Orlando, Florida - The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour may have changed venues from Orlando WaterSports Complex to Cranes Roost in 2003, but the result was the same as Shawn Watson owned the event, winning the first stop of the season for the second year in a row.
In the first event of the Pro Tour Season presented by Chevy Trucks and GM Vortec engines, Watson took the Pro Men's Championship and the $5,000 prize purse courtesy of Indmar Marine engines. Joining Watson on the podium were Brett Eisenhauer and Shaun Murray who finished second and third respectively.
In the Pro Women's stop presented by Barts WaterSports, Dallas Friday made it three consecutive Pro Tour stop victories in Orlando, dating back to the first event of 2001. Maeghan Major and Emily Copeland took second and third respectively for the women.
In a strong field for the Pro Men's final, Watson displayed the form that has earned him two National titles in the past three years.
"I've pretty much killed it all weekend," said Watson who won his first pro event in Orlando in 2000 when he took home the National Championship. "I finished first in each heat, and I just carried that to the final."
Watson successfully landed a toeside and heelside 720 in both his runs on Sunday.
In the first-ever finals of the SeaDoo Pro Wakeskate Tour Thomas Horrell took top honors over Brian Grubb and Aaron Reed, second and third
respectively.
In the MasterCraft Junior Men's event, JD Webb had the best run in the finals to take home the championship. Jonathan Nadolski finished second and Jeff House finished third.
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Chevy Trucks and GM Vortec Engines, is a five-event circuit organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Florida. Powered by Indmar, the Pro Tour has the support of the following: Bud Light, 180 Energy Drink, SeaDoo watercraft, Hyperlite, Perfect Pass, Activision, Liquid Force, Epiphone Guitars, CWB, OJ Props, Gator Boards, Chipper Beef Jerky, Earthboard, Bare Wetsuits, buywake.com, Billabong, Reef, Love Sac, Body Glove, Capix Helmets, JoyRide, 3thirteen, Indo Boards, One Percent Designs, UGP, Straightline, Bootie Lube, Liquid Lube, Monaco and Barts Water Sports.
Wake Boarding Magazine, published 9 times a year by World Publications, is the official magazine of Pro Wakeboard Tour. Wake Boarding is the definitive source on all things wakeboarding including professional instruction, gear, boats and the latest news.
Sunday's Final Results
Pro Men Finals
1 Shawn Watson (FL) 97
2 Brett Eisenhauer (AUS) 91
3 Shaun Murray (FL) 89
Erik Ruck (WI) 87
Trevor Hansen (FL) 86
Danny Harf (FL) 83
Josh Sanders (AUS) 82
Rob Struharik (OH) 78
Darin Shapiro (FL) 73
Pro Women Finals
1 Dallas Friday (FL) 97
2 Maeghan Major (NC) 94
3 Emily Copeland (CO) 91
Lauren Loe (TX) 84
Tara Hamilton (FL) 83
Lauren Harf (FL) 83
Cheryl Newton (CA) 81
Leslie Kent (FL) 79
Pro Wakeskate Finals
1 Thomas Horrell (FL) 96
2 Brian Grubb (FL) 95
3 Aaron Reed (FL) 91
Brandon Thomas (FL) 88
Scott Byerly (FL) 85
Drew McGuckin (FL) 82
Jr Men Finals
1 J D Webb (FL) 97
2 Jonathan Nadolski (FL) 92
3 Jeff House (TN) 89
Josh Chism (FL) 89
Travis Stewart (WA) 87
Devin Rogers (FL) 84
Pro Men Semifinals
(Top 3 advance to Finals)
HEAT # 1
1 Shawn Watson (FL) 97
2 Shaun Murray (FL) 92
3 Rob Struharik (OH) 89
Andrew Adkison (FL) 88
Parks Bonifay (FL) 87
Loren Levine (WI) 84
