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ACWORTH - The city of Acworth is preparing to start the summer with a few tricks, flips and a big splash as the city welcomes a professional wakeboarding event.

The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour makes its first stop in its five-city tour at Acworth's Dallas Landing Park on May 16 through May 18. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on all three days.

This is the third consecutive year the tour has brought 250 wakeboard competitors from 25 countries to the north Cobb town.

Some top professional male wakeboarders, including Phillip Soven from Florida, Danny Harf from California, Rusty Malinoski from Canada, Andrew Adkinson from Florida and Corey Bradley from Gainesville, will hit the lake.

Also showing their skills will be professional female wakeboarders Dallas Friday from Florida, Amber Wing from Australia, Emily Copeland Durham from Colorado and Nicola Butler from South Africa.

Mike Weiss, spokesman for the tournament, said they expect several thousand spectators to attend the three-day event on Lake Allatoona.

Because Dallas Landing is a beach type setting, it's a great venue for spectators to see all the action, Weiss said.

Weiss said the beach will also be the hot spot for great food, music, shopping and autograph signing.

"If you're a fan of wakeboard, you're going to see the super stunts of the event," he said. "But the on shore, activities are great, too."

Weiss said there would be a designated spot on Allatoona Lake for people wanting to watch all the action from their boats.

Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood said he couldn't be more proud of his city hosting the international event.

"The city of Acworth is such a great host, and we're the best," Allegood said. "The downtown merchants and restaurants are all geared up and ready to roll out the red carpet."

Acworth Parks and Recreation Director James Albright said the city and downtown merchants are planning a block party on May 17 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. They will have a skateboarding demonstration, live music, a dunk tank and a wakeboard highlight video.

The out-of-town guests can also enjoy the food Acworth has to offer. Albright said the restaurants will have outdoor dining during the block party.

And the level of water at Lake Allatoona is prime for wakeboard, Allegood said.

"The lake looks great and we're good to go," he said.

The tour will also go to Fort Worth, Texas.; Twin Cities, Mo.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Reno, Nev.

"We're the smallest of the cities, but we're the very best venue," Allegood said.

Through the five-city tour, wakeboarders accumulate points to take the tour title, the Indmar Performance Award. The top points earner in the Pro Men's division takes a $10,000 cash bonus, and the Pro Women's division winner takes a $5,000 cash prize.

General admission tickets can be purchased at Dallas Landing Park during the tournament. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under. For advanced tickets and information, visit www.prowakeboardtour.com.

Parking is limited at Dallas Landing, but Albright said they will have regular shuttles down to the beach from downtown Acworth.

Allegood said, as a mayor willing to do anything for his city, he will substitute for any wakeboarder who gets sick during the three-day event.

"If asked, I'm always there and ready," he said. "I'm always ready to jump on that wakeboard."

ahungerford@mdjonline.com

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