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Mati Gonzalez wins the 2024 Swiss Pro Tricks

Swiss Pro Tricks Recap | Waterski Pro Tour

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Swiss Pro Tricks Recap

Mati Gonzalez wins the 2024 Swiss Pro Tricks

Men’s trick podium at the 2024 Swiss Pro Tricks (image: @waterskiprotour)

Waterski Pro Tour

The Waterski Pro Tour returned for its fourth season with a trick event in which the female ‘old guard’ underlined, capitalized and circled their dominance while a new generation took flight in the men’s. After a wait of just under 7 months between Tour events, the Swiss Pro Tricks was just the barnstorming opener we were looking for.

In the mens tricks, Pato Font, the undoubted dominant force with 11 pro titles, let his crown slip just a touch to allow a pair of 16 year olds onto the podium above him. Jake Abelson started well and improved in each round, culminating in a finals performance of 12,230 that is not only his best ever but a pending USA record. However, 1st place went to Mati Gonzalez as he paired his trademark toes with a huge hand pass that incorporated some exceptional ski line tricks. His 12,440 tied his best as he broke the 12k barrier for the third but certainly most important time in his career. He joins Font, Joel Poland (disappointed with an oh-so-close final run), Dorien Llewellyn and Adam Pickos as only the fifth pro event winner amongst the currently competing pack. Font, clearly devastated after a fall on his toe run that he put down to an uncharacteristic lapse on focus, still managed to finish third with 11,610.

Full article at Waterski Pro Tour.

Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah breaks Asian waterski record

Aaliyah Cracks Asian Tricks Record in Florida | Bernama

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Waterskier Aaliyah cracks Asian tricks record in Florida

Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah breaks Asian waterski record

Image: @aaliyah.yoong

Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – National waterskier Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah renewed her own Asian record in the tricks event with a scintillating performance at the Swiss Pro Tricks tournament in Florida on Sunday.

The 20-year-old scored 8,450 points to better the previous Asian Open women’s tricks record of 8,080 points.

However, the new Asian feat was not enough for Aaliyah to clinch a podium finish, ending in fourth place among 10 participants in the invitational tournament for the world’s top skiers.

Full article at Bernama.

Erika Lang wins the 2024 Swiss Pro Tricks

Lang Wins Swiss Pro Tricks; Abelson Sets Pending National Record | USA Water Ski

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Lang wins Swiss Pro Tricks title; Abelson sets pending national record

Erika Lang wins the 2024 Swiss Pro Tricks

Image: @swissprowaterski

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports

U.S. athlete Erika Lang (Gilbert, Ariz.) scored 11,030 points to win the women’s tricks event at the 2024 Swiss Pro Tricks tournament on Sunday at the Swiss Waterski Resort in Clermont, Fla. The world’s top professional men’s and women’s tricks skiers competed in the tournament, which served as the opening stop of the 2024 pro water ski tour.

Canada’s Neilly Ross placed second (10,370 points), followed by Anna Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.), who scored 9,390 points.

Chile’s Matias Gonzalez won men’s tricks, scoring 12,440 points. U.S. athlete Jake Abelson (Holderness, N.H.) placed second, scoring a pending Open Men national record score of 12,230 points. Mexico’s Patricio Font, who set a pending men’s world tricks record of 12,770 points in the first round, finished third with 11,610 points.

Full article at USA Water Ski & Wake Sports.

Regina Jaquess signs with Nautique

Nautique Boats Welcomes Regina Jaquess to Team Nautique

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Nautique Boats welcomes Regina Jaquess to Team Nautique

Regina Jaquess signs with Nautique

Image: reginajaquess.com

Nautique Boats

ORLANDO, FL (April 15, 2024) – Nautique is thrilled to introduce the current women’s slalom world record holder, Regina Jaquess, as the newest member of the Nautique team. Regina’s extraordinary talents and achievements behind the boat throughout her career have established her as one of the most dominant and decorated athletes in the world of women’s three-event waterskiing.

“Being in and around the water has been a major part of my life. My parents were competitive skiers and my dad was a Nautique promo boat owner for 17 years, so I grew up learning to ski with the best boat on the planet. I quickly learned what a great community water skiers are and consider all of my ski friends part of our family,” said Team Nautique athlete Regina Jaquess. “Training at Sunset Lakes at an early age allowed me to continue training behind the Ski Nautique, which allowed me to set 21 AWSA National Records in slalom and tricks, even before I started my journey in international competition. I am convinced that having the opportunity to align with a company that is true to its water ski heritage will help me excel on the water and make it easier to catch that elusive 6 ball at 10.25m and go beyond into territory no other female water skier has ever ventured. I am incredibly honored and excited to represent the Nautique brand that has had such a profound impact on my ski career. I look forward to competing for many more years and being able to ski behind the #1 towboat in the world every day, the Ski Nautique. It’s a dream come true!”

Outside of her accomplishments on the water, one of Regina’s passions is to give back to the sport she loves. Additionally, she brings an encouraging personality and level of professionalism that exudes high moral standards, and her love for being on the water makes her a perfect fit for joining the Nautique brand. Regina has dedicated her life to becoming one of the world’s most decorated women’s waterskiers, a multi-time world record holder and is a practicing Doctor of Pharmacy. 

