Six Stops Throughout North America Offer Riders A Shot at Earning Professional Status
LAKE ALFRED, Fla. (February 2, 2016) – The World Wakeboard Association (WWA) announced today the schedule for the 2016 Malibu WWA Pro Card qualifying events. Six events will be held throughout North America, providing riders the opportunity to showcase their talents and earn professional status for the 2016 season. Each Pro Card qualifying event will take place during a round of the 2016 Malibu WWA Rider Experience, the wildly popular series that offers amateur riders the chance to learn from some of the best professional riders on the water.
“The objective behind the Pro Card qualifying system was to set a higher standard of riding at professional wakeboard competitions,” said Shannon Starling, WWA President. “Throughout this process, the system has helped to identify and legitimize elite-level riders worthy of obtaining their Pro Card. The end result is a deeper talent pool of truly professional riders progressing the sport on and off the water.”
The Top 15 pros on each of the 2015 Wakeboard World Rankings retain their Pro Card for the 2016 season. All other riders must obtain their Pro Card at one of the six qualifying events. For the full list of WWA Pro Card rules visit TheWWA.com/ProCard.
2016 Pro Card Holders (As of Feb. 2)
- Harley Clifford
- Phillip Soven
- Rusty Malinoski
- Austin Hair
- Shota Tezuka
- Steel Lafferty
- Tony Carroll
- Noah Flegel
- Dean Smith
- Daniel Powers
- JD Webb
- Mike Dowdy
- Tony Iacconi
- Josh Twelker
- Massi Piffaretti
Malibu Boat dealers in each region will host the WWA Pro Card Qualifier & Rider Experiences beginning in Orlando, Florida, on March 19, 2016.
2016 Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifiers & Rider Experience Dates
Pro Card Qualifier – # 1
Host: Freedom Wake Park
Orlando, Florida
March 19
Pro Card Qualifier – #2
(Rider Experience West)
Host Dealer: Boulder Boats
Lake Las Vegas
Las Vegas
May 13-15
Pro Card Qualifier – #3
(Rider Experience South)
Host Dealer: Promarine
Hyco Lake
Roxboro, North Carolina
June 3-5
Pro Card Qualifier – #4
(Rider Experience Central)
Host Dealer: SMG Houston
3 Palms Action Sports Park
Houston
July 8-10
Pro Card Qualifier – #5
(Rider Experience East)
Held in conjunction with Wootown Wakefest
Host Dealer: East Coast Flight Craft
Lake Quinsigamond
Worcester, Massachusetts
July 15-17
Pro Card Qualifier – #6
(Rider Experience Canada)
Host Dealer: Aqua Sport Marine
Wow Lake
St. Zotique, QC, Canada
August 12-14
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About Malibu Boats
Malibu Boats is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, known for leading the industry with major innovations, including the first onboard computer system in 1993, the ingenious Power Wedge hydrofoil in 2006 (completely redesigned in 2014), the industry’s first wake-maximizing hull in 2000, and Surf Gate, the innovation that changed the face of wakesurfing forever, in 2012. Malibu markets the Wakesetter and Response models – as well as the Axis Wake Research brand – through a worldwide dealer network. With some 450 employees and three manufacturing facilities, in California, Tennessee, and Australia, Malibu builds boats to help you live a #lifewithoutlimits on the water. (NASDAQ: MBUU) | @malibuboats | #evolutionproseries
About the WWA
The World Wakeboard Association is the global leader in wake sports sanctioning. The WWA owns and operates the WWA Wakeboard World Series, WWA Wake Park World Series, WWA Wakeboard National Championships, WWA Wake Park National Championships, WWA Wakeboard World Championships, WWA Wake Park World Championships, WWA Wake Park Triple Crown, WWA Pro Card and WWA Rider Experience. With 27 affiliate countries worldwide, the WWA is a rider-formed organization dedicated to promoting and growing wake sports worldwide. It is the primary source for riders, event organizers and competitive standards. For more information on the WWA and its events, check out www.thewwa.com
