Who Will Step Up to Break the Cycle?

When considering an Overall event, let alone an Overall tour, you are bound to experience a rollercoaster of emotions. There is rarely a day when all 3 disciplines end up exactly how you wanted or expected, thus, mental strength is of the utmost importance. For these reasons, Joel Poland’s dominance over the past year and a half has been remarkable. His skiing ability is known throughout the world, allowing him to compete at the very pinnacle of waterskiing in all 4 events. So the question must be asked, who will be the one to challenge Joel’s reign on tour and at the WWS Canada Cup? Who will find a way to rip the tour title from his hands, which seem to be firmly reaching at the possibility of another repeat title?

Will it be a local young gun? Both Lucas Pinette and Thomas Daigle (CAN) put on a great show at the WWS Canada Cup, finding multiple personal best or near-best scores in order to find their way into their first pro finals, knocking out the man who finished 3rd on tour in 2023, Italian Edoardo Merenzi. Both of the Canadian skiers would then move on to post even better final scores, Lucas skiing a personal best in slalom with 4@11m and Thomas just behind at 3. Alas, these two would not yet have the firepower to take down Joel, both looking for more in the jump event with scores of 58.7m for Lucas and 57.6m for Thomas. In the end, Lucas and Thomas earned valuable tour points, finishing 5th and 6th respectively, while also gaining invaluable tournament experience, which they will need to capitalize on right away as they will get another crack at the field at the Travers Cup in two weeks.

Thus, looking past local talent, let us move on to the tour veterans, to the World Champions, to the continuous threat that has been chasing Joel for the past years. Are Louis Duplan-Fribuorg (FRA) or Martin Kolman (CZE) the in-form skiers to take down Joel? Both skiers have put up some amazing scores this year and continued to do so at the Canada Cup. Despite difficult preliminary round conditions, both skiers eased their way into finals, proving they are dominant contenders on tour. Then in the finals, Louis would improve his Overall score but unfortunately missed the 11m pass, putting himself at a deficit right from the get-go. He would recover well in trick with a score of 11360 and a solid jump of 63.9m. Yet with the top 3 skiers left on the dock, Louis was visibly reserved as to his chances at his first title of 2024.

 

On the other hand, the 2019 Overall World Champ, Martin Kolman continued his recent resurgence to not only his top form, but past his former best, improving his prelim slalom score to 2@10.75m, only 2 buoys off the lead in slalom, and following with a tournament-leading 11520 points, putting himself in the lead in Overall heading into the Jump event. Finally, he finished with a jump score of 61.7m, which would have put him in the Jump finals had he posted the score in the prelims. Martin showed his commitment to improve in the jump event and also sent a clear signal to the rest of the field that he too, no longer has a weak event. He would take the lead with only Dorien Llewellyn and Joel Poland left to go.

 

Speaking of Dorien Llewellyn-CAN, he has emerged as somewhat of a dark horse on this year’s tour, despite being a former tour winner and fighting for wins at every tour stop only 2 years ago. After a strong 2nd place finish at the WWS Salmsee Cup in Austria, Dorien showed he still has the skills to be back on top of the podium, despite his injury and absence from the 2023 tour. However, his skiing seems somewhat restrained and wanting for another gear. In the challenging weather conditions of Saskatoon, Dorien stayed within one buoy of the lead in slalom with 3@10.75m. Known for his consistency in tricks, Dorien looked to capitalize on the conditions with two solid passes to pressure the field. Yet, an unusual slip at the very end of his second-hand pass cost him his last two tricks, leaving him with 10,780 points and trailing Kolman heading into the jump event. Needing a jump of 63.3m to take the lead, and with frustration building, Dorien couldn’t quite find his signature air form, landing just shy of the lead with a jump of 62.7m. This placed him ahead of Louis but behind Martin, with only Joel left to compete.

 

So here we are yet again, looking out on the lake at the current World Record Holder, at the man who has won the last 5 tour stops, at Joel Poland. As is his nature, Joel looked strong in the slalom event, taking the lead straight out of the gate with a score of 4@10.75m. Then, tricks is where the fireworks began to shine, as Joel fumbled through the middle of his first run in toes, losing balance, but recovering time and time again. Until his body hit the water, rope still attached to his foot, dragging for mere moments that seemed to stretch on for eternity, his pinner not letting go until he knew that even Joel couldn’t pull out another miraculous save. Thus, Joel sat in the water, only just past halfway through his toe run, knowing he would need every single point he had in his hand run. Despite doing exactly that and nailing his hand run, many didn’t think that he would have enough points to pull out his 6th win in a row, given Martin Kolman’s commanding lead at 11520. Yet, his 10120-point score was just enough to keep himself in the game, but needing a big jump in the finals. Joel would have to surpass Kolman’s jump score by roughly 4m to win. 