“I am excited to welcome Regina Jacquess to the Nautique team heading into the 2024 season,” said Nautique President Greg Meloon. “Throughout her career, Regina has set new expectations and inspired the waterski community. We are looking forward to her next level of performance behind the Ski Nautique!”

Alex Lauretano (Water Skiing)

Alex Lauretano Receives Award of Distinction | USA Waterski

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Alex Lauretano receives Award of Distinction from USA Water Ski Hall of Fame Selection Committee

Alex Lauretano (Water Skiing)

Image: IWWF

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports

Renowned three-event water skier Alex Lauretano was honored with an Award of Distinction last night during the 2024 USA-WSWS Foundation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Barefooter Elaine Heller-Fatla was the sole inductee into the Hall of Fame at the ceremony held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven, Florida. Additionally, Joe Knapp, Jason Lee, Dennis Longo, and Dusty Schulz were recipients of the Award of Distinction.

Having grown up on a lake in Connecticut, Alex Lauretano’s love for water skiing started at an early age. But frozen winters made it difficult to train and compete on the world stage. Alex moved to central Florida at the age of 16 to train and finish high school.

Two years later, she was competing on the pro circuit and setting records. Alex is a former Open Women national slalom, tricks, jump and overall champion, Pan American Water Ski Championships overall champion, Collegiate tricks and jump champion, and a past member of the U.S. Elite Water Ski Team. She was the 2015 AWSA Jumper of the Year and recipient of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports’ “That’s Incredible Award.” Her jumping is indeed incredible. She set the Open Women national jump record of 184 feet in 2013 and set a new record three years later at 188 feet that still stands today.

Aside from focusing on her training and career, she reached out in many other ways to advance the sport of water skiing and women in professional sports. She is a member of multiple standing committees for USA Waterski & Wake Sports and has been the Athletes’ Advisory Council chairwoman since 2013.

Alex was a charter member of Girls That Fly, an organization of the top women water ski jumpers in the world formed in 2011. Girls That Fly highlights and promotes worldwide jump events for women and establishes parity for women in areas such as prize money, publicity, and event equality.

Read more about the other award recipients at USA Waterski

The Orakei Basin in Auckland

2025 IWWF World University Water Ski Championships To Be Held in New Zealand

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2025 IWWF World University Waterski Championships to be held in New Zealand

The Orakei Basin in Auckland

Aerial view of Orakei basin, near Auckland, New Zealand (image: Bruce W. Hayward)

IWWF

The IWWF Executive Board has approved a bid from New Zealand Waterski Association to host the 2025 IWWF World University Waterski Championships at the Auckland Water Ski Club (AWSC). The Championships, which will include the three traditional events of slalom, tricks and jump, will be held February 26 through March 2, 2025 at the Orakei Basin in Auckland. The dates have been selected to align with New Zealand’s peak summer period and pre- Moomba Masters.

“The site is unique and located inside a dormant volcanic crater on the side of the Hauraki Gulf and Auckland Harbour. It is within sight of the SkyTower in the centre of Auckland. While the site is saltwater based, it has hosted several great skiers and events over the years including the New Zealand Nationals every 5 years. It skis well with historical slalom scores into 10.25 metres and jumps over 65 metres.”

This will be the first IWWF World Titled traditional waterski event hosted by New Zealand and the first since our separation from the FISU World University Championships program. It will be towed exclusively by the World Record-Setting Ski Nautique.

The IWWF World University Waterski Championships is a team event comprised of skiers between the ages of 17 and 28 who are full time students in good standing at an accredited university.

The event itself has a very rich tradition with many of the world’s top skiers competing over the years. Beginning in 1996 with the first IWSF World University Trophy Tournament, in Milledgeville, Georgia, USA and a second IWSF World University Trophy Tournament in 1998 in Cleveland, Tennessee, the IWSF went on to sanction the 1st World University Waterski Championships in Tianjin, China, in 2002. The Tianjin event, probably the largest amateur waterski event in history with tens of thousands in attendance, was broadcast live on China’s National TV Network, which at the time had a total viewership of 600,000,000.

In 2002, The IWSF (Now IWWF) partnered with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and FISU sanctioned events in Balakovo, Russia (2004), Tianjin, China (2008), Santiago, Chile (2012) and Akita, Japan (2016). Events were also scheduled for Dnipro, Ukraine in 2020 and Minsk, Belarus in 2022. Both were canceled, the first by COVID-19 pandemic, the second due to the war. Ukraine was rescheduled to 2024 but had to be canceled once again due to the war.

2025 marks the beginning of a new era as the World University Championships returns to the IWWF. The next event, hopefully, will take place in 2026 and will include two or more sport disciplines, conducted under the umbrella of the “IWWF University Worlds.”

 

Wagga’s Graham Ashcroft, in action recently, is among the skiers who have qualified for this weekend’s national championships, to be held in Mulwala.

