Acworth, Ga. – The world’s best wakeboarders and fans from across Georgia converged on the shores of Dallas Landing Park in Acworth to kick off the 21st season of the highly-anticipated MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour. Riding behind the new MasterCraft XStar for the first time ever in competition, the field of pro wakeboarders launched from one of the largest wakes ever ridden while putting on a world class demo in massive airs and highly technical rail maneuvers.

The progressive riding from the Pro Men’s division highlighted a day with no shortage of primetime performances. Usual suspects Phil Soven, defending MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour Champion, and Australian-prodigy Harley Clifford, last year’s runner up, opened the season in top-form with both putting in heat-winning runs. However, the rest ot the field made it clear 2012 will be no two man race for the season title. Impressive performances also came from Steel Lafferty and Dean Smith, both claimed first place in their heats today and will advance to tomorrow’s elimination rounds.

“Acworth always sees a great turnout and is one of the favorite stops for the riders on tour,” said Chris Bischoff, competition director. “The wake from MasterCraft’s new XStar is insane and we’re seeing the pros take their riding to the next level. Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better first day of the season.”

The pro women also showed they stepped up their game in the offseason. Making the most of the XStar’s giant wake, a stacked field of females displayed progressive riding in both heats. Top performances came from heat winners Nicola Butler and Rami Merritt. Both riders will advance to tomorrow’s Pro Women’s finals.

The MasterCraft Junior Pro Tour also held competition today. Giving us a glimpse into the future of the sport, the field of 37 riders who are also competing in the Overton’s Junior Pro Series, traded impressive run after impressive run. The run of the day came from Kyle Evan’s who posted a division-high score of 97.75.

An estimated 8,000 spectators are expected to flock to the park tomorrow to watch the final day elimination rounds and awards ceremony. Following the final rounds of action tomorrow, fans can stay and witness two jaw-dropping exhibition events –the Rockstar Double Up Contest and the Sony Big Air Contest. Both events will feature top athletes performing exciting and innovative new tricks that aren’t typically attempted in a traditional contest setting.  And with the new MasterCraft XStar, it is anyone’s guess what will be witnessed.

In addition to all the action on the water; on land, fans will enjoy plenty of great food; athlete autograph signings; chances to win freebies; product sampling, and shopping at the most cutting-edge stores for water-sports equipment including boats, wakeboards, wakeskates, sunglasses and the latest in wakeboarding and surfing fashions. At the entertainment stage, guests can catch athlete interviews, color commentators and interactive live music.

Saturday will be a ticketed event beginning at 10 a.m. Tickets are available at the gate: $13 (adult); $5 (ages 6-12); free (ages 5 and under); or $7 (adult) if purchased online.

For more information on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, please visit: 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, Indmar, Peavey, Billabong, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, Sayiwon’t, Epiphone and YOUR MOM magazine.

 

Day 1 Results from MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour Acworth:

 

Junior Pro Men’s Heat 1

1.       Gordon Harrison              94.50

2.       Jacob Valdez                      93.50

3.       Parker Siegele                   67.25

4.       David Foreman                 66.25

5.       Landon Kasey                    64.50

6.       Ian Cole                              45.25

 

Junior Pro Men’s Heat 2

1.       Mike Dowdy                      91.25

2.       Massi Piffaretti                  86.75

3.       Keenan Allen                     85.50

4.       Gunner Daft                       67.25

5.       Austin Pratt                        57.50

6.       Dylan Mitchell                   53.75

 

Junior Pro Men’s Heat 3

1.       Freddie Wayne                  95.75

2.       Christian Primrose            86.75

3.       Noah Fiegel                        84.50

4.       Robby Holihan                   70.75

5.       Kyler Green                        53.25

6.       Alec Rex                              51.50

 

Junior Pro Men’s Heat 4

1.       Kyle Evans                          97.75

2.       Arnie Watkins                    81.50

3.       Paulie Koch                        77.75

4.       Jason Soven                       66.25

5.       Joey Buss                            65.75

6.       Justin Lee                            61.00

 

