The World Wake Association (WWA) announces the first Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier of 2017 will return to Freedom Wake Park in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, April 1st. WWA Pro Card events give riders the opportunity to qualify to compete as a professional each season with six stops across the U.S. Developed in an effort to clearly define the world’s elite wakeboard athletes, earning a WWA Pro Card enters riders into the WWA World Rankings signifying their globally recognized pro status.
 
Freedom Wakepark has hosted the first WWA Pro Card event each season at the heart of wakeboarding in Orlando, Florida behind world-class Malibu boats. Located on a private lake, this premier site offers pristine riding conditions and a centralized location with access to everything Orlando has to offer.
 
"The WWA Pro Card Qualifier events are always exciting with riders going for broke to officially make the transition from amateur to pro. More and more talented riders are coming up each year to secure their spot among the best in the world, and we can’t wait to see what everyone has been working on for this season," said WWA Executive Director Corrie Wilson.
 
All riders must hold a current WWA Pro Card in order to register in the pro division at any wakeboard event. The top 15 riders on the 2016 WWA Wakeboard World Rankings list will retain their Pro Card the 2017 season. All other riders must obtain their Pro Card at one of six qualifying events. For a full list of rules, visit TheWWA.com.
 
WHAT: 2017 Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #1.
WHEN: April 1st, 2017
WHERE: Freedom Wake Park, 7200 Lake Ellenore Dr., Orlando, FL 32824
 
Rider Check-in: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Rider Meeting: 9:30 a.m.
Preliminary Rounds: 10:00 a.m.
 
Number of Pro Cards to be awarded is based on total number of entries. Registration for the 2017 WWA Malibu Pro Card Qualifier at Freedom Wake Park is now open and may be found here.
 
Entry Fee: $100 USD ($50 Late Fee begins on Monday March 20th, 5:00 PM EST) - All riders must hold a current WWA Amateur $70 membership to compete. Riders awarded a WWA Pro Card may upgrade from a WWA Amateur membership to a WWA Pro membership. WWA Pro Membership is mandatory for a WWA Pro Card to be valid.
 
2017 Pro Card Holders
1. Mike Dowdy
2. Tony Iacconi
3. Cory Teunissen
4. Dean Smith
5. Harley Clifford
6. Rusty Malinoski
7. Austin Hair
8. Noah Flegel
9. Shota Tezuka
10. JD Webb
11. Massi Piffaretti
12. Phillip Soven
13. Nic Rapa
14. Tony Carroll
15. Steel Lafferty
 
Complete 2016 WWA World Rankings may be found here.
 
Malibu Boats dealers in each region will host WWA Pro Card Qualifier & Rider Experiences beginning in Orlando on April 1st, 2017.
 
About Malibu
Malibu Boats is the world’s largest manufacturer of watersports towboats, owning over one-third of the worldwide market share. Malibu sells the Wakesetter, M235 and Response models — as well as the Axis Wake Research brand — through a global dealer network. With approximately 525 employees worldwide and three manufacturing facilities in California, Tennessee, and Australia, Malibu builds boats to help you live a #lifewithoutlimits on the water.
 
About The WWA
Developed for riders by riders, the World Wake Association stands as a global network of passionate representatives dedicated to the growth of towed boardsports. Since 1989 our mission and values remain true to the core of our community. Our position as the authority on competitive standards has been earned through consistent development; sanctioning and producing more than 6,000 worldwide events and counting. We are the only organization solely focused on the best interests of the sport, spearheading a collective movement on the journey to discover where wake takes you. 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. For more information on the World Wake Association, check out thewwa.com.