Wake Up and Start the Season

Acworth, Ga. – The world’s premier professional wakeboarding circuit, the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, is set to kick off its 17th season on May 16-18, 2008, in Acworth, Ga. at Dallas Landing Park. Acworth is the first of five stops for the nationwide Pro Tour, which means riders are looking to start the season off right in Acworth.

The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour is a season-long points chase toward the tour title and the Indmar Performance Award, a $10,000 cash bonus to the top points earner in the Pro Men’s Division and a $5,000 prize for the Pro Women’s Division winner.

Riders from Tahiti, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and throughout the United States will compete in Acworth for cash, points and pride by performing rail tricks and aerial stunts, while maneuvering on the water at a speed of approximately 25 mph.

Among the nearly 150 competitors expected to compete in Acworth are five Georgia natives: Chase Andrews (Flowery Branch, GA); Rhett Whatley (Snellville, GA); Corey Bradley (Gainesville, GA); and brothers Brett and Brandon Lee (Jackson, GA). These five Peach State riders will go up against the world’s best, looking to capture a win on hometown waters.

The field of top riders in the Pro Men’s Division includes reigning Tour champion Phillip Soven (Longwood, Fla.), 2008 Wake Games winner Rusty Malinoski (Humboldt, Saskatchewan), 2007 Rookie of the Year Adam Errington (Ullapool, Scotland) and 2005 King of Wake Josh Sanders (Nowra, Australia).

On the Pro Women’s side, ESPN ESPY winner Dallas Friday (Orlando, Fla.) highlights the field of female riders. Friday will be joined by current women’s wakeboard world champion Amber Wing (Sydney, Australia), 2008 women’s Wake Games champion Nicola Butler (Cape Town, South Africa) and X Games gold medalist Emily Copeland Durham (Denver, Colo.).

Phillip Soven and Emily Copeland Durham will look to repeat in Acworth, as both riders claimed the win in their respective division last year.

The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour is a three-day carnival of water-sports action. But not all of the action takes place on the water. On land, fans will experience tons of great food and music; athlete autograph signings; chances to win free gear; 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. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on all three days.

Tickets can be purchased at Dallas Landing Park on May 17-18 for $10 (general admission), $5 (ages 6-12) or free (ages 5 and under). To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.prowakeboardtour.com. General-admission tickets are buy one get one free online only until May 16, 12 p.m. EST.

Limited parking will be available at Dallas Landing Park on May 17-18. Shuttles will be provided from downtown Acworth. For more information on the event, contact the Acworth Parks and Recreation Department at 770-917-1234 or visit ProWakeboardTour.com.

To catch all the wakeboarding action from home, tune in to Fuel TV. For exact air dates, visit www.prowakeboardtour.com.

Fuel TV is a 24/7 action-sports lifestyle network for wakeboarding, skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX and freestyle motocross. A unit of Fox Cable Networks, Fuel TV was launched July 1, 2003, and is seen in 24 million U.S. homes. To subscribe to Fuel TV, call 877-4-FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit fuel.tv.

MasterCraft is the exclusive tow boat for the Pro Wakeboard Tour, as it has been since the tour’s wakeboarding events began in 1992. Indmar Marine engines will provide the power for MasterCraft’s X Series line of competition tow boats.

Rockstar is the world’s most powerful energy drink. Developed to increase the recovery time of those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles, Rockstar Energy Drink is available in 10 flavors — Original, Sugar Free, Juiced, Zero Carb, Guava, Pomegranate, Punched, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Vanilla Light and Roasted Latte — at convenience stores and retail grocery outlets across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and the United Kingdom.

WakeBoarding, published by Bonnier Corp., is the official magazine of the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour. WakeBoarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour has the support of the following sponsors: MasterCraft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Mona Vie, the U.S. Air Force, Indmar, Billabong, Hyperlite, CWB, Gator Boards, Ronix, Oakley, Reef, Cire, wakeworld.com and theliquidcircus.com.