Junior Pro Men’s Heat 5

1.       Tony Iacconi                      91.50

2.       Brad Teunissen                 91.25

3.       Joshua Twelker                 77.25

4.       Morgan Pedersen             77.00

5.       Anthony Cote                    58.50

6.       Merrett Fay                        43.25

 

Junior Pro Men’s Heat 6

1.       Dylan Prideaux                  83.75

2.       Gus Shuler                          82.50

3.       Tripp Brown                       80.25

4.       Cody Hesse                         69.75

5.       John Hunt                           67.25

6.       Tyler Cockrum                    56.50

7.       Dylan Branch                      35.00

Women’s Pro Heat 1

1.       Raimi Merritt                    81.67

2.       Mellissa Marquardt         71.67

3.       Corrie Dyer                        60.00

4.       Taylor McCullough           50.00

5.       Miku Asai                           41.67

6.       Shawna Hoffman             31.67

 

Women’s  Pro Heat 2

1.       Nicola Butler                      85.00

2.       Amber Wing                       75.00

3.       Meagan Ethell                   70.00

4.       Tarah Mikacich                  65.00

5.       Charlotte Bryant               56.67

6.       Anna Hajek                         30.00

7.       Abby Delgoffe                   10.00

 

Men’s Pro Heat 1

1.       Jimmy Lariche                    73.33

2.       Andrew Adkison                72.00

3.       Daniel Powers                   62.33

4.       Kyle Alberts                        43.33

 

Men’s Pro Heat 2

1.       Oliver Derome                   81.67

2.       Austin Hair                         76.67

3.       Shota Tezuka                     66.67

4.       Sam Carne                          50.00

 

Men’s Pro Heat 3

1.       Tony Carroll                        73.33

2.       Matt Sims                            63.33

3.       Jefferson Langley               50.00

4.       Anthony Racinelli               40.00

 

Men’s Pro Heat 4

1.       Josh Palma                          68.33

2.       Bradley Smeele                   55.00

3.       Adam Errington                  43.33

4.       Kyle Rattray                        40.00

 

Men’s Pro Heat 5

1.       Dean Smith                         83.33

2.       JD Webb                             71.67

3.       Zane Schwenk                   53.33

4.       Gunnar Shuler                   38.33

 

Men’s Pro Heat 6

1.       Aaron Rathy                       66.67

2.       Nick Jones                           48.33

3.       Brett Lee                             38.33

4.       Dante Digangi                    30.00

 

Men’s Pro Heat 7

1.       Steel Lafferty                            76.67

2.       Chad Sharpe                             66.67

3.       Ryan Anderson                        56.67

4.       Alex Graydon                            41.67

5.       JB O’Neill                                    26.67

 

Men’s Pro Heat 8

1.       Rusty Malinoski                 75.00

2.       Julian Cohen                      63.33

3.       Jason Bannatyne              51.67

4.       Ben Albright                       41.67

5.       Sam Baker                           26.67

 

Men’s Pro Heat 9

1.       Harley Clifford                   78.33

2.       Joey Thollander                 63.33

3.       Joey Bradley                      56.67

4.       Mitchell Daniel                  31.67

5.       Colby Bernier                     20.00

 

Men’s Pro Heat 10

1.       Phillip Soven                      78.33

2.       Corey Bradley                    70.00

3.       Pierce Homsey                  55.00

4.       Kirby Liesmann                 46.67

5.       Vinny Knapp                      38.33

 

2012 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by ROCKSTAR Schedule:

 

City                                         Venue                                                 Date    _______

Acworth, Ga.                          Dallas Landing Park                           May 18 & 19

Fort Worth, Tex.                     Texas MasterCraft                              June 1 & 2

Branson, Mo.                          Table Rock Lake                                 June 8 & 9

Monroe, Wash.                        Lake Tye                                             June 29 & 30

Knoxville, Tenn.                     Volunteer Landing                              July 28