Image: The 58th Nautique Masters (Wakeboarding Magazine)
By RTB
4 minute play
In this quiz, you have to name the male skiers with the most consecutive U.S. Masters titles of all time.
The list contains fifteen skiers, all of whom have won at least three consecutive titles. We have mentioned the event and years of their consecutive titles.
Image: @robhazelwoodcreative
By Jack Burden
The Masters Qualifying Series kicked off this weekend with slalom and tricks at Lake Ledbetter in Winter Garden on Thursday and Friday, followed by Jump at Sunset Lakes in Groveland on Saturday. The world’s top water skiers competed fiercely to secure their spot in the 2024 Masters. Among them, Joel Poland stood out, qualifying in all three events, a feat not achieved since 2000, when overall was last contested.
While the format has faced criticism, there’s no denying the remarkable results it can produce by pitting the world’s best athletes against each other in a multi-round, single-best-score format. The qualifications to clinch a Masters Invitation this weekend were exceptionally high. On the men’s side, it took 4@10.25m (41’ off), over 12,000 points, and 66.1 meters (217 feet). Achieving any one of these would be impressive, but attaining all in the same weekend is unprecedented.
The level of skiing was phenomenal throughout the event. Highlights included 15-year-old Damien Eade running 10.75m (39.5’ off) to secure his ticket to the Junior Masters, and 18-year-old Charlie Ross setting an under-21 world record of 5@10.25m (41’ off) for his first professional Masters qualification.
The weekend saw four skiers surpass 12,000 points, tying the record set at the Swiss Pro Tricks. Poland and Gonzalez equaled their personal bests, Martin Labra delivered the highest scoring toe run in living memory (5,680), and 16-year-old Jake Abelson achieved an astounding pending world record of 12,970, oh so close to the new frontier of 13k.
Poland had arguably the best tournament of his life on the slalom ski. While he didn’t reach the stratospheric heights of running 10.25m again, his scores of 3.5 and 4 at 10.25m were among his best ever, before he was thrown into a seven-way run-off after the log jam at 4. Facing challenging conditions and a strong tail breeze, Poland was the only one to successfully run the 10.75m (39.5’ off) opener in the runoff, making his way into his first Masters slalom event.
Poland’s first-round scores, 3.5@10.25m, 12,160 points, and 67.4 meters (221 feet), would have set a new overall world record if not for the fact that the event was spread across two different sites. He eked out another foot in the second round of the jump, finishing with the top jump score of the tournament.
This level of competitiveness across all three events is unprecedented, at least on the men’s side. You would have to go back at least 40 years to find another man capable of winning professional events across all disciplines, fittingly to Poland’s compatriot Mike Hazelwood, who dominated both the Moomba and US Masters through the late ’70s and early ’80s.
While several women have previously qualified in all three events since the overall event was sidelined, Joel Poland’s achievement marks the first time any man has accomplished this feat. With potentially three overall world records in the last 12 months and an undefeated streak on the WWS Overall Tour, Poland appears unstoppable. Having clinched professional titles in trick, jump, and overall events, the question now looms: will slalom be next for him?
| Slalom (5/8) | Tricks* (4/8) | Jump (4/8) |
|---|---|---|
| Freddie Winter | Patricio Font | Ryan Dodd |
| Nate Smith | Martin Labra | Joel Poland |
| Charlie Ross | Joel Poland | Tobias Giorgis |
| Joel Poland | Louis Duplan-Fribourg | Louis Duplan-Fribourg |
| Will Asher |
* Jake Abelson qualified also, but has opted to ski in Junior Masters instead.
