#
THE COMEBACK KING:
Former King of Wake Aaron Rathy Looks to Win in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Tex. – The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour continued its 2011 season today, as riders from around the world hit the waters of Texas MasterCraft’s Lake Moser in Fort Worth, Tex. for the second stop of its five-city circuit. The Fort Worth tour stop, which continues through Saturday, June 4, opened with qualifying rounds for riders looking to join the top-16 seeded pros in tomorrow’s first full round of action.
Among the 27 pros who advanced today is former King of Wake champion Aaron Rathy. The 23-year-old Canadian from Nanaimo, B.C. was the No. 1 rider in the world in 2009, but has been plagued by a knee injury for the past year, causing him to slip in the standings.
The former world champion recently underwent micro fracture surgery to repair his left knee in hopes of returning to his old form.
“I rode with the injury all last season and it ended up chipping the cartilage off my knee bone,” said Rathy. “I finally got the surgery done and I’ve been easing back in to riding.”
Unfortunately, Rathy ended up taking it too easy during the 2011 Pro Tour season opener in Acworth, Ga., failing to advance past the preliminary round due to a “mellow” performance.
“In Acworth, I just wasn’t in the competitive mindset,” said Rathy. “I took it easy on my run there and it ended up costing me early in the contest. I learned the hard way and I’m going to use that as motivation to step it up in Fort Worth”
Today Rathy participated in his first Pro Tour qualifier since 2007 and didn’t take any chances.
“I had a good run today, it flowed well,” said Rathy. “I hit a Cab 7 and a Toeside 5, so I’m pretty happy with what I did today.”
Rathy will continue his comeback campaign tomorrow in the Pro Men’s Round of 40, which begins at 11:30 a.m. The 2006 Rookie of the Year is looking fort his first Pro Tour stop victory since his winning 2009 season.
Tomorrow’s free event will kick off at 8 a.m. with the Jr. Pro Men quarterfinals, followed by the Pro Women’s semifinals at 10 a.m. The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour will wrap up in Fort Worth on Saturday, June 4, with the ticketed event beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 7:30 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.