Night Show and Fireworks set for Australian Nationals | Shepparton News

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Night show fireworks for nationals return

Night show fireworks for Australian water ski nationals return

Jumps will be a feature of the tournament and Saturday night’s show under lights, with Mulwala one of the best ski jumping venues in the world.

By John Conroy

Shepparton News

More than 200 competitors will descend on Mulwala this weekend for the [Australian] National Water Ski Championships, which will include the spectacular Night Ski Show on Saturday.

The tournament is one of the ‘big three’ water skiing events nationally, alongside the recently completed Moomba event in Melbourne and the Australian Masters, which was held at Bridgewater in South Australia in January.

The event returns to the Max Kirwin Water Ski Park for the first time since 2022, and the five-day tournaments runs through to Monday.

Saturday night will feature a full bar and food vans, with the Yarrawonga/Mulwala-based ski show team to give an exhibition of what “waterskiing is all about.”

“It’s a real family night out, with a pretty cool atmosphere when it’s dark with the boats,” championships committee member Ada Richards said.

“All three disciplines will be on display – tricks, flip-off and slalom – it’s pretty cool under lights.”

The show will conclude with fireworks at 9pm.

Full story at Shepparton News

Watch the live webcast on YouTube

Get On The Water, Presented By Radar Skis, To Offer Free Learn To Ski Clinics

Get On The Water To Offer Free Learn To Ski Clinics | USA Waterski

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Get On The Water, presented by Radar Skis, to offer free learn to ski clinics

Get On The Water, Presented By Radar Skis, To Offer Free Learn To Ski Clinics

Image: USA-WSWS

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports

On July 2, 1922, history was changed when Ralph Samuelson became the first person to successfully water ski. USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is honoring the birth of our sport this summer by offering everyone the chance to learn to ski all summer long.

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, along with our affiliated ski clubs across the country, will host free learn to ski events June 1-August 31, 2024. USA Water Ski & Wake Sports recognizes that financial limitations often hinder participation in towed water sports and Get on the Water was designed to provide a fun, non-intimidating environment in which participants can learn to water ski for free.

Presented by Radar Skis, Get on the Water is a coast-to-coast initiative, waiving all sanctioning fees and guest membership fees for USA Water Ski & Wake Sports affiliated clubs that host basic skills learn to ski events through Aug. 31, 2024, providing clubs with a national platform, the opportunity to connect with their community, and the ability to better reach those who might not otherwise be able to participate.

The clinics are open to anyone who would like to learn to ski. Participants do not need any prior water-skiing experience to participate. The ability to swim is recommended but not required (each participant will wear a life vest).

Interested clubs should visit https://www.sharelifeonthewater.com/gotw-info.html for vital information as well as a step-by-step How to Sanction a GOTW Event Guide.

Get on the Water is presented by Radar Skis and sponsored by Indmar Marine Engines, MasterCraft Boat Company, and Visit Central Florida.

Men's slalom podium with Freddie 1st, Joel Howley (r) 2nd & Lucas Cornale 3rd.

Freddie Winter Wins Moomba Masters | BWSW

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Freddie Winter wins Moomba Masters

Men's slalom podium with Freddie 1st, Joel Howley (r) 2nd & Lucas Cornale 3rd.

Image: Sporting Moments by Shaun

British Waterski & Wakeboard

The GB slalom specialist has won the Men’s Slalom title at Moomba for the first time. He topped the podium at the prestigious competition held on the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia. Jack Critchley was second in Men’s Jump.

It’s the best possible start to the new season for Freddie, for whom this was the first competition since he became Men’s Slalom World Champion for the second time in Florida, USA, in October 2023.

It marks the start of a busy year on the water in which he’s hoping to build on the form that took him to his most successful ever season last year.

“I’m so very happy to have managed to take a very tough win here at one of the few events where the water is as difficult to beat as your opponents,” Freddie said.

“It feels wonderful to start a long season on the Waterski Pro Tour this way.”

Full article at British Waterski & Wakeboard.

Regina Jaquess wins the 2024 Moomba Masters

Jaquess Rises Up Down Under For First Moomba Slalom Title | USA Water Ski

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Jaquess rises up down under for first Moomba slalom title

Regina Jaquess wins the 2024 Moomba Masters

Image: Moomba Masters

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports

Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), the No. 1 ranked skier on the IWWF World Rankings List and current women’s world slalom record holder, has now won every major slalom tournament in the world during her legendary career. Jaquess won her first career Moomba Masters slalom title on Monday at the 63rd Nautique Moomba Masters, presented by GM Marine, on the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia.

Jaquess, 39, scored 2-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off in the finals, edging Canada’s Whitney McClintock, the defending champion, who scored 2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off. Elizabeth Montavon (Lake Worth, Fla.) scored 4 buoys at 38 feet off to place third.

Jaquess, who works full time running her own business, last competed at the Moomba Masters in 2012, when she finished third in women’s slalom. But she is no stranger to the top of the podium Down Under. She also won women’s tricks at the 2003 Moomba Masters to go along with her now 2024 Moomba Masters slalom title. Jaquess also placed third in women’s jump (162 feet) in this year’s event.

Full article at USA Water Ski & Wake Sports.