WWA Pro Card

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet.

I saw that riders will now have to qualify to be called a pro rider.

All-New Malibu Boats WWA Pro CardInnovative new system elevates wakeboarding to a completely new level.

Lake Alfred, FL – There are two things that are certain in wakeboarding: evolution and that the World Wakeboard Association will be driving it. Raising the bar it set over 20 years ago with the sport’s first competitive rules, the WWA announces the Malibu Boats WWA Pro Card. Designed to clearly define the sport’s professional riders from their amateur counterparts, the innovative program includes qualifying and ranking criteria to establish a higher level of competition.

Before the development of the WWA Pro Card concept, professional qualifying guidelines were vague, at best; it was up to the individual rider to choose “pro” or “amateur” status in any competition. While this was clearly a benefit to the Amateur to compete in a Pro event, it also allowed riders with less advanced skills to compete against the world elite in the same contest, diluting the talent pool; there simply was no clear distinction. The all-new WWA Pro Card, renewed annually based on WWA World Rankings… Click here to read more about the Malibu Boats Pro Card and the WWA World Rankings!!!

http://www.wakeworld.com/news/latest...-pro-card.html
http://www.thewwa.com/2013/02/08/wor...-wwa-pro-card/


It will be interesting to see how this goes this year.

I can't stand this. One of the things I love about wakeboarding is how down to earth it is, and how accessible the top guys are. There's been a good few times I've been chatting in a group with a couple pro riders and haven't known it. Something like this just forces a wedge between pro riders and the rest of us. If people want to enter pro, why should they be stopped? If anything it keeps pressure on the pro categories to progress because at any time, there could be some kid you've never heard of who comes out of nowhere and kills it.

Something like this is to stop guys who come dead last in qualification rounds from entering pro categories, but somehow I think it'll exclude more people than that

absolutely stupid. what is this the PGA tour?

okay so what happens when guys like trevmo, jimmy trask (peep his edit on the homepage, dirty dirty style that 360 at :51....sick), vandall, etc etc etc want to compete if the mood strikes them? will they not be ranked and therefore unable to ride with the pros even though they are Pro's? just freeriders? so now youre gonna have free riding pros crushing ams because they freeride and dont compete. who knows if thats true but thats what im getting out of it.

also notice how froggy is #1 of malibu pro card....

I think it could be good for up and commers. It makes it so the pros have to keep pushing it otherwise they will lose their spot.

simplej, if you look at how the ranking works, Harley beat Phil in 2011 and 2012, but Phil was much higher than Harley in 2010. Phil has been consistent for longer. It seems straight forward and not related to sponsors.

Originally Posted by wakemitch

simplej, if you look at how the ranking works, Harley beat Phil in 2011 and 2012, but Phil was much higher than Harley in 2010. Phil has been consistent for longer. It seems straight forward and not related to sponsors.

What are you, a Malibu rep?

Originally Posted by wakemitch

simplej, if you look at how the ranking works, Harley beat Phil in 2011 and 2012, but Phil was much higher than Harley in 2010. Phil has been consistent for longer. It seems straight forward and not related to sponsors.

chill out. just making obervations... was harley even really on scene in 2010...

So you mean to tell me that guys like Danny Harf, Parks, and Vandall are no longer pros jsut because they don't compete on the tour consistantly. I don't think so.

Professional -
a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs b : having a particular profession as a permanent career c : engaged in by persons receiving financial return

By this definition I would say that all of the pros we all watch are truelly Pros.

Again how are up and comers going to get a foot in the door if they can't go up against the Harleys and Phils? I don't think it will push the top guys at all. Why would they have to worry about the new kid on the block. The new kid will never be ranked according to these rules.

no doubt. f off wwa..... what about pros that only focus on print and digital media? would a legend like scott byerly or a progressive rider like dylan miller not be considered a pro any longer? vandall is another great example.......

the wrong move for a boardsport of any sort.... snow, skate and surfing seem to be doing real good with out "procards". if a rider really needs a procard.... become a body builder......

if someone is paid, they are professional.easy. its worked for years in snow, skate, surf........ why f with it.

veteran riders who are milking their careers and hanging on by a tread prob voted this in and support it because it will narrow the talent field at events. kids like harley might have had a bad few events as an am and never qualified for a lame card.

a wakeboard is so fun to ride on a hot day, but damn this is no better than snowler blades, rollerblading or raazor scootering.... a bunch of bloody kooks.

Originally Posted by adam_balon

a wakeboard is so fun to ride on a hot day, but damn this is no better than snowler blades, rollerblading or raazor scootering.... A bunch of bloody kooks.

boom, roasted!

Why would we let the WWA define who is "pro" or not. In other/older industries a pro is defined by their board (or shoe) sponsor.

Don't surfers have to qualify for their tour? Wakeboarding tried to incorporate a qualification system for the tour years ago. On some level, i don't think it's bad to try and have the best of the best, so long as the riding is actually reflective of this. To freak out about this specific application of "pro" and then trip when guys like randy and scott don't even ride on the pro tour (and we all know they're legends and make their living from riding) is kind of ridiculous to me. It's a contest setting, and i guess you can have a lower calibur rider buy their way in and check "pro" for their status, or have the best of the best earn their spot, if in fact the talent pool is that deep. That's how i interpreted it years ago. Not to mention randy, as an example, sucks in the pro tour format, and seems to hold other events (rightfully so) in a higher regard.

Anyway, feel free to politely correct me if i'm wrong. Answering like a dick to people like wakemitch is how you quickly put the kabosh on any attempt at a thoughtful discussion.

The way that the WWA is marketing this is that it's for riders by riders when that can't be further from the truth. Pro riders know who they are and could care less what a governing body has to say. Especially one that is sponsored by a specific brand. To have Malibu be the sponsor of a WWA sanctioned "pro card" seems a little fishy. You have to see what is really going on. They are trying to stoke out amateurs. Then they are trying to turn that stoke into boat sales. Not a bad marketing idea but now to have riders that don't pay to be in WWA events like the pro tour to possibly miss out on sponsor deals because they aren't in the top 10 "Pro Card" standings is lame and certainly not put together for riders by riders...

Perfect example is Dowdy. According to the new rules he can't compete against the pros and will be force to smash the ams.

Duh didn't you know that Austin hair and tony carroll are way better wakeboarders than danny harf....

Eh, doesn't affect me much. I'm going to keep telling chicks I'm a pro...........pro race car driver.

I remember the Kelowna Pro Tour stop in 2004. Some gal showed up with a baby and said that some Pro rider knocked her up the year prior. Lol! Should have checked his Pro Card! Needless to say after the contest was over everyone scattered... Haha!

WWA Pro Card, keeping unwanted babies in the family since 2013