By Jack Burden

Just two days after celebrating his 19th birthday, Australian rising star Lucas Cornale has claimed his first-ever professional slalom title at the Travers Grand Prix. Cornale’s victory is not only a personal milestone but a historic moment in the sport of water skiing, as he becomes the youngest male to win a professional slalom tournament this century.

Overwhelmed by his achievement, Cornale expressed his excitement after the win: “I can’t believe it… my hands are numb, I’m getting tingles,” he said. Still processing the magnitude of his accomplishment, he added, “It was my birthday two days ago, this is the best present ever, honestly, I can’t believe it.” The young champion couldn’t hide his joy, declaring, “This is awesome, this is the best thing ever.”

Cornale has been on the radar throughout the 2024 season with consistent finals appearances and standout performances. He earned a podium spot at the Moomba Masters in March, qualified as the top seed for the finals at the Lake 38 ProAm in June, and advanced to the head-to-head finals at the California ProAm in August. With this latest win at Travers, Cornale has solidified himself as one of the sport’s brightest young talents, positioning himself among an elite group of men who have won a pro slalom title while still a teenager, including names like Carl Roberge, Mike Suyderhoud, and the LaPoint brothers.

A Historic Season for Men’s Slalom

The 2024 season has been a landmark year for professional slalom skiing, with a remarkable level of competition that hasn’t been seen in over a decade. Cornale’s victory makes him the ninth different winner in men’s slalom this season, the most diverse group of champions in a single year since 2008 and more than in the previous five years combined.

There are many parallels between the current moment and 2008. This season featured the largest prize purses for slalom and all three-events in the sport since 2008, which was a high point before the global recession took its toll on water skiing. In 2008, a young Will Asher dominated, winning 5 out of 16 events to finish at the top of the Elite Ranking List. Now, in 2024, Asher leads the Waterski Pro Tour and has claimed victory in 4 out of 13 events so far.

Although only two professional slalom events remain in 2024, and Asher has an impressive lead for the Waterski Pro Tour season title, it is still mathematically possible for him to be caught. With such a highly competitive field, this has been the most thrilling men’s slalom season in a generation, and there is still plenty of excitement left to unfold.

Record-Breaking Weekend in Women’s Slalom

While Cornale’s win was the headline on the men’s side, the women’s competition was equally thrilling this weekend. Jaimee Bull, Regina Jaquess, and Whitney McClintock Rini delivered the highest-scoring women’s slalom event of all time. Jaquess, Bull, and McClintock Rini combined to run an astonishing ten 10.75-meter passes (39.5′ off), with McClintock Rini clinching her second title of the season by running four consecutive 10.75s, including a cold start in a runoff for the victory.

Despite the intense competition, Bull has a strong lead on the Waterski Pro Tour, thanks to her four professional wins and ten podium finishes this year. Jaquess has also won four events in 2024, but two of her victories came in non-Pro Tour events at the Moomba Masters and US Masters. As the season wraps up, the battle between Bull, Jaquess, and McClintock Rini will continue to captivate fans as they compete for the Waterski Pro Tour season title.

A Season to Remember

With two more slalom events remaining, the 2024 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Cornale’s impressive breakthrough victory adds yet another layer of excitement to a year defined by exceptional performances across the board. As the youngest men’s slalom champion in nearly two decades, Cornale’s win not only marks the beginning of a promising career but also signals a bright future for the sport of water skiing.

Note: Since the original publication of this article, we have confirmed that Cornale is the youngest man to win a professional slalom title this century, edging out Matteo Ianni, who won the 2005 Cirencester Grand Prix, by two months.