Houston Pro - Day 1 | Houston Pro - Day 2

Ethell and Dowdy Earn Wins at the Malibu Houston Pro Presented by Rockstar Energy

Lake Alfred, Fla. – Fans began lining the shoreline early to capture the highly anticipated action of the Malibu Houston Pro at Bel Ray Action Sports Park. First on the water were the Traditional Pro Men semifinals at the Hanger 9 Cable Park where two riders would compete head to head and only the top rider would move on to the finals. In the traditional pro men division, Tom Fooshee, Chandler Powell, Bryce Bingham and Brady Patry all came out of the semis victorious leading into the finals. When it came down to the finals, it was once again Powell putting in two flawless runs to just edge out the King, Tom Fooshee, to finish on top in the both traditional and features pro men.
 
"I’m stoked to have not just won the traditional but the features as well," said Powell. "I was having a blast out there riding and I believe that really showed in my riding."
  
The pro women didn’t disappoint as Meagan Ethell, Jamie Lopina and Taylor McCullough battled it out all day on the water. It wasn’t easy for the judges with the top three all having spectacular runs, although it was Ethell taking both the traditional and features pro women division titles.
 
"The last two days have been crazy busy, but I rode the best I've ever ridden today winning both cable divisions and boat," said Ethell. "I trained so hard all year to accomplish this and to have had such a perfect run today made it so much fun."
  
Finally it was time for the grand finale, the moment we’ve all been anticipating, the pro men and women Wakeboard World Series finals. On the water first behind the industry leading Malibu 25 LSV were the pro women. One of the closest battles of the season between the most decorated women's riders, Dallas Friday and the two young up comers, Meagan Ethell and Raimi Merritt, came to a close. The judges were challenged as Ethell and Friday both put in phenomenal runs, but in the end it was Ethell taking three Pro Women Malibu Houston Pro wins with two on the cable, one behind the boat and the first ever pro women World Wakeboard World Series championship. Friday finished second and Malibu rider Tarah Mikacich in third.
  
"Riding behind the 25 LSV felt like home to me and to have a perfect run behind it has never felt better," said Mikacich. "I came here to do my best and I left it all out there on the water and to be on the podium is awesome!"
  
Up next were the pro men and after coming off a strong semifinal win, Mike Dowdy was the favorite to win with points leader Harley Clifford not qualifying out of the semifinals due to an injury suffered earlier in the week. With the youngest six-man final all season, the battle began early between all the young guns for the top spot, but after landing a huge indy double back roll, it was Mike Dowdy taking his first pro men finals win since turning pro in 2013. Fans were ecstatic on the shore line, cheering on the riders as they performed their breathtaking tricks.
 
"My day began pretty relaxed and I tried to maintain that frame of mind and ride the way I ride at home," said Dowdy. "I had a strong heat leading into the finals, which really gave me confidence and knew I had what it took to get my first win if I stayed relaxed. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to top the season off."
  
The Malibu Houston Pro turned out to be the most action packed event of the season with perfect weather and water conditions. "It's wonderful to be able to wrap up a successful inaugural season of the Malibu Evolution Series here with such great riding behind the impressive Wakesetter 25 LSV at the Houston Pro," said Jack Springer, president of Malibu Boats. "Everyone from the cable riders, wakeboarders and wakesurfers really went all out to cap their season off with a bang."
  
Another congratulations to all of our winners and runners up with Noah Flegel and Jodi Grassman kicking off the weekend in style with their incredible wakesurfing skills. Meagan Ethell sweeping all three pro women’s cable and boat divisions, Mike Dowdy for grabbing his first win since turning pro in 2013 and Parker Siegele for qualifying for his very first pro final. We’d also like to thank all of our supportive sponsors, Malibu Boats, Rockstar Energy, Billabong, Ronix Wakeboards and CWB Wakeboards, who have allowed events like these to happen.
 
