Gator wakeboards would like to congratulate Kyle Rattray, AJ Racinelli, & Danny Burnstein for all finishing top twenty, in addition to qualifing for the rest of the pro tour stops this year. Kyle Rattray 7th, AJ Racinelli 11th, Danny Burnstein 18th. Danny got bumped to 16th after two athletes who placed before him could not make it to any of the remanding stops. We would also like to thank Nick G for showing a presence and looking forward to him joining the ranks with the rest of the boys at the next stop.

Clifford, Marquardt Win Acworth Pro Tour Stop
Tezuka Becomes First Japanese Rider to Win a Pro Tour Event
 
Acworth, Ga. – Fans packed the shores of Lake Allatoona at Dallas Landing Park today to catch the final rounds of action at the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Acworth, Ga. The sport’s top pros spent the day battling it out behind the MasterCraft X-Star for wins in the Jr. Pro Men, Pro Women and Pro Men’s divisions.
 
The Pro Men’s division kicked off the Pro Tour’s last day in Acworth, narrowing the field of 20 riders down to six for the final round of action.
 
Rookie Steel Lafferty and Seattle’s Nick Jones both made their Pro Men finals debut today against several wakeboarding heavyweights, including former Pro Tour titlist Harley Clifford and reigning champ Phillip Soven.
 
Both newcomers put up a respectable showing, with Lafferty and Jones finishing in third and fourth place, respectively.
 
Top seed Phillip Soven appeared to have an edge on the competition in the finals, but ultimately fell short to winner Harley Clifford, who pulled off the upset to take first place in Acworth.
 
“I’m so stoked to start the season with a win,” said Clifford. “Phil [Soven] is always tough to go up against, but I rode really well today and came out on top.”
 
Today’s win marks Clifford’s second consecutive victory in Acworth.
 
Also walking away a winner in Acworth today is current wakeboard world champion Dean Smith. The 26-year-old Australian won the Rockstar Energy Drink Big-Air Kick Contest, a $1,000 cash prize, after landing a massive Hootchie Backside 360.
 
In the Pro Women’s division, all eyes were on top seed Amber Wing and former Pro Tour titlist Nicola Butler to see who would come out on top in the finals. But neither favorite would take the win in the six-woman final, as California’s Melissa Marquardt pulled off the upset to claim her first Pro Tour stop victory.
 
“I’m a little shocked, I didn’t expect to win,” said Marquardt. “But now that I have, I’m stoked about it.”
 
Marquardt, 27, of Canyon Lake, Calif. landed a massive Back Roll to Blind and a Toeside 540 in her final run to post the winning score of 71.67. Wing and Butler rounded out the top three, respectively.
 
In the Jr. Pro Men’s division, history was made today, as Shota Tezuka became the first Japanese rider ever to win a Pro Tour event. Tezuka, 17, from Gotenba, Japan, blew the competition out of the water in the four-man final, posting a score of 97.00, a 13-point difference from his next closest competitor. Jacob Valdez and Aussie Dylan Prideaux rounded out the Jr. Pro Men’s podium, respectively.
 
“It feels awesome, I’m very excited,” Tezuka commented on his win today. “I rode really well, had fun and won.”
 
In addition to winning the Jr. Pro Men’s finals today, Tezuka turned heads in Acworth, beating out Rusty Malinoski and special guest Parks Bonifay in the Overton’s Double Up Contest. Tezuka took home the $1,000 cash prize for landing a massive Heelside Frontside 900 off the double up.
 
With the first stop of the season all wrapped up, the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will now head to Fort Worth, Tex., on June 2-4. Additional 2011 Pro Tour venues include Colorado Springs, Colo., Monroe, Wash., and Knoxville, Tenn.
 
For more information on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, please visit www.prowakeboardtour.com, or connect with us via Facebook (www.facebook.com/kingofwake) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/thekingofwake).
 
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla., and has the support of the following sponsors: MasterCraft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Overton’s, Indmar, Peavey, Billabong, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Byerly, Oakley, Sayiwon’t, Epiphone and TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine.
 
About MasterCraft
MasterCraft is the exclusive towboat for the Pro Wakeboard Tour, as it has been since the tour’s wakeboarding events began in 1992.
 
