The final stop of the Supra Boats Pro Wake Tour took place in the headline sponsor’s backyard in Lenoir City, TN and saw Tyler Higham win the overall PWT title.

All eyes were on Higham, and Jamie Hauser. Prior to the season kickoff in May very few would have expected the final event to feature PWT Rookie Jamie Hauser and free-ride specialist Tyler Higham to be the two going for the overall title. Higham is no stranger to making the finals in boat contests and has graced the podium plenty of times, but his first pro win had yet to materialize prior to the ’23 season.

Hauser was even more of a surprise contender. “I think you’d have to look back to Darin Shapiro or Parks Bonifay in their first year on tour to find the last time that a rookie was in contention for the overall title,” observed announcer Danny Amir, better known as Dano the Mano, who has likely watched more wakeboard contest runs than anyone else on the planet.

While Higham and Hauser were pre-season longshots for the overall PWT title, it was certainly not due to their inability to compete or their lack of top tier tricks. The last 5 years have been dominated by Nic Rapa and Cory Teunissen for the top spots with the two trading wins back and forth. They each suffered injuries that kept them from competing in all 4 events and without strong placings in every PWT stop, one can kiss their chances of the overall title goodbye. Both Rapa and Teunissen are no strangers to putting in the work necessary to win and stay at the top, but also proved that they can come back from injuries with a strong mindset.

“Seeing how Nic couldn’t even jump the wake in the first stop of the year to watch him come back and win by the end was really impressive,” shared Amir. “Shota Tezuka making the finals and placing 3rd in the event and 3rd overall was really cool, he has been doing this for a long time and can still throw down.”

Read Next: Pro Spotlight – Tyler Higham

An overall title can change the course of a rider’s career. It is something that can be leveraged to prove one’s consistency in a competitive environment. This year’s winner however proved a lot more. Higham is not just the guy that can land contest tricks over and over in any condition, he is what all riders hope to be; the rider who does not sacrifice style for consistency but has built a bag of tricks so deep that he can hang with the most technical riders in the world. 

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The first Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour event of the season kicked-off in Groveland, Florida, on Saturday, May 20.

There, the world’s best boat riders took aim at the overall titles in the Pro Wake, Pro Surf, and Jr. Pro Wake divisions. With the 2022 champions each returning in healthy form, there is always an added layer of pressure to make a statement at the first tour stop and let the field know that they are there to defend.

Perhaps the most experienced at rising to the occasion is last year’s overall Pro Wake champ Cory Teunissen. A consummate professional, Cory secured the top seed in the finals and landed a clean run with 3 double flips, a 1080, backside 9 and a few mobe 5s and frontside 900s for good measure. Past overall champ, last year’s runner up and the man most likely to make Cory’s day more difficult, Supra team rider, Nic Rapa, was unfortunately taken down by an injury sustained in training up for the first event. The Cory and Nic battle that we have grown accustomed to seeing will have to wait.

Cory’s day was not a walk in the park by any means.

“Tyler Higham’s run could not have been done any better” stated Pro Wake Tour driver and wakeboard legend Trevor Hansen. “He landed a run that he had never put down, even in practice, stomping a toe-side backside 900. He was so close on his double-up but didn’t ride it away” Hansen continued.

Pro Wakeboard Tour Finals Results Stop #1

1. Cory Teunissen: 93.33
2. Tyler Higham: 91.33
3. Fynn Bullock: 87.67
4. Massi Piffaretti: 85.33
5. Maxime Roux: 80.67
6. Shota Tezuka: 73.67

The final trick could have been the difference in the first and second place spots. 

There were new faces in the mix making noise with first time Pro division competitors Maxine Roux and Fynn Bullock making the finals. Bullock, who competes at a high level in snowboarding as well, made his first pro podium placing 3rd. 

Junior Pro Wakeboard Finals Results Stop #1

1. Beaux Wildman
2. Shion Takaiwa
3. Daniel Johnson
4. Noah Bollard

Beaux Wildman, who is making a name for himself on all types of water sports equipment, made the finals in both Jr. Pro Wake and Pro Surf. Wildman took the victory for Jr. Pro wake and took the first step towards repeating his overall title. 

Youngster Jett Lambert took the win in Pro Surf, riding well beyond his teenage years and holding off the top 3 overall finishers in 2022. 

With the high-flying action on the water and on land with the BMX and Freestyle Motocross demos, the Supra Boats Pro Wake Tour proves to be the place to go to have your mind blown. Stop #2 in Acworth, GA comes up in a few short weeks (June 10)  and with the level of riding continuing to elevate, this season will be one to stay tuned in to. 