 

Joel took to the water with a clear mind, knowing he would need the best jump of the tournament to win Overall. After failing to take the lead on his first two attempts and only bringing himself onto the podium in 3rd behind Dorien and Martin, Joel turned for the ramp on his final jump, the crowd’s clapping growing increasingly faster and louder as he neared the red surface of the ramp, and to their delight he soared off the top of the ramp. Everyone knew they had seen a big jump, possibly the biggest of the event, but was it enough? Had Joel done enough to retain his grasp on the crown? The scoreboard flashed his distance as the crowd roared out and Martin Kolman threw his hand up in the air, but not in celebration, rather, in defeat, in disbelief that his incredible skiing didn’t get him the title. Joel Poland had done it, he had taken the Canada Cup crown and a commanding lead in the 2024 WWS Overall tour standings.

 

So the question must be asked again. Who will stand up to Joel’s reign? Will it be an up-and-coming skier like Lucas Pinette? Will it be seasoned World Champion veterans like Louis Duplon-Fribourg and Martin Kolman? Will Dorien Llewellyn turn his words from his final interview in Canada into reality? Will he in fact “finally be ready to go for the win at the Travers Cup”? Will a new name step up to the plate and take down the current king? Or will Joel continue his dominance? In the end, only time will tell and these questions will be answered in 2 weeks time with the tour comes to Groveland, Florida for the Travers Cup, Sept 20-21. 

Considered one of the best all-around waterski lakes on the planet, not only will the competition heat up, but also the performances themselves are set to skyrocket. With the potential for World Records to be set written all over this event, the WWS Travers Cup will be a competition no one will want to miss. 

 

In the end, the Saskatoon Water Ski Club put on a truly world-class event in their first year, despite challenging weather conditions. The atmosphere was electric, largely thanks to DJ Steve Kushman and tour announcer Curtis Williams, who energized the crowd and kept the athletes pumped up throughout the entire event. Furthermore, WWS would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Michelle & Jim Clunie, Norm Lucas, and all the incredible volunteers for their leadership and to the local sponsors for their tremendous support. With such a fantastic debut, we can’t wait to see what next year’s WWS Canada Cup brings!

 

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The first stop of the World Water Skiers Overall Tour burst into action at the WWS Salmsee Cup presented by Gschiel Die-Ausstatter. With a lineup boasting five world champions and two Austrian national champions, the competition for the six spots in the finals was fierce from the start.

World Champion Danylo Filchenko from Ukraine made an impressive debut on the WWS Tour, setting a new personal best of 3@10.75 off the dock, immediately establishing the standard for advancement. Hometown hero Alexander Gschiel followed with a solid 1.5@10.75. Another world champ, Martin Kolman of the Czech Republic, showcased his skill with 2.5@10.75, raising the bar. Edoardo Marenzi from Italy delivered the standout performance of the day with 4@10.75, making a significant mark early on. Canada’s own world champion, Dorien Llewellyn, returning from an ankle injury last year, impressed with a clean 3@10.75. Louis Duplan-Fribourg of France faced a challenging start at 11.25 but managed to pull off 4@11.25, a respectable score to stay in the hunt. Joel Poland of Great Britain, seasoned from numerous pro events this season, topped the scores with a dominant 2.5@10.25.

Danylo continued to impress in the tricks event, achieving a personal best and breaking the 12,000-point mark with 12,340 points. Vinci Ahammer faced setbacks in slalom but rallied in tricks, ultimately falling short with 6,010 points. Alexander maintained consistency with two solid runs but missed crucial tricks, finishing with 8,530 points. Martin showed his dedication to training with 11,520 points, securing second place. Edoardo encountered early challenges but rallied to post 7,030 points. Dorien’s flawless run, though just off his full pace, earned an impressive 11,230 points. Louis recovered from a slow start in slalom and posted a solid 11,280 points. Joel looked solid and clean, like Dorien, not in full gear but still nailing a whopping 11,650 points.

 

In the jump event, the battle intensified between Edoardo and Alexander for the final spot in the finals. Vincent and Alexander started on the 5.6-foot ramp, with Vincent struggling under pressure and landing a disappointing 52.9 meters. Alexander achieved 53.7 meters, leaving the door open for Edoardo. Moving to the 6-foot ramp, Danylo continued to dominate with a 61.8-meter jump. Welcome Danylo to the WWS Tour! Martin followed with a solid 59 meters. Edoardo pushed hard and managed 57.6 meters, enough to edge out Alexander by just 104 points overall, securing the last spot in the finals. Dorien and Louis showcased their jumping prowess with 59.9 meters and 59.8 meters respectively. With the boat struggling to give the power that these jumpers are accustomed to Joel capitalized on his aggressive style with the day’s highest jump score of 62.6 meters.

