tour,” competition director Chris Bischoff said in the release. “We would not have been able to make this critical venue change happen without their help and resources.

"We are excited to bring the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour to Lake Acworth; the lake is private and the conditions should be great for the riders.”

The first day of action, Friday, will feature qualifying rounds and is free to the public.

Tickets for Saturday’s finals, set for noon to 7 p.m., are available online at prowakeboardtour.com for $7, which is 46 percent off the gate price, and includes an exclusive Overton’s discount code only for online buyers.

Gate prices are $13 for adults; $5 for kids ages 6 to 12; and free for children age 5 and younger.

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

A block party in historic downtown Acworth from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday will feature an awards ceremony, live music, outdoor dining and more. Parking will be available in historic downtown Acworth and shuttles will take visitors to the party from various locations.

The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by ROCKSTAR is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, FL, 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.

For up-to-date information on the tour, visit acworthparksandrecreation.org, follow it on Twitter at @aprd or find Acworth Parks on Facebook. 

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