The World Wake Association (WWA) and Malibu Boats officially kicked off the North American 2017 season this weekend with the Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #1 in Orlando, Florida. Freedom Wake Park hosted the event with 15 riders fighting to secure their spot to compete among the best in the world. The intensity on the water was felt from the very first rider off the dock as Malibu's world-class Wakesetter Series boats provided the perfect pull for exciting performances throughout the day.
 
Placing third, Pierce Homsey put his arsenal on display with a blend of big technical tricks and style, standing up both passes in the final. Transitioning from the WWA Jr. Pro Men's division, Japanese rider Mizuki Takahashi made a big statement with powerful, consistent riding that earned him a second place finish and his first WWA Pro Card. Calling Freedom Wake Park his second home, Takahashi's performance was celebrated as a team win for the Freedom family with coaches, students and training partners cheering him on in every round.
 
Always a standout, Malibu and Rockstar team athlete Oli Derome is returning to action in 2017 after recovering from an injury that took him out last season. True to form, Derome threw down impressive runs in all three rounds building up to a grand finale going absolutely massive behind the Malibu Wakesetter to take home the win.
 
"We had an amazing day at Freedom Wake Park with 9 riders earning their Pro Card for 2017. We saw a very high level of riding from each athlete proving that this season will be full of surprises with tough competition in every heat," said WWA Executive Director Corrie Wilson.
 
The Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #1 served as the first stop of the six-event Pro Card series that travels across North America with the remaining five stops to take place in conjunction with the Malibu WWA Rider Experience. Pro Card events give riders an opportunity to qualify to compete as a professional each season clearly defining the world's elite wakeboard athletes. Earning a WWA Pro Card enters riders into the WWA World Rankings, globally recognizing them as professional athletes. The top 15 ranked riders from 2016 retain their Pro Card for the 2017 season.

Results

Pro Men Final
1. Derome, Oli (CAN) - 85.33
2. Takahashi, Mizuki (JPN) - 79.67
3. Homsey, Pierce (USA) - 71.00
4. France, Cobe (AUS) - 56.67
5. Pelot, Jake (USA) - 54.00
6. Adam, Damien (MRI) - 49.33

Pro Men Semifinals (top two in each heat advance)

Heat #1
1. Takahashi, Mizuki (JPN) - 75.33
2. France, Cobe (AUS) - 61.00
===
3. Primrose, Christian (CAN) - 57.00

Heat #2
1. Derome, Oli (CAN) - 83.00
2. Pelot, Jake (USA) - 67.67
===
3. Chinn, Bob (USA) - 52.67

Heat #3
1. Adam, Damien (MRI) - 76.33
2. Homsey, Pierce (USA) - 61.00
===
3. Liesmann, Kirby (USA) - 25.33

Pro Men Qualifying (top three in each heat advance)

Heat #1
1. Pelot, Jake (USA) - 81.67
2. Derome, Oli (CAN) - 77.33
3. Chinn, Bob (USA) - 69.67
===
4. Thollander, Danny (USA 54.67
5. Shearer, Andrew (USA) - 43.00

Heat #2
1. Takahashi, Mizuki (JPN) - 71.67
2. Primrose, Christian (CAN) - 67.33
3. France, Cobe AUS) - 64.00
===
4. Cole, Ian (USA) - 41.00
5. Daft, Gunner (USA) - 21.67

Heat #3

1. Adam, Damien (MRI) - 83.67
2. Homsey, Pierce (USA) - 78.00
3. Liesmann, Kirby (USA) - 73.33
===
4. Kroon, Marc (NED) - 66.00
5. Campbell, Jim (USA) - 48.00

For a full list of rules visit TheWWA.com.
 
2017 Malibu WWA Pro Card Events
 
Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #1
Freedom Wake Park
Orlando, FL
April, 1
 
Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #2
Lake Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 6
 
Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #3
Stumpy Creek Boat Landing, Lake Norman
Mooresville, North Carolina
June 17
 
Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #4
Koppert Lake
Black Diamond, Washington
June 24
 
Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #5
Pleasant Prairie Rec Plex
Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
July 15
 
Malibu WWA Pro Card Qualifier #6
Head Lake Rotary Park
Haliburton, Ontario, Canada
July 22
 
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.