| Slalom (5/8) | Tricks (5/8) | Jump (4/8) |
|---|---|---|
| Jaimee Bull | Erika Lang | Hanna Straltsova |
| Regina Jaquess | Anna Gay Hunter | Sasha Danisheuskaya |
| Whitney McClintock Rini | Neilly Ross | Regina Jaquess |
| Allie Nicholson | Natalia Cuglievan | Brittany Greenwood-Wharton |
| Neilly Ross | Paige Rini |
The Tower, Chris Parrish — a life of gratitude and water skiing (image: @hoskis)
By Jack Burden
Chris “the Tower” Parrish, one of the greatest slalom skiers of all time, recently joined The Water Skier magazine’s Hit It! Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on his illustrious career and current ambitions. At 45 years old, Parrish is still going strong, posting multiple scores into 10.25m (41’ off) throughout the 2023 season. He still harbors ambitions to compete among the best at professional and elite events; however, one event we will not see Parrish at is the US Masters.
“Well, the bummer part is the last couple of years I’ve missed just to do the LCQs. I think I’ve missed it by a quarter of a buoy, so I can’t even go to those dang things to try to qualify,” shared Parrish when asked if one of his goals was still to punch his ticket into the Masters.
Parrish has held the course record on Robin Lake since 2005 when he set the seemingly insurmountable score of 4 @ 10.25m (41’ off). Since then, generations of supremely talented skiers have taken to the famed waters at Callaway Gardens, but none have yet to best his mark.
“To be honest with you, I kind of have mixed emotions about this type of qualifying,” said Parrish, reflecting on the majority of spots, sometimes seven out of eight, being determined by a series of amateur qualifying events held in Central Florida in the lead-up to the tournament.
The current criteria were introduced at the height of the pandemic when the lack of both professional and world ranking events in 2020 necessitated a new approach for the 2021 Masters. The puzzle is that three years later, with a thriving worldwide professional circuit, the qualification criteria have remained unchanged.
“I feel like when you travel the world and you got either your elite ranking, say you finished in the top eight, you got your world ranking, or you were the previous Masters winner or previous Moomba Masters winner, I feel like you really earned your way into the Masters,” shared Parrish.
Rather than rewarding season-long consistency and performance at professional events, the current criteria put a huge amount of pressure on two tournaments with perfect conditions, a far cry from the notoriously challenging Robin Lake.
“I just don’t know. I just kind of have mixed emotions about these different qualifying events, and I’ve talked to a lot of the athletes that have to go qualify for it, and I know it’s very, very stressful.”
The Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament, presented by GM Marine (image: masterswaterski.com)
By Jack Burden
For over six decades, the Masters Waterski and Wakeboard Tournament has built one of the most enduring brands in our sport. Hosted annually at Robin Lake in Callaway Gardens, Georgia, this event has been a proving ground for many of our sport’s greatest athletes. The Pavilion, built for the inaugural Masters in 1959 is iconic. The Master’s even has its own song.
However, as the saying goes, it takes decades to build a reputation and only moments to jeopardize it. The Masters was primarily a U.S. domestic competition until it turned professional in 1985. Less than 15% of titles were claimed by non-Americans in the amateur era, compared to 55% since it turned professional. Despite maintaining one of the largest prize purses in the sport, the current qualification criteria raise concerns about potentially limiting the event to a local derby once again.
The current criteria, introduced during the height of the pandemic in 2021, was a sensible response to the lack of events, both elite and amateur, in the prior year. Since the elite ranking list was effectively defunct and there had been limited opportunities to post scores to the performance based ranking list, the Master’s organizers decided to hold a series of qualifying tournaments to determine invitees. However, as we move into 2024, the continuation of this system, with only minimal adjustments, could be hindering the event’s potential.
For the upcoming 2024 Masters, reserved spots for the defending Masters champion, current world champion, and winners of three other Nautique-sponsored events are in place. However, these slots often represent only one or two individuals. The majority of invitations will be determined through two ‘Last Chance Qualifier’ (LCQ) tournaments in Florida. While having a true last chance qualifier adds excitement, allocating most invitations through amateur events in Central Florida in the month leading up to the Masters seems arbitrary and potentially exclusive.