 

With these six exceptional athletes advancing to the finals, anticipation for the main event soared as they prepared to deliver a memorable performance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WWS Florida Cup Tour Final at Ski Fluid

The Ultimate Showdown of the World’s Best All-Around Water Ski Athletes:

 

Date: August 22, 2023

Ski Fluid, Florida: The excitement is building as water skiing enthusiasts from around the world gear up for the grand finale of the WWS Florida Cup Tour, set to take place at the iconic Ski Fluid from September 1st to 2nd. This thrilling event promises to be an electrifying spectacle of athleticism, skill, and camaraderie, as the best water skiers from across the globe converge to compete for glory and honor.

Owned by the legendary skier Kyle Eade, Ski Fluid provides the perfect backdrop for what’s expected to be a record-breaking event. The WWS Florida Cup Tour Final will be a Pro-Am-style competition, bringing rising stars together with elite Overall skiers, resulting in a breathtaking showcase of talent.

• General admission is FREE
• Preliminaries Friday – Sept 1st, 9 am-4:30 pm
• Finals Saturday -Sept 2nd, 1 pm-4 pm – Livestreamed
• VIP TENT ACCESS – FINALS Only on Sept 2nd, 12 pm-4 pm 
• After Party Lake Side – for Athletes and VIP guests – All links and details at the bottom

 

Breaking Boundaries and Setting Records

The stakes are high as participants seek to etch their names into the annals of water skiing history. Previous tour stops have been dominated by exceptional athletes who have pushed the limits of the sport. Among them is Joel Poland from Great Britain and Giannina Bonnemann from Germany, who has been unstoppable this season, claiming victory at all three prior events. Their consistent performances make them formidable contenders.

Louis Dupont FRIBOURG from France has also been a force to reckon with, with a record-breaking jump at the Lacanau stop, plus a trick record at the Calgary stop. Edoardo MARENZI from Italy has consistently impressed with podium finishes, while Felipe Miranda and Martin Kolman, both world champions, join the field for this climactic event. Despite being siding this season with an ankle injury, Dorien Llewellyn is determined to make a comeback, adding another layer of anticipation to the mix.

 

The Women’s Challenge

On the women’s side, Giannina Bonnemann’s unwavering mastery of tricks has given her an edge at every stop. Hanna Straltsova’s record-setting jump in Calgary showcased her immense potential, and Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya’s consistent performance placed her in contention for the top spot. The field also includes Paige Rini, Regina Jaquess, and Anna Gay, each capable of dethroning Giannina’s reign.

A Weekend of Thrills and Entertainment

The WWS Florida Cup Tour Final kicks off on Friday, September 1st, with amateurs and emerging talents competing alongside elite skiers. The Pro skiers will follow, showcasing their skills based on the WWS Overall Tour Standing. The top contenders will advance to Saturday’s Overall Finals, a 3-hour adrenaline-packed showdown featuring slalom, trick, and jump disciplines.

As the dust settles, the WWS Florida Cup results will be integrated into the tour rankings, unveiling the 2023 Women’s and Men’s Tour Champions. The coveted titles will be awarded to the skiers who have proven their mettle in this fierce competition.

 

Join the Excitement in /VIP TENT

Spectators are invited to witness this thrilling event firsthand, with free access to the general public. However, for the ultimate experience will be hanging out with the Pro Athletes in the Red Bull Tent during the event – VIP tent offers the best seats in the house. With a minimum donation of $40 to WWS, attendees can enjoy appetizers, drinks, and the chance to make lasting memories with the world’s best athletes at the afterparty lakeside 5 pm -7 pm #PRICELESS

For those unable to attend in person, the Finals on Saturday, September 2nd will be webcast over a live stream from 1 pm – 4 pm, ensuring that fans around the world can be part of the excitement. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness history in the making and support these remarkable athletes as they vie for water skiing supremacy.

