The top professional wakeboarders from throughout the globe are set to hit the waters of Dallas Landing Park in the greater Atlanta area of Acworth, Ga., on May 19-21, to kick off the remarkable 20th season of MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour. All the high-flying, rail-sliding water-sports action will take place just offshore from the park's beach, on Lake Allatoona, where the sport's top pros will compete for a cash purse and points toward the season standings for the coveted Pro Tour title.
Throughout the three-day event, riders will compete in a series of elimination rounds by performing rail tricks and aerial stunts, while being pulled on the water by the official Pro Tour towboat, the legendary MasterCraft X-Star, at pro speeds of around 25mph. Tricks are scored by a panel of top judges, with only the high-scoring athletes advancing in each round until a winner is determined in the finals, on Saturday, May 21.
Following the final rounds of action on Saturday, the Pro Tour will also host two exhibition events on site, including the Overton's Double Up Contest and a Big-Air Kicker Contest. Both events are designed to feature select athletes performing exciting and innovative new tricks that aren't normally attempted in a traditional contest setting.
The 2011 Acworth tour stop, will mark the Pro Tour's fifth appearance at Dallas Landing Park in the last six years. Last year, the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink made a splash in front of a crowd of more than 8,000 people, as several historical events took place in Acworth.
Teenage Australian phenom Harley Clifford took first place at Dallas Landing Park in 2010, after landing a handle pass KGB 540, the first ever in a contest. Also former world champion Rusty Malinoski landed one of the most exciting tricks ever performed in Acworth, a Toeside 1080 during the event's Double Up Contest.
The 2011 Pro Tour opener promises to be even better, with addition of the Pro Women's division. The sport's top female rippers have not competed at Dallas Landing Park since 2008 and are looking to make an impact in Acworth during their return.
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 MasterCraft boats, wakeboards, wakeskates, sunglasses and the latest in wakeboarding and surfing fashions. At the Pro Tour's entertainment stage, guests can catch athlete interviews, color commentators and interactive live music.
The first two days of action in Acworth feature qualifying rounds for riders, and is free to the public to watch. Saturday, May 21 will be a ticketed event beginning at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 8 p.m. Friday, May 19 will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday's event will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.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 PWT, please visit the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour on TransWorld Wakeboarding
