Rookie Clifford Wins Fort Worth Tour Stop, Butler Repeats

Date: 5/31/09
Author: WSM Press Release

Related Links:
Ft. Worth Pro Tour Stop - Day 1 of 3
Ft. Worth Pro Tour Stop - Day 2 of 3

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 recurring 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.

The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour is a three-day-long carnival of water-sports action. But not all of the action takes place on the water. On land, fans will experience tons of 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 MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour is organized by World Sports & Marketing of Orlando, Fla. The Pro Tour has the support of the following sponsors: MasterCraft, Rockstar Energy Drink, Mona Vie, the U.S. Air Force, Indmar, Billabong, Hyperlite, CWB, Ronix, Liquid Force, Gator Boards, Oakley, Ride the Wake, FUEL TV and Allisports.com.

MasterCraft is the exclusive tow boat for the Pro Wakeboard Tour, as it has been since the tour's wakeboarding events began in 1992. Indmar Marine engines will provide the power for MasterCraft's X Series line of competition tow boats.

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 eleven amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango Orange Passion Fruit, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, and Roasted Light Vanilla. 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, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, and throughout the United Kingdom.

Media PartnersTo catch all the high-flying, rail-sliding, water-sports action of the King of Wake series, tune in to FUEL TV - the official television partner of the King of Wake. WakeBoarding, published by Bonnier Corp., is the official magazine of the King of Wake series. Read about all things wakeboarding, with expert coverage of professional instruction, gear, boats and news.

King of WakeViewed as the world's elite pro wakeboarding circuit, the King of Wake series has attracted the sport's top athletes from throughout the globe. With more than $300,000 in prize money over the eight-event season, athletes compete during the course of the year to be named the "King of Wake" - an award based on points accumulated at each stop of the series. Events include the Wake Games, the WWA Wakeboard National Championships, the WWA Wakeboard World Championships and all five stops on the Pro Wakeboard Tour. The King of Wake is organized by World Sports & Marketing - the leading wake events producer since 1988.

Alli, the Alliance of Action SportsAlli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, AMA Motocross Championship, King of Wake series and the Free Flow Tour; Alli Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at allisports.com.
Day 3 Results

Pro Men Finals
1. Harley Clifford (AUS) - 94.75
2. Aaron Rathy (CDN) - 89.50
3. Andrew Adkison (USA) - 79.25
4. Olivier Derome (CDN) - 76.50

Pro Women Finals
1. Nicola Butler (UK) - 98.50
2. Amber Wing (AUS) - 84.75
3. Dallas Friday (USA) - 79.00
4. Raimi Merritt (USA) - 72.25
5. Meagan Ethell (USA) - 60.50
6. Raequel Hoffman (USA) - 55.00

Jr. Pro Men Finals
1. Bob Soven (USA) - 96.50
2. Phillip Aslinger (USA) - 81.75
3. Mitch Langfield (AUS) - 81.50
4. Steel Lafferty (USA) - 80.25

Pro Men Semifinals (top 2 riders in each heat advance)

Heat #1
1. Andrew Adkison (USA) - 89.75
2. Olivier Derome (CDN) - 82.75
===
3. Adam Errington (SCT) - 79.75
4. Nick Davies (UK) - 75.00
5. Rusty Malinoski (CDN) - 72.75

Heat #2
1. Harley Clifford (AUS) - 90.25
2. Aaron Rathy (CDN) - 89.25
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3. Phillip Soven (USA) - 86.00
4. Kyle Alberts (USA) - 68.75
5. Austin Hair (USA) - 65.75

Jr. Pro Men Semifinals (top 2 riders in each heat advance)

Heat #1
1. Steel Lafferty (USA) - 90.00
2. Phillip Aslinger (USA) - 88.50
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3. Jarrod Askew (AUS) - 84.50
4. Danny Burnstein (USA) - 73.25
5. Johnny Tobaben (USA) - 63.75

Heat #2
1. Bob Soven (USA) - 93.75
2. Mitch Langfield (AUS) - 92.75
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3. Raphael Derome (CDN) - 83.50
4. Daniel Powers (USA) - 70.00
5. Pierce Homsey (USA) - 46.50

Pro Men Quarterfinals (top 2 riders in each heat advance)

Heat #1
1. Aaron Rathy (CDN) - 98.00
2. Olivier Derome (CDN) - 88.25
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3. Dean Smith (AUS) - 81.75
4. Danny Thollander (USA) - 72.00

Heat #2
1. Andrew Adkison (USA) - 96.00
2. Austin Hair (USA) - 86.25
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3. Danny Harf (USA) - 83.25
4. Bryan Hutton (USA) - 74.50

Heat #3
1. Adam Errington (SCT) - 97.75
2. Kyle Alberts (USA) - 86.50
===
3. Josh Palma (USA) - 82.75
4. Dylan Miller (CDN) - 53.75

Heat #4
1. Harley Clifford (AUS) - 94.25
2. Rusty Malinoski (CDN) - 89.00
===
3. Trevor Hansen (USA) - 86.75
4. Jimmy LaRiche (USA) - 70.00

Heat #5
1. Phillip Soven (USA) - 96.25
2. Nick Davies (UK) - 87.00
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3. Tino Santori (USA) - 82.75
4. Kirby Liesmann (USA) - 74.00