Soven and Butler One Step Closer to Making History After Day One of Twin Cities Contest
Press Release
Date: 06-09-2008
Twin Cities, Minn. - The world's top pro wakeboarders took to the waters of Island Lake County Park today for the first of two days at the 2008 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in the Twin Cities.
Hailing from Tahiti, Brazil, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the United States, the world's top-40 male riders battled it out on the water in the Pro Men's Division Round of 40 for a spot in the quarterfinals. Only the top-two riders from each of the 10 heats advanced past the opening-round of the contest.
Current Wake Games champion Rusty Malinoski (CAN) and two-time U.S. wakeboard national champion Shawn Watson (USA) were not only among the 20 riders to move onto tomorrow's quarterfinals, but both rippers posted a perfect score of 100 points during their run today. Watson and Malinoski will be joined by 18 other quarterfinalists tomorrow for the second-round of the contest.
Current wakeboard world champion Phillip Soven (USA) also advanced past today’s round of 40. Soven currently leads the Tour's Indmar Performance standings. Should the Florida native take home the win in the Twin Cities tomorrow, Soven will become the first rider in Tour history to start the season with three consecutive wins.
For the first time in the Tour's 17-year history, the top female pro wakeboarders made their debut on the waters of the Twin Cities today for the Pro Women's Division qualifying round. The talented female rippers competed in five heats during the opening-round with only the top-two riders from each heat advancing onto the semifinals.
Shortly after the qualifiers finished, the 10 semifinalists hit the water for the second round of the Twin Cities contest. Advancing only the top-three riders from the two heats, Dallas Friday (USA), Amber Wing (AUS), Laura Lohrmann (USA), Nicola Butler (UK), Melissa Marquardt (USA) and Shelby Kantar (USA) today became the first-ever Pro Women's Division finalist at the Twin Cities stop.
All six finalists are looking to capture the top spot in the Twins Cities tomorrow, but a win for 16-year old Nicola Butler would put the second-year pro rider in the record books as the first pro female rider to win at three consecutive tour stops.
Wakeboarding's future standouts hit the water today for the Jr. Men's Division quarterfinals, where 20 of the most talented, young rippers, ages 14-18, battled it out on the water in five heats of four for a spot in the semifinals.
Only the top-two Jr. riders from each of the five heats advanced past the opening round, sending half the competitors home packing. Harley Clifford (AUS) not only led his heat today to advance past the quarterfinals, but he also posted a perfect score of 100.00 points, the highest score of the day. Clifford will be joined by 10 of riders in tomorrow's semifinals.
The Twin Cities contest is the third of five stops on the 2008 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour.
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.
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour is a two-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.
Tickets can be purchased at Island Lake County Park on June 7-8 for $10 (general admission), $5 (ages 6-12) or free (ages 5 and under). To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.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.