 

 

 

 

 

For more information and to stay updated on the WWS Florida Cup Tour Final, scan the QR codes, and Livestream click the Tournament Page below

VIP TENT ACCESS FOR THE FINALS

Only on Sept 2nd, 12 pm-4 pm

After Party 5 pm – 7 pm

appetizers and drinks with a minimum DONATIONS to WWS – $40

or Please email to be added to the VIP LIST 

The World’s Elite Athletes Descend on Calgary for the Thrilling WWS Calgary Cup

Presented By Tourism Calgary

CALGARY, AB – Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping weekend of waterskiing action as the WWS Calgary Cup, presented by Tourism Calgary, takes center stage at the Lakes at Kastyn Stone/Predator Bay Ski Club on August 5th and 6th. This highly anticipated event is the 3rd Stop on the WWS Overall Tour and will feature a star-studded lineup of athletes from six nations, including France, Italy, USA, Germany, Great Britain, and Canada.

Following the immense success of last year’s WWS World Overall Tour, Calgary emerged as the ultimate highlight with the largest crowd turnout. This year, we are thrilled to announce that the excitement is bound to be even greater, as the world’s best Overall skiers return to Calgary, accompanied by the renowned Pro Slalom Shootout format.

The Lakes at Kastyn Stone/Predator Bay Ski Club, known for its breathtaking natural beauty, has hosted numerous national and international championships, including the unforgettable 2009 World Championships. Now, these world-class athletes will grace these picturesque lakes, surrounded by serene trees and wildlife, to deliver a spectacle that will leave spectators spellbound.

The Pro Women’s field Slalom boasts incredible talent, with three out of the top four on the tour standings competing. Allie Nicholson from the USA, fresh off a win in Italy, and Canada’s Whitney McClintock, with three wins already this year, will be joined by Alexandra Garcia from the USA, currently placed fourth on the tour, and determined to climb up the rankings.

The Pro Men’s division will witness the presence of the reigning World Champion and record holder, Nate Smith from the USA. Smith will strive to beat his own Predator Bay site record of 1@9.75, set back in 2014. Canada’s top slalom skiers, Call McCormick, and Stephen Neveu, will be formidable contenders, aiming to challenge the world champion on his throne and secure victories on their home turf.

In the Overall discipline, Germany’s Giannina Bonnemann has been on fire, claiming victories in France and Austria. USA’s Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya, who led last year in Calgary, will be determined to clinch the Calgary Title this time. World Overall Champion Hanna Straltsova from IWF makes her debut this season in Calgary, while Canada’s phenom, Paige Rini, sets her sights on winning her first title of the season on home soil.

In the men’s Overall category, Joel Poland from Great Britain has been enjoying an incredible season, winning the first two stops. However, rival Louis DUPLAN-FRIBOURG from France recently set a new national record at the Lacanau stop, and fresh off his European championship wins in jump, trick, and overall, he is a force to be reckoned with. Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn, unfortunately recovering from an ankle injury sustained during a jump crash two months ago, is determined to make a triumphant comeback for the World Championships later this year in October.

For the Overall skiers, the WWS Calgary Cup is a game-changing event. They have the chance to drop their lowest score of the four tour events, making Calgary the first event where a tour champion could be crowned. The stakes have never been higher, and spectators cannot afford to miss this opportunity to witness world-class athletes compete for valuable tour points on one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

The preliminary rounds on August 5th and the finals will on Sunday 6th which will be live-streamed, allowing fans worldwide to be part of the excitement.

For all event details, including schedule and live stream information, please visit the WWS Calgary Cup Event Page:

Admission to the event is free, but attendees must obtain a parking pass for entry. PARKING PASS

Join us at the Lakes at Kastyn Stone/Predator Bay Ski Club on August 5th and 6th to experience the thrilling WWS Calgary Cup and witness waterskiing at its finest!

 

 

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:

Contact Tour Director mailto:Jaret.Llewellyn@worldwaterskiers.com

Photo of the Event By Johnny@JohnnyHaywardphoto.com

EVENT PHOTOS

About Tourism Calgary:
Tourism Calgary is dedicated to promoting Calgary as a world-class tourism destination. Through collaborative efforts, they aim to create memorable experiences and welcome visitors from all corners of the globe.

Lacanau, June 30 – Get ready for the water skiing event of the year as Lacanau takes center stage for an exhilarating display of talent and athleticism. The Lacanau Cup, proudly sponsored by Red Bull, will unite over 10 world champions in the thrilling disciplines of slalom, jump, tricks, and overall. From June 30th to July 2nd, the Pitrot Waterway in Lacanau will bear witness to an unparalleled showcase of water skiing excellence.

 

In the highly anticipated slalom event, the world’s top female water skiers will battle for supremacy. Reigning champion Jamie Bull from Canada, fresh off her recent triumph in Spain, is determined to defend her title against fierce contenders such as former world champions Manon Costard from France and Whitney Rini. On the men’s side, world record holder and reigning champion Nate Smith from the USA is hungry to reclaim his glorious Lacanau Cup victory from last year. The competition will be fierce, with talents like Freddy Winter, who emerged victorious in Spain just last weekend, adding to the excitement and unpredictability.