Pro Wakesurf Tour Finals Results Stop #1

1. Jett Lambert: 95.67
2. Taylor Swanson: 94.00
3. Camron Swanson: 78.00
4. Beaux Wildman: 71.67

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At the first stop of the Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour in Katy, Texas, Shota Tezuka made his way to third place – his first PWT podium since 2016. The Japanese shredder, one of the most popular riders on Tour, is riding better than ever. Look for him to continue pushing the rest of the competitors throughout the season.

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Skier’s Choice Inc. has announced the signing of professional Wakeboarder Shota Tezuka to Team Supra. Tezuka competes on the Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour, World Wake Association Tour and International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation Tour in the Pro Mens Division and is a consistent top 10 finisher. Tezuka performed well in 2016 with podiums at the second stop of the Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour, and a 1st place finish at the WWA Asian Championships in his home country of Japan.

“We are extremely happy to have Shota with Team Supra,” said Rick Tinker, President of Supra Boats. “Shota is a great addition to the team, and with the recent addition of Nic Rapa, and our long standing relationship with Cory Teunissen the team is stronger than ever. We are excited to start the 2017 Season and take home some strong finishes.”

“I am very excited to be joining the team,” said Tezuka. “Supra has stepped up with some phenomenal boats and being able to train behind the brand that is pulling the PWT is going to be great. I am really looking forward to the tour and a strong 2017 season.”

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VONORE, Tenn. (August 10, 2015) – MasterCraft (NASDAQ: MCFT) athletes put on quite a show during the inaugural World of X Games: MasterCraft Throwdown presented by GM Marine including a new world Skifly jump record and the top two podium spots in wakeboarding’s return to the X Games franchise.

Waterskiing legend and five-time World Jump Champion Freddy “The Nightmare” Krueger wowed crowds with two jumps of more than 300 feet, both further than the length of a football field, breaking the previous world record of 299 feet set back in 2000. Being pulled by a MasterCraft ProStar boat outfitted with a modified 7.4L GM Marine engine marinized by Ilmor, Krueger reached speeds up to 80 MPH as he launched off the custom-built ramp in front of a full beach of cheering spectators.

“I’ve always dreamed about being the best at something and today, with the help of everyone involved with this production, I can say that I am,” said Krueger. “I am so humbled to be allowed to achieve my dream at an event like this. I’m ecstatic on the inside but more than anything, I’m humbled by the support all around me. This experience has been unreal.”

Officials from the Guinness Book of World Records were on hand during practice on Friday to certify Freddy’s successful 312 foot jump, as well an additional jump of 304 feet during Saturday’s performance, adding another world record to his long list of accomplishments including the world record for long distance waterski jumping, five-time World Jump Champion and 11-time Masters Jump Champion.

The record-setting performance capped off an action-packed day with wakeboarding making its official return to the X Games franchise earlier in the day. The top eight riders in the world competed in a new pressure-packed format with head-to-head elimination heats deciding who walked away with the biggest cash purse in the history of competitive watersports.

Aussie phenom Harley Clifford took the top spot on the podium out-dueling fellow MasterCraft team rider Shota Tezuka in the finals. Michigan native Mike Dowdy rounded out the podium with a third place finish. Boasting a final score of 86.33, Clifford’s flawless performance captivated the crowd from start to finish as he ended with a solid combination linking several mind-blowing mobes, front flips with a 540 twist, to take home the gold medal.

“Winning the first-ever MasterCraft Throwdown is crazy. It’s probably the biggest event I’ve ever been in – it was live on TV and tons of people watching,” said Clifford. “I was definitely under a lot of pressure, but couldn’t be more stoked to come out with the win.”

In addition to the competition, the inaugural _MasterCraft Throwdown presented by GM Marine _showcased the crowd-engaging antics of Gregg Godfrey and the Godfrey Clan as they boosted family members off the Blob, back-flipped jet skis and hydroskimmed motorcycles across the water. Multi-platinum country recording artist Kip Moore rounded out the evening with a live performance.

Bringing together the biggest names on the water today, MasterCraft in collaboration with ESPN/World of X Games would like to thank GM Marine as the presenting sponsor of the inaugural MasterCraft Throwdown. The official MasterCraft towboats were powered by GM Marine engines marinized by Ilmor which allowed the world-class athletes to break world records and push the boundaries of competitive watersports. Additional sponsorship involvement provided by Ilmor Marine, Action Water Sports, Ronix, Radar, CWB, Connelly, West Michigan Sports Commission and Spectrum Health.

The World of X Games series features a variety of X Games and athlete-focused content. For the most updated schedule and information on World of X Games, go towww.xgames.com. Check local listings for additional details.