This approach raises questions about the accessibility of the Masters for international athletes, particularly those from the Southern Hemisphere. Imagine the burden on a skier from this region, leaving their home during comfortable skiing weather, incurring expenses for accommodation and training in Florida, all for the off chance of qualifying. This situation would be akin to the Moomba Masters requiring entrants to travel to Australia in early February for two tournaments in New South Wales (a neighboring state) for the opportunity to compete on the Yarra. The expenses and risks involved would deter many.
This isn’t just an unnecessary burden for Southern Hemisphere skiers. Conditions are comfortably skiable through much of Southern Europe and North America in May. Even domestically, it seems unfair that a skier in a different part of the country is forced to spend the better part of a month in Florida, incurring significant personal expenses, to qualify for the Masters. The situation is even more challenging for juniors, who must sacrifice school time for a chance at qualification.
While there might not be a perfect solution, protecting spots for defending champions and winners of major tournaments is a good start. For slalom, considering the Waterski Pro Tour standings could be a viable option, perhaps leaving one spot open for an LCQ. The challenge for trick and, to some extent, jump is that there are far fewer professional events. Despite valid concerns with the IWWF performance-based ranking lists, they could offer an opportunity for athletes training outside Florida. The amateur performance-based ranking lists seem a logical choice for Junior Masters, an amateur competition.
While many elite athletes currently reside and train in Florida, it doesn’t have to be the exclusive norm. California once rivaled Florida’s dominance, Australia has produced many of the world’s best jumpers, and France countless top trickers. Making residency in Florida a prerequisite for elite competition risks limiting the diversity of our talent pool.
The event, Nautique’s flagship, has lost some of its sheen in recent years. Proactively revising the qualification criteria to embrace diversity and inclusivity could ensure its continued prominence. With its substantial prize purse and multi-event format, paralleled only by Moomba, the Masters will always be a major draw, but evolving with a more inclusive approach can secure its legacy as a global waterskiing spectacle. The same allure that consistently brought in the best skiers in America and further abroad for over 25 years as an amateur event still holds today, although it is perhaps in danger.
The U.S. Masters returns to picturesque Robin Lake for its 64th edition, showcasing all three events and wakeboarding from May 24-26.
Events: Slalom, Trick, Jump, & Wakeboard
Format: Preliminary/Final
Schedule:
Jonathan Travers Speaks Out: Inside the Controversy that Ended a 14-Year Sponsorship Earlier this year, veteran athlete Jonathan Travers found himself at the center of a storm—both literal and metaphorical.
Clementine Lucine Raises Alarm Over Safety at Junior Masters Jump Event “Every year, incidents occur that seem to disturb no one, leaving me perplexed and, frankly, terrified," shared the 18-time Masters competitor.
McCormick Wins First Professional Title: By the Numbers With his victory this weekend at the U.S. Masters, Cole McCormick clinched his first-ever professional title.
Image: Nautique
By Jack Burden
Erika Lang has surpassed her own world trick record during the Masters Qualifying Series Event hosted at Sunset Lakes in Groveland, Florida. Lang achieved a score of 11,360 points, surpassing her previous record of 11,260 points set in October 2019.
This marks the sixth time the Arizona native has broken the world trick record since her initial record in 2013 at 17 years old. She has now broken the world trick record more times than any other female, surpassing both Natalia Rumjantseva and Anna Maria Carrasco, who each achieved it five times. As the second woman to trick 10,000 points and the first and only to exceed 11,000 points, she has elevated women’s tricking to new heights over the last decade.
The final Masters Qualifying Series Events, featuring several top water skiers looking to qualify for the 2023 Masters, provided a low-pressure environment for Lang. Already qualified as the defending Masters champion, she seized the opportunity to chase a record.