About Rockstar Energy Drink
ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars. ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available in eighteen amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango Orange Passion Fruit, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, Roasted Light Vanilla, Cola, Recovery Lemonade, Recovery Orange, Recovery Grape, Pink, and 2X. ROCKSTAR ENERGY SHOTS are available in Wild Berry and Tropical Punch flavors. ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Mexico, the Philippines and throughout the United Kingdom.  Go to www.rockstar69.com or www.facebook.com/rockstar for athlete and event updates, videos, profiles, and product information.
 
About Indmar
Indmar is the world's largest privately held manufacturer of gasoline powered inboard marine engines. Indmar Marine Engines have led the market on dependability, longevity, and performance for decades.
 
About TransWorld WAKEBOARDING Magazine
TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine is the leader in wake-sports media by delivering the best instruction, latest product reviews, insider knowledge and the finest photography. TransWorld WAKEBOARDING accurately defines the wake-riding lifestyle by offering a broad range of content, which helps wake enthusiasts become better riders and enjoy their time on and off the water.
 
May 21 Results:
 
Pro Men
Final Round – Heat #1
1  Harley Clifford              AUS        85.00
2  Phillip Soven                  USA        80.00
3  Steel Lafferty                  USA        60.00
4  Nick Jones                      USA        57.50
5  Bob Soven                      USA        55.00
6  Adam Errington             USA        45.00
 
Pro Women
Final Round – Heat #1
1  Melissa Marquardt       USA        71.67
2  Amber Wing                   AUS        66.67
3  Nicola Butler                   GBR         58.33
4  Emily Durham                 USA        53.33
5  Anna Hajek                     USA        46.67
6  Raimi Merritt                   USA        36.67
 
Jr. Pro Men
Final Round – Heat #1
1  Shota Tezuka                 JPN         97.00
2  Jacob Valdez                   USA        84.00
3  Dylan Prideaux               AUS        83.50
4  Joshua Twelker              USA        75.50
 
Pro Men
Semifinal Round – Heat #1
1  Harley Clifford              AUS        76.67
2  Adam Errington            USA        65.00
3  Bob Soven                       USA        60.17
4  Rusty Malinoski            CAN        54.00
5  Corey Bradley                USA        48.33
 
Pro Men
Semifinal Round – Heat #2
1  Phillip Soven                  USA        73.33
2  Nick Jones                     USA        60.00
3  Steel Lafferty                 USA        53.33
4  Kyle Rattray                   CAN        45.00
5  Trevor Hansen               USA        40.00
 
Jr. Pro Men
Semifinal Round – Heat #1
1  Shota Tezuka                 JPN         97.25
2  Joshua Twelker            USA        85.75
3  Freddie Wayne              USA        72.75
4  Gunnar Shuler                USA        65.75
5  Michael Dowdy             USA        65.00
 
Jr. Pro Men
Semifinal Round – Heat #2
1  Dylan Prideaux              AUS        96.25
2  Jacob Valdez                  USA        89.75
3  Kyle Evans                     USA        76.50
4  Mark Kroon                    NED        69.50
5  Gordon Harrison            USA        68.00
 
Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #1
1  Bob Soven                       USA        74.17
2  Nick Jones                     USA        73.33
3  Andrew Adkison           USA        60.00
4  Kirby Liesmann              USA        53.33
 
Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #2
1  Steel Lafferty                 USA        65.00
2  Adam Errington            USA        60.00
3  Dean Smith                     AUS        53.33
4  Olivier Derome               CAN        50.00
 
Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #3
1  Trevor Hansen               USA        70.00
2  Rusty Malinoski           CAN        56.67
3  AJ Racinelli                     USA        45.00
4  Shaun Murray                USA        38.33
 
Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #4
1  Harley Clifford              AUS        80.00
2  Kyle Rattray                   CAN        70.00
3  Jimmy LaRiche               USA        58.33
4  Danny Burnstein           USA        50.00
 
Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #5
1  Phillip Soven                  USA        71.67
2  Corey Bradley               USA        63.33
3  Austin Hair                     USA        55.00
4  Phillip Aslinger              USA        45.00