High resolution images of the event can be found at www.espnimages.com. Embeddable video of Freddy Kreuger’s world-record breaking skifly jump can be viewed here:http://xgames.espn.go.com/xgames/video/13400752/freddy-krueger-sets-world-skifly-record

About MCBC Holdings, Inc.:

Headquartered in Vonore, Tenn., MCBC Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCFT) is the parent of MasterCraft Boat Company, a world-renowned innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of premium performance sport boats. Founded in 1968, MasterCraft has cultivated its iconic brand image through a rich history of industry-leading innovation, and more than four decades after the original MasterCraft made its debut the company’s goal remains the same – to continue building the world’s best ski, wakeboard and luxury performance powerboats. For more information, visit www.mastercraft.com.

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World’s Best in Monroe for MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour

Monroe, Wash. – The world’s top wakeboarders kicked off the Pacific Northwest leg of the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour presented by Rockstar in grand fashion during the first day of competition in Monroe. To the delight of thousands of spectators who flocked to Lake Tye, progressive riding was on full display throughout the first two rounds of action.

MasterCraft team riders leveraged their familiarity behind the X-Star, the event’s official towboat, to register some of the day’s most impressive performances. Among the standouts was top ranked Pro Tour rider Harley Clifford. The Aussie phenom continued his dream season in usual dominating fashion, launching jaw dropping tricks off the X-Star’s huge wake including stylish rotations, difficult grabs and highly-technical rail rides en route to a round one heat win.

Fellow MasterCraft Team rider, Shota Tezuka looked equally inform today. The Japanese rider opened up his deep bag of tricks to unleash one of the day’s most entertaining runs, also earning a heat win. All round one heat winners bypass round two and earn an automatic spot in tomorrow’s third round.

“It’s great to be back in Monroe for another Pro Tour contest,” said Chris Bischoff, competition director. “The guys were going huge off the X-Star today and every heat contained some of the day’s best rides. Tomorrow is shaping up to be a really exciting final day of action on Lake Tye.”

Ticket’s for Saturday’s finals will be available at the gate for $13 (adult); $5 (ages 6-12); free (ages 5 and under).

Prior to tomorrow’s Pro Men’s finals, the crowd will also enjoy the CONTOUR Big Air Contest. The mind boggling specialty event features some of the best Pro Men riders launching from a ramp to perform massive rotating aerials that are rarely accomplished in a traditional contest setting.

Men’s Pro – Round Two (Riders in bold advance)

Heat 1

**1. Massi Piffaretti 81.67

2. Dean Smith 77.67

3. Pierce Homsey 70.00

4. Jason Bannatyne 63.67**

5. Kyle Evans 51.67

6. Ian Cole 43.33

Heat 2

**1. Tony Carroll 80.00

2. Danny Thollander 70.00

3. Austin Hair 63.33

4. Aaron Rathy 55.00**

5. Darin Shapiro 50.33

Heat 3

**1. Steel Lafferty 85.00

2. Oli Derome 76.67

3. Noah Flegel 68.33

4. Keenan Allen 60.00**

5. Gunnar Shuler 46.67

Heat 4

**1. Rusty Malinoski 80.00

2. Kyle Rattray 66.67

3. Damien Adam 60.00

4. Brad Teunissen 55.00**

5. Josh Palma 50.00

Men’s Pro – Round One (Riders in bold advance to Round Three, other riders go to Round Two)

Heat 1

1. Danny Harf 80.00

2. Massi Piffaretti 76.67

3. Josh Palma 68.33

4. Danny Thollander 55.00

Heat 2

1. Josh Twelker 83.33

2. Damien Adam 63.33

3. Keenan Allen 56.67

4. Gunna Shuler 35.00

Heat 3

1. Daniel Powers 81.67

2. Tony Carroll 73.33

3. Noah Flegel 60.00

4. Ian Cole 35.00

Heat 4

1. Phil Soven 81.67

2. Steel Lafferty 78.33

3. Darin Shapiro 66.33

4. Kyle Rattray 58.33

Heat 5

1. Tony Iacconi 78.33

2. Jason Bannatyne 68.00

3. Brad Teunissen 61.00

4. Kyle Evans 46.67

Heat 6

1. Shota Tezuka 80.00

2. Oli Derome 68.33

3. Dean Smith 61.67

Heat 7

1. Stephen Pierce 81.67

2. Rusty Malinoski 79.33

3. Pierce Homsey 65.00

Heat 8

1. Harley Clifford 86.67

2. Austin Hair 73.33

3. Aaron Rathy

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