Nick Jonesing for a Pro Tour Win in His Home State
MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour Kicks Off in Monroe
Monroe, Wash. – The top professional wakeboarders in the world hit the waters of Lake Tye in the greater Seattle area of Monroe, Wash. today to kick off the fourth stop of the five-city MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink. The two-day-long contest, which concludes tomorrow, Saturday, July 9, opened with preliminary rounds for the Jr. Pro Men, Pro Women and Pro Men’s divisions.
Nearly 60 of the sport’s top riders spent the day competing for a spot in tomorrow’s competition, where a cash purse and crucial points toward the season standings awaits them. Among the 36 riders who advanced past today’s prelims was 24-year-old Kirkland, Wash. native Nick Jones.
“It’s so awesome to have the Pro Tour here in my home state,” said Jones. “I’ve never been so excited to compete before.”
Jones’ excitement showed today in front of a hometown crowd, as the local pro rider landed several big tricks, including a massive Big Worm and a Switch Crow 540 to finish second in his six-man qualifying heat. The only rider to best Jones in his heat today was Australian wakeboarding phenom and former Pro Tour titlist Harley Clifford.
“The sun was out, the wake was perfect and overall I had a great run today,” said Jones. “Everyone in my heat killed it today, especially Harley , and that motivates me to be a better rider.”
Jones, who has competed in the Pro Men’s division since 2007, is having his best season yet and will look to claim his first-ever Pro Tour stop win tomorrow in his home state.
“I’ve stepped up my riding and have been having a lot fun this season,” said Jones. “If I’m consistent and land everything I’ve been practicing, then I feel like I have a chance of winning in Monroe tomorrow.”
Jones will begin his campaign to win in Monroe tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. during the Pro Men quarterfinals. Throughout the day, the Pro Men’s division will eliminate riders until a winner is determined during the six-man final.
In addition to the Pro Men, the Pro Women and Jr. Pro Men’s division also squared off today, eliminating half the field of competition. Anna Hajek and Raimi Merritt both won their respective heats in the Pro Women’s division, with four additional riders advancing on to tomorrow’s six-woman final.
In Jr. Pro Men’s division, Japan’s Shota Tezuka paced the class with a perfect score of 100 points. Tezuka and nine other riders will face off tomorrow in the division’s semifinal round.
The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour will wrap up in Monroe tomorrow, July 9, with the ticketed event beginning at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets are available at the gate: $13 (adult); $5 (ages 6-12); free (ages 5 and under).
For photos from today’s contest, visit us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/prowakeboardtour).
**July 8 Results:
**
Pro Women
Semifinal Round – Heat #1
1 Anna Hajek USA 60.92
2 Nicola Butler GBR 56.67
3 Shawna Hoffman USA 51.67
4 Melissa Marquardt USA 46.67
5 Hayley Smith AUS 40.00
6 Tarah Mikacich USA 30.00
Pro Women
Semifinal Round – Heat #2
1 Raimi Merritt USA 66.67
2 Amber Wing AUS 62.50
3 Emily Durham USA 58.33
4 Corrie Dyer USA 50.00
5 Alexa Score USA 30.00
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #1
1 Freddie Wayne USA 97.25
2 Joey Buss USA 83.25
3 Kyle Evans USA 80.25
4 Gus Shuler USA 79.25
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #2
1 Jacob Valdez USA 93.75
2 Dylan Prideaux AUS 88.25
3 Pierce Homsey USA 86.50
4 Yancey Crew USA 71.50
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #3
1 Joshua Twelker USA 98.00
2 Robby Holihan USA 89.25
3 Gunnar Shuler USA 82.75
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #4
1 Daniel Powers USA 95.75
2 Mike Dowdy USA 94.25
3 Keenan Allen USA 75.75
4 Parker Siegele AUS 74.25
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #5
1 Shota Tezuka JPN 100.00
2 Gordon Harrison USA 87.00
3 Kyler Green USA 80.00
4 Morgan Pedersen USA 57.25
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #1
1 Steel Lafferty USA 79.25
2 Austin Hair USA 75.00
3 Jimmy LaRiche USA 73.33
4 Jeff House USA 65.00
5 Adam Errington USA 56.67
6 Dante Digangi USA 43.33
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #2
1 Andrew Adkison USA 71.67
2 JD Webb USA 67.50
3 Olivier Derome CAN 64.00
4 Rusty Malinoski CAN 61.83
5 Joey Bradley USA 58.33
6 Zane Schwenk USA 45.00
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #3
1 Dean Smith AUS 83.33
2 Bob Soven USA 78.33
3 Shaun Murray USA 70.00
4 AJ Racinelli USA 68.33
5 Danny Harf USA 55.00
6 Sam Thomson AUS 46.67
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #4
1 Harley Clifford AUS 86.67
2 Nick Jones USA 76.67
3 Chad Sharpe CAN 65.67
4 Tony Carroll USA 65.00
5 Kirby Liesmann USA 56.67
6 Robby Dahlquist USA 46.67
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #5
1 Phillip Soven USA 83.33
2 Aaron Rathy CAN 78.33
3 Jason Bannatyne CAN 73.33
4 Kyle Rattray CAN 63.33
5 Danny Burnstein USA 46.67