In the Women’s Trick event over the weekend, Paige Rini, Kennedy Hansen, Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya, and Regina Jaquess secured their spots for the Masters. In Men’s Trick, Pablo Font, Edoardo Marenzi, and Tanguy Dailland secured their places. Font, the cousin of world record holder Pato, achieved a score of 11,060 points to qualify, marking his second time over 11,000.
Agustina Varas, Regina Jaquess, Kennedy Hansen, and Paige Rini qualified in the Women’s Jump event. Meanwhile, Jack Critchley, Louis Duplan-Fribourg, and Rodrigo Miranda qualified in the Men’s Jump event with distances of 67.5 meters (221 feet), 67.4 meters (221 feet), and 64 meters (210 feet) respectively.
The Women’s Slalom event saw Jaimee Bull, Neilly Ross, and Brie Carter qualify, each running 11.25 meters (38’ off) to punch their tickets. In Men’s Slalom, there was a five-way tie with 3 buoys at 10.25 meters (41’ off), requiring a runoff for the last four spots. Ultimately, Thomas Degasperi, Adam Sedlmajer, Sacha Descuns, and Jonathan Travers secured their qualification.
These athletes will join the previously qualified participants who earned their spots at the first two Masters Qualifying Events or through winning either the 2022 Masters, 2022 Botaski Pro Am, 2022 California ProAm, or 2023 Moomba Masters.
All eyes now turn to the 63rd Masters Waterski and Wakeboard Tournament, taking place Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 26, to Sunday, May 28.
Update: Lang’s world record was officially ratified by the IWWF on June 23, 2023.
Image: Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament
By Jack Burden
The Masters water ski tournament, one of the most prestigious events in the sport, has been embroiled in controversy after a top skier and former champion, Freddie Winter, was banned from competing this year. The decision has sparked intense debate among fans, athletes, and experts with opinions divided on the severity of the punishment and whether it was justified.
Winter’s suspension stems from an incident involving alleged unsportsmanlike conduct and intimidation of officials during the 2022 Masters. On his 10.75m (39.5′ off) pass, Winter was given a score of 5 by the tower judges and 6 by the boat judge. The boat camera did not track the skier as he approached six ball, so no video review was available. After his score was confirmed, Winter protested the judging decision and was seen discussing the outcome with chief judge, Felipe Leal, which is when the alleged misconduct is said to have taken place.
Neither Winter nor the Masters organization have commented publicly on the specifics of the alleged misconduct. However, Winter recently spoke on the TWBC podcast about the ban, which includes the 2023 Masters and both Masters Qualifying Series Events.
Critics argue that the ban on Winter for the following year is excessive and disproportionate to the offense committed. They question whether the decision was influenced by sponsorship considerations, suggesting that if Winter had been sponsored by Nautique, the tournament organizer, a different outcome might have occurred. The alleged link between sponsorship and the ban has raised concerns about the integrity of the competition.
Supporters of Winter point out that his passion and intensity on the water bring excitement and entertainment to the sport, comparing it to the fiery personalities of tennis legends John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. One could argue that such passion attracts more viewers and should be celebrated rather than punished.
However, it is crucial for athletes to recognize the responsibility they hold as role models for children. Unsportsmanlike conduct can set a negative example for impressionable young minds. It is also important to remember that the judges who officiate these competitions are volunteers, dedicating their time and expertise to ensure fairness and accuracy. In other sports, it is common for athletes to face suspensions for unsportsmanlike behavior. Such disciplinary actions not only serve as a reminder of the importance of respectful conduct but also contribute to fostering a positive and inclusive sporting environment.
The controversy surrounding Winter’s ban has touched on broader trends in the sport, including the changing face of the Masters event and the declining interest among younger generations. Some fans have expressed their disappointment, questioning whether they will watch the event this year. They argue that the absence of one of the top skiers in the world diminishes the quality and prestige of the competition.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the Masters tournament faces the challenge of restoring confidence in their brand as one of the most prestigious events in the sport.
See below for footage of Winter reacting to the judges’ call.
