Never before in theMasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour’s 17-year history has Pro Women’s wakeboarding been featured in Fort Worth. So it came as no surprise today to see thousands of fans lining the shores of Lake Moser at Texas MasterCraft to witness their debut. Fans were also happy to wait in line for hours to take photos and receive autographs from the talented female rippers.

Nearly 20 of the world’s best female wakeboarders took to the water today for the opening round of the Pro Women’s Division. After all five heats ended, only the top-two riders from each heat advanced onto the semifinals, sending nearly half the competitors home.

Soon after the quarterfinals ended, the pro women were back to work for round-two. The 10 semifinalists battled it out on the water in two heats of five with only the top-three riders from each heat advancing onto tomorrow’s finals.

After everything was said and done, 2008 Wake Games champion Nicola Butler (Cape Town, South Africa), current women’s wakeboard world champion Amber Wing (Sydney, Australia), ESPN Espy winner Dallas Friday (Orlando, Florida), 2007 Pro Tour titlist Shelby Kantar (Sacramento, California), Australia Pro Tour champ Hayley Smith (Sydney, Australia) and X Games gold medalist Emily Copeland Durham (Denver, Colorado) became the first-ever Pro Women’s finalists in Fort Worth.

“It’s an awesome feeling to be riding in Fort Worth in front of such a great crowd,” said current Indmar Performance Standings leader Nicola Butler. “All the girls were stoked to be at this tour stop and the fans showed us nothing, but love.”

The six finalists will compete for the first-ever Fort Worth title tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

The Pro Men’s Division took to the water today for their Round of 40, where the top-40 riders competed in 10 heats of four for a spot in tomorrow’s quarterfinals. Only the top-two riders from each heat advanced, cutting the competition in half.

Among the 20 riders moving onto the quarterfinals was two-time WWA World Series champion Daniel Watkins (Gold Coast, Australia). Watkins entered the Fort Worth contest coming off a back injury that prevented the Aussie rider from competing at the Tour’s first stop in Acworth, Ga.

Watkins and the other 19 quarterfinalists will hit the water tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The Tour’s young, up-and-coming riders hit the water today for the Jr. Men’s Division quarterfinals. The top-20 Jr. rippers from this weekend’s contest battled it out in five heats of four to try to earn one of the 10 spots in tomorrow’s semifinals.

Only the top-two riders from each heat moved on past the quarterfinals, advancing Jimmy LaRiche, AJ Racinelli, Robert Soven, Phillip Aslinger, Nick Davies, Ryan King, Daniel Powers, Raphael Derome, Julian Cohen and Harley Clifford onto the semifinal round.

Fort Worth is the second of five stops on the 2008 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour. Following Fort Worth, the Tour will visit Twin Cities, Minn. (June 7-8), Phoenix, Ariz. (June 28-29) and wrap-up in Reno, Nev. (July 11-13).

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 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.

Tickets can be purchased on-site May 30-June 1 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 30, 12 p.m. EST.

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 www.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 improve 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.


Saturday, May 31 – Day 2 Results:

Round of 40 Heat #: 01

3 Hindes, James       USA  83.00

4 Carter, Robby         USA 80.50

Round of 40 Heat #: 02

2 Bradley, Corey      USA  86.25

3 Bonifay, Shane       USA  82.25

4 Palma, Josh            USA 75.00

Round of 40 Heat #: 03

3 Carne, Sam                  82.00

4 Ruck, Erik              USA 71.25

Round of 40 Heat #: 04

3 Brown, Alex           USA  80.50

4 Rattray, Kyle          CAN 75.00

Round of 40 Heat #: 05

3 Ennen, Mikey         USA  83.75

4 House, Jeff            USA 73.75

Round of 40 Heat #: 06

2Watson, Shawn     USA  88.75

3 Sanders, Josh        AUS  81.25

4 Krause, Clayton      USA 73.00

Round of 40 Heat #: 07

3 Smith, Dean          AUS  82.25

4 Trask, Jimmy          USA 70.00

Round of 40 Heat #: 08

2Alberts, Kyle         USA  85.00

3 O’Shea, Chris        AUS  79.25

4 Giardi, Marcelo        BRZ 75.75

Round of 40 Heat #: 09

2Adkison, Andrew    USA  90.50

3 Burton-Moore, Nick           81.75

4 Miller, Dylan                 76.00

Round of 40 Heat #: 10

2Hair, Austin           USA  82.50

3 Fooshee, Tom        USA  77.25

4 Thollander, Danny    USA 74.00

      Semifinal Round       Heat #:   01

 3 Smith, Hayley             AUS   81.75

   4 Marquardt, Melissa         USA 81.00

   5 Lorhmann, Laura           USA 25.50

      Semifinal Round       Heat #:   02

 3 Kantar, Shelby            USA   75.25

   4 Merritt, Raimi               USA 73.50

   4 Fountain, Andrea           NZL   69.25

       Quarter Finals        Heat #:   01

 1 Aslinger, Phillip           USA   56.67

 3 Homsey, Pierce                   41.67

 4 Allbright, Ben               USA 29.44

         Junior Men (14-18)

       Quarter Finals        Heat #:   02

 3 Scagliotti, Alex             USA 51.11

 4 Thomson, Sam             AUS 36.67

         Junior Men (14-18)

       Quarter Finals        Heat #:   03

 3 Askew, Jarrod              AUS 67.22

 4 Galotifore, Nick                   47.22

         Junior Men (14-18)

       Quarter Finals        Heat #:   04

 3 Liesmann, Kirby            USA 46.11

 4 Kress, Taylor               USA 37.78

         Junior Men (14-18)

       Quarter Finals        Heat #:   05

 3 Graydon, Alex              USA 49.44

   4 Shuler, Gunnar             USA 38.89

     Qualifying Round      Heat #:   01

 3 Hoffman, Shawna          USA 68.00

   4 Petratitis, Danni            USA 59.50

     Qualifying Round      Heat #:   02

 3 Major, Maeghan             USA 46.00

   4 Williams, Cathy            USA 40.25

     Qualifying Round      Heat #:   03

 3 Hoffman, Raequel         USA 49.75

   4 Ensminger, Andrea         USA 48.75

     Qualifying Round      Heat #:   04

 3 Leugner, Ashley            CAN 87.50

     Qualifying Round      Heat #:   05