Ethell and Dowdy Earn Wins at the Malibu Houston Pro Presented by Rockstar Energy
Lake Alfred, Fla. (October 4, 2015) – 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 semi-finals 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 semi’s 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’s Malibu Houston Pro wins with two on the cable, one behind the boat and the first ever pro women’s World Wakeboard World Series champion. 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 semi-final win, Mike Dowdy was the favorite to win with points leader Harley Clifford not qualifying out of the semi-finals 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 breath taking 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. Everyone from the cable riders, wakeboarders and wakesurfers really went all out to cap their season off with a bang.” said Jack Springer president of Malibu Boats.
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
Malibu Houston Pro Presented by Rockstar Energy
Bel Ray Action Sports Park – Houston, Texas
Friday, October 4, 2015
CABLE
Traditional Pro Men – Semi Finals
HEAD-TO-HEAD ONLY ONE ADVANCES TO FINALS
Traditional Pro Men – Semi Finals Heat # 01
- Fooshee, Tom USA 00
- Dorrestijn, Jack 00
Traditional Pro Men – Semi Finals Heat # 02
- Powell, Chandler 00
- Caldas, Pedro 00
Traditional Pro Men – Semi Finals Heat # 03
- Bingham, Bryce 00
- Voges, Kaden 00
Traditional Pro Men – Semi Finals Heat # 04
- Patry, Brady 00
- Heubner, Kelbey 00
Features Pro Women – Semi Finals
TOP TWO RIDERS ADVANCE TO FINALS
Features Pro Women – Semi Finals Heat # 01
- Ethell, Meagan USA 50
- McCullough, Taylor USA 50
- Hanig, Ash 20
Features Pro Women – Semi Finals Heat # 02
- Hatten, Deanna 60
- Lopina, Jamie 30
- Nikstad, Anna 10
Features Pro Men – Semi Finals
TOP RIDER ADVANCES TO FINALS
Features Pro Men – Semi Finals Heat # 01
- Dreiling, John 70
- Elwood, Thomas 30
- Worrall, Chad 00
Features Pro Men – Semi Finals Heat # 02
- Powell, Chandler 50
- Derome, Oli 70
- Smith, Ian 80
Features Pro Men – Semi Finals Heat # 03
- Fooshee, Tom 20
- Neville, Jamie 00
- Burress, Graeme 80
FINALS
Traditional Pro Women Finals
- Ethell, Meagan 50
- Lopina, Jamie 50
- Nikstad, Anna 00
- McCullough, Taylor 00
Traditional Pro Men Finals
- Powell, Chandler 50
- Fooshee, Tom 50
Features Pro Women Finals
- Ethell, Meagan 40
- McCullough, Taylor 70
- Lopina, Jamie 50
- Hatten, Deanna 40
Features Pro Men Finals
- Powell, Chandler 40
- Fooshee, Tom 60
- Dreiling, John 00
BOAT
Pro Men Semi Final
TOP RIDER ADVACNES TO FINALS
Pro Men Semi Finals – Heat # 01
- Lafferty, Steel 00
- Twelker, Josh 67
- Hair, Austin 00
Pro Men Semi Finals – Heat # 02
- Teunissen, Cory 33
- Flegel, Noah 67
- Peirce, Stephen 33
Pro Men Semi Finals – Heat # 03
- Dowdy, Mike 33
- Smith, Dean 67
- Derome, Oli 67
Pro Men Semi Finals – Heat # 04
- Siegele, Parker 00
- Carroll, Tony 33
- Webb, JD 67
Pro Men Semi Finals – Heat # 05
- Pifferitti, Massi 00
- Malinoski, Rusty 00
- Soven, Phil 33
Pro Men Semi Finals – Heat # 06
- Daniel, Powers 67
- Iacconi, Tony 67
- Clifford, Harley 67
FINALS
Pro Women Finals
- Ethell, Meagan* 00
- Friday, Dallas 33
- Mikovich, Tarah 67
- Merritt, Raimi 33
- Leugner, Ashley 00
- Morales, Larissa 33
*Wakeboard World Series Champ.
Pro Men Finals
- Dowdy, Mike 33
- Teunissen, Cory 33
- Laferty, Steel 33
- Iacconi, Tony 33
- Siegele, Parker 67
- Pifferetti, Massi 33