Update (3/26/2024): The original version of this article alleged that Winter left “the pavilion at Robin Lake under the supervision of Callaway Gardens security.” We have not been able to substantiate this claim and therefore have removed it.
Image: @neilly.ross
By Jack Burden
Patricio Font has surpassed his own world trick record during the Masters Qualifying Series Event hosted at the Drew Ross Ski Academy in Orlando, Florida. Font achieved a score of 12,690 points, beating his previous record of 12,590 points set in October 2022.
Font’s accomplishment highlights the ever-evolving nature of trick skiing as athletes continue to push boundaries. Before Font broke the record last year, it had been the longest-standing record in three-event waterskiing, remaining unbroken since 2011.
The first of the three Masters Qualifying Series Events, attracting top-tier skiing talent looking to qualify for the 2023 Masters, provided the ideal platform for Font, already qualified as the defending Masters champion, to chase a big score. With his characteristic speed, Font showcased his diverse repertoire of tricks on his way to the world record mark.
We now await the official confirmation of Font’s new record, which will need to be reviewed by a panel of judges appointed by the IWWF tournament council for approval.
Meanwhile in the junior men’s division, Martin Labra set a pending under 17 world trick record of 12,310 points. Notably his toe run exceeded Font’s record run by 5,400 points to 5,130, a sign there may still be room to extend the record by Font.
Also in Men’s Trick over the weekend, Adam Pickos and Louis Duplan-Fribourg secured their spots to the Masters. Pickos achieved a score of 11,870 points, while Duplan-Fribourg followed with 11,300 points, achieving qualification with a 5th place finish because Jake Abelson and Mattias Gonzalez are competing in the Junior Masters. In Women’s Trick, Neilly Ross and Giannina Bonnemann Mechler also secured their places with scores of 10,290 and 9,930.
Taylor Garcia and Conley Pinette qualified in the Men’s Jump event with distances of 67.9 meters (223 feet) and 65.9 meters (216 feet). Hanna Straltsova and Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya, who are both skiing under the USA banner to avoid IWWF restrictions on Russian and Belarusian competitors, secured their spots with 57.1 meters (187 feet) and 52.1 meters (171 feet). Giannina Bonnemann Mechler and Valentina Gonzalez also qualified with their top four finishes.
The Men’s Slalom event saw Will Asher, Dane Mechler, and Robert Pigozzi qualify. Asher completed 5 buoys at 10.25 meters (41′ off), while Mechler achieved 4 buoys at the same line length. In Women’s Slalom, Allie Nicholson top scored with 3.5 buoys at 10.75 meters (39.5′ off). Paige Rini and Luisa Jaramillo also secured their qualification with 2 buoys at the same line length.
These athletes will join the previously qualified participants who earned their spots through winning either the 2022 Masters, 2022 Botaski Pro Am, 2022 California ProAm, or 2023 Moomba Masters.
With a total of eight spots available in each event, all eyes now turn to the second qualifying event at Sunset Lakes. The upcoming competition will determine the remaining spots in men’s trick (3), women’s trick (4), men’s jump (3), women’s jump (4), men’s slalom (4), and women’s slalom (3).
Update: Font’s world record was officially ratified by the IWWF on June 7, 2023.
Image: Ian Staples
By RTB
May 13, 2023
5 minute play
In this quiz, you have to name the female skiers with the most consecutive U.S. Masters titles of all time.
The list contains twenty skiers, all of whom have won at least three consecutive titles. We have mentioned the event and years of their consecutive titles.
By RTB
May 19, 2021
5 minute play
In this quiz, you need to remember all the male skiers who have won the U.S. Masters trick title since 2000.
The list has just eight skiers, all of whom have won the title at least once, with one skier winning five years in a row. While the quiz might seem easy, there’s a catch – you have to guess them in chronological order. We’ve given you the skiers’ country as a hint. Good luck!
