Knoxville, Tenn. – Fans packed the shores of Volunteer Landing in Knoxville, Tenn. today, as the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour rolled into town for its first day of action this weekend, June 27 & 28.

The top 40 pro riders from around the world hit the water today for the opening rounds of the two-day-long contest, competing in ten heats of four, with only the top two riders in each heat advancing onto tomorrow’s quarterfinals.

Among the 20 riders to advance today was defending Pro Tour titlist Phillip Soven, who posted the only perfect score of the day with 100-points. Canadian ripper Chad Sharpe also made an impact today, ending a recent cold streak by leading his heat.

Both Soven and Sharpe will hit the water tomorrow, along with 18 other riders for the quarterfinals.

In the Jr. Pro Men’s division, 20 amateur rippers hit the water today for their quarterfinals, competing in five heats of four. With only the top two riders in each heat advancing, half the competition was cut from the contest to set up tomorrow’s 10-man semifinal. Among the ten riders to advance past the opening round was Aussie Mitch Langfield, who posted the highest score of the day with 98.50.

Riders will hit the water again tomorrow, June 28 (9:30am to 3:30pm) for the final day of the event.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate on event dates for $10 (general admission), $5 (ages 6-12) or free (ages 5 and under).

Athletes competing in Knoxville are not only vying for a cash purse, but also for points toward the Pro Tour standings; points are awarded based on final placement in the event. The highest total points-earner at the end of the five-event season will claim the coveted Pro Tour title and a cash bonus.

Canadian ripper Aaron Rathy sits at the top of the Pro Tour standings list and enters the Knoxville stop as the top-seeded rider, after topping the contest podium in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. last weekend. Rathy will look to capture the win in Knoxville and increase his lead in the standings, but faces a tough field of competitors along the way, including Aussie rookie phenom Harley Clifford and two-time wakeboard world champion Andrew Adkison.

Head to Volunteer Landing in Knoxville this weekend to see if Rathy can pull off another win or will be left in the wake of another rider.

In addition to all the action on the water, on land, spectators will enjoy great food and music; athlete autograph signings; chances to win freebies; 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.

The event will run from 9:30am to 4:30pm on Saturday, June 27; 9:30am to 3:30pm on Sunday, June 28.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate on event dates for $10 (general admission), $5 (ages 6-12) or free (ages 5 and under).

For daily schedules, results, standings, photos, videos, athlete bios and more, please visit www.allisports.com

Fort Worth, Tex. – Fans packed the shores of Texas MasterCraft today for the final rounds of the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in Fort Worth, Tex. Riders in the Pro Men, Women and Jr. Pro Men divisions, threwdown their best runs of the contest to try to win the first Tour stop of the 2009 season.

 The one reoccurring theme throughout this weekend’s contest in the Pro Men’s division was upsets created by rookie riders, and today was no different. Harley Clifford of Thornlands, Australia, shocked everyone in Fort Worth today, when the 15-year-old rookie was called to the top of the Pro Men’s podium. Clifford, posting a 94.75 in his final run, beat out Olivier Derome, Aaron Rathy and two-time wakeboard world champion, Andrew Adkison for the top spot.

 “I’m just stoked… there are no other words,” said Clifford. “Making it to the Finals was huge for me, but winning my first U.S. Pro Tour stop is just unreal.”

 As unreal as it may seem to Clifford, the rookie rider now sits at the top of the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour standings list, making him the top-seeded rider in the next contest.

 Incidentally, another rookie rider, England’s Nick Davies, claimed the ROCKSTAR Best Trick Award with his massive Toe-9 off of the U.S. Air Force kicker. The Award is a $1,000 cash prize.

 Continuing her success from 2008, England’s Nicola Butler took first-place today in the Pro Women’s division Finals. Butler, 17, who captured the win in Fort Worth last year, faced off in a stacked six-woman Final. Former wakeboard world champ Amber Wing and four-time X Games gold medalist Dallas Friday rounded out the women’s podium, respectively.

 The top amateur riders in the Jr. Pro Men’s division hit the water today for their four-man Final. The heat was tight between most of the riders, but Bob Soven (Longwood, Fla.) stood out from the competition to take the first Tour stop win of the season with nearly a 15-point differential from his next closest competitor. Phillip Alsinger, Mitch Langfield and Steel Lafferty rounded the Final, respectively. 

 The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour will make its next stop of the season in Pleasant Prairie, Wis., on June 19-21.

 For results, standings, photos, videos, athlete bios and more, visit www.allisports.com.