The overall event promises an enthralling contest for the coveted title. Reigning champion Paige Rini from Canada is poised to reclaim her crown, but she faces formidable adversaries in the form of past tour champion Giannina Bonnemann from Germany and world champion Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya representing the USA. While Louis Duplan from Fribourg, France triumphed on home soil last year, tour champion Joel Poland is determined to begin this year on a high note. However, the absence of noted tour champion Brooke Baldwin from the USA due to ACL surgery at the end of last season adds an intriguing twist. Moreover, Canadian athlete Dorien Llewellyn, who suffered an ankle injury during the LA Night Jam event two weeks ago, regrettably cannot participate.

The Lacanau Cup returns with unparalleled vigor, showcasing a lineup of world-class athletes poised to redefine the limits of water skiing. Brace yourself for a weekend of scintillating heats, awe-inspiring performances, and nail-biting finals as these extraordinary competitors vie for eternal glory.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

Marie Paget

marie.paget@efap.com

About the Lacanau Cup: lacanau.ski.club

The Lacanau Cup was launched in 2022. It is organized at the Pitrot domain, which features two lakes that have gained worldwide recognition with several past world records being set. It is part of a global tour that promotes water skiing in its four disciplines. Additionally, this competition, sponsored by Red Bull, aims to be spectacular with a Sunday final featuring jump, slalom, and tricks events with the best overall skiers in the world. Originally, this competition was created by Sylvie and Jean-Michel Jamin in 1999 as a slalom-only event. Their daughter, Géraldine Jamin, the 2003 vice-world champion, has taken the reins.

Lacanau Cup photos can be found on Getty Images

Lacanau Media Kit 

The 2023 ski season is set to begin at Fluid with our first record competition of the year…the Ski Fluid Classic this coming weekend, April 28-30.

There are some big names on the starting list including:

• numerous time Jump World Champion and Record Holder, Freddy Krueger,
• current World Trick Record Holder, Pato Font,
• former World Trick Champion, Neilly Ross.
• current U17 World Overall and Jump Champion, Martin Labra.

Along with a ton of other top National competitors.

We are hoping to get the year off to a great start with some amazing performances. The action begins on Friday at 7:45am with Tricks and continues with all 3 events through Sunday afternoon.

The current schedule and running order has now been posted to the tournament page or can be found at this link:

https://worldwaterskiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Ski-Fluid-Classic-Running-Order-1.pdf

See you at Fluid!

 

Records Fall & Champions Crowned At WWS Flordia Cup

 

Here it is; 4 countries, 4 stops, 7 winners, 16 records, 2 Tour Champions, and 1 unbelievable year. The Florida Cup was the perfect cap to an unreal year. After an action-packed tour season, the Overall skiers pulled up to the record-setting shores of Ski Fluid, where most recently Jacinta Carroll became the first woman to jump 200ft, and Joel Poland and Dorien Llewellyn traded World Overall Records in 2021. Needless to say, expectations were high and the event did not disappoint.

Boasting the largest and most competitive female field a WWS event has seen, the Florida Cup was a staple as to how amazing the women’s event can be with the likes of Regina Jaquess, Anna Gay, Hanna Stratslova, and Valentina Gonzalez making their debuts. After having three different event winners this year, namely Paige Rini, Brooke Baldwin, and Kennedy Hansen, the question was if one of these three girls could become the first to win 2 titles in the same year. Unfortunately, Brooke, the tour leader heading into the event, sustained a back injury at the 3rd stop in Austria and was unable to compete. Nevertheless, the women put on a fierce battle from the onset of the preliminary round, with Regina breaking the WWS slalom record, finishing with a score of 1@10.25m, and Hanna breaking the WWS jump record, with a distance of 55.1m. Their performances were so strong in fact, that Kennedy would be knocked out of the event in the first round, thus, securing the Tour points lead and the WWS Overall Tour Title for Brooke Baldwin.

Heading into the women’s final were, in descending order of placement, Hanna, Regina, Paige, and Anna. Beginning with trick, Paige and Anna were considered to be the strongest competitors, but due to a couple miscues, Paige fell early in her toe pass, leaving her in a sizable hole right out of the gate. Anna, on the other hand, showed her World Champion stature, setting a new WWS trick record with a score of 10350 points. Moving into slalom, with Hanna sitting on 8410 and Regina back a bit more at 7130 they both need to step up going into there strong events. Regina