Results - Day 3

Pro Men Wakeboard Boat Final
1. Dowdy, Mike - 91.33
2. Teunissen, Cory - 88.33
3. Laferty, Steel - 86.33
4. Iacconi, Tony - 84.33
5. Siegele, Parker - 80.67
6. Pifferetti, Massi - 65.33
 
Pro Women Wakeboard Boat Final
1. Ethell, Meagan* - 93.00
2. Friday, Dallas - 87.33
3. Mikovich, Tarah - 80.67
4. Merritt, Raimi - 76.33
5. Leugner, Ashley - 68.00
6. Morales, Larissa - 50.33
 
*Wakeboard World Series Champ
 
Pro Men Cable Features Final
1.Powell, Chandler - 94.40
2. Fooshee, Tom - 93.60
3. Dreiling, John - 82.00
 
Pro Women Cable Features Final
1. Ethell, Meagan - 87.40
2. McCullough, Taylor - 85.70
3. Lopina, Jamie - 83.50
4. Hatten, Deanna - 83.40
 
Pro Women Cable Final
1. Ethell, Meagan - 94.50
2. Lopina, Jamie - 91.50
3. Nikstad, Anna - 78.00
4. McCullough, Taylor - 76.00
 
Pro Men Cable Final
1. Powell, Chandler - 95.50
2. Fooshee, Tom - 94.50
 
Pro Men Wakeboard Boat Semifinals (top rider in each heat advances)
 
Heat #1
1. Lafferty, Steel - 80.00
===
2. Twelker, Josh - 72.67
3. Hair, Austin - 67.00
 
Heat #2
1. Teunissen, Cory - 91.33
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2. Flegel, Noah - 85.67
3. Peirce, Stephen - 66.33
 
Heat #3
1. Dowdy, Mike - 89.33
===
2. Smith, Dean - 88.67
3. Derome, Oli - 42.67
 
Heat #4
1. Siegele, Parker - 83.00
===
2. Carroll, Tony - 80.33
3. Webb, JD - 76.67
 
Heat #5
1. Pifferitti, Massi - 91.00
===
2. Malinoski, Rusty - 85.00
3. Soven, Phil - 77.33
 
Heat #6
1. Daniel, Powers - 79.67
===
2. Iacconi, Tony - 91.67
3. Clifford, Harley - 68.67
 
Pro Men Cable Features Semifinals (top rider in each heat advances)
 
Heat #1
1. Dreiling, John - 91.70
===
2. Elwood, Thomas - 90.30
3. Worrall, Chad - 88.00
 
Heat #2
1.Powell, Chandler - 95.50
===
2. Derome, Oli - 87.70
3. Smith, Ian - 86.80
 
Heat #3
1.Fooshee, Tom - 95.20
===
2. Neville, Jamie - 88.00
3. Burress, Graeme - 86.80
 
Pro Women Cable Features Semifinals (top two in each heat advance)
 
Heat #1
1. Ethell, Meagan - 95.50
2. McCullough, Taylor - 94.50
===
3. Hanig, Ash - 67.20
 
Heat #2
1. Hatten, Deanna - 90.60
2. Lopina, Jamie - 90.30
===
3. Nikstad, Anna - 89.10
 
Pro Men Cable Semifinals (top rider in each heat advances)
 
Heat #1
1. Fooshee, Tom - 100.00
===
2. Dorrestijn, Jack - 90.00
 
Heat #2
1. Powell, Chandler - 98.00
===
2. Caldas, Pedro - 92.00
 
Heat #3
1. Bingham, Bryce - 100.00
===
2. Voges, Kaden - 90.00
 
Heat #4
1. Patry, Brady - 98.00
===
2. Heubner, Kelbey - 92.00

About Malibu
Malibu Boats is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, with a worldwide market share of more than 50 percent. Malibu sells the Wakesetter and Response models—as well as the Axis Wake Research brand—through a global 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.

About Rockstar
Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles – from Athletes to Rockstars. Available in over 25 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in over 30 countries, Rockstar supports the Rockstar lifestyle across the globe through Action Sports, Motor Sports, and Live Music. For more information visit RockstarEnergy.com. Also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
 
About Bel-Ray Action Sports Park, A Three Palms Facility
Bel-Ray Action Sports Park is a 255 acre park with various activities and venues available to the public. With the help of ESE We Make Tracks Inc., Bel-Ray Action Sports Park has been established as a premiere facility in the greater Houston area. Open 7 days a week, Bel-Ray Action Sports Park continuously develops its property to benefit the customer. With 5 premiere motocross tracks, 2 peewee tracks, and a Pit Bike Track Motocross is one of the main focuses of the park. 2015 also brought several exciting additions to the park including the development of our new BMX track, an on-site boat dealership (SMG) and Hangar 9 Wake Cable Park. Bel-Ray action wants to welcome Austin Singleton and SMG Wake and congratulate them on making Conroe, TX their new home. Bel-Ray Action Sports Park also offers other activities such as Camping, Jet Skiing, Fishing, an open venue available for rent, and adventure racing ready areas.
 
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 events, check out thewwa.com.

Houston Pro - Day 1 | Houston Pro - Day 2