Two athletes compete for perfect season

Since its inception in 1992, the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour has hosted some of the most talented riders in the world; from X Games gold-medalists to world record-holders, ESPN Espy winners to world and national champions. But never before in its 17-year history, has the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour had a rider, let alone two, go undefeated on the season — until now.

The ones to watch
After claiming wins at the first four Tour stops of the 2008 season, both Phillip Soven, 19, and Nicola Butler, 16, are on the verge of making action-sports history, as the wakeboarding duo look to claim their fifth and final Tour stop victories of the year at Sparks Marina in Reno, July 11-13.

A win in Reno would solidify both Soven's and Butler's place in history as the first two riders ever to go unbeaten on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour.

Soven, of Longwood, Fla., has competed in the Pro Men's Division on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour since age 11. Throughout his eight-year professional career on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, Soven has won 10 Tour stops and claimed the overall Tour title in 2007.

Butler, a native of Cape Town, South Africa, is currently in just her second year on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour, but has already set Tour records in the Pro Women's Division and is established as one of the most progressive female riders on the water.

About the event
The contest combines aspects of snowboarding, water skiing and skateboarding. Riders strap themselves onto a wakeboard, which looks like a broader version of a snowboard. The riders are then pulled behind a boat as in water skiing, up and down the course at a speed of approximately 25 mph. Like a street course for skateboarding, the course is filled with ramps and rails for riders to “hit”. Riders also perform aerial stunts, soaring 20-plus feet in the air off the wake that the boat creates. These moves are scored by a panel of judges, with the highest possible score being 100 points.

The event will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday and Sunday and 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 12.

Tickets can be purchased at Sparks Marina on July 11-13 for $10-general admission, $5- ages 6-12, or free admission for ages 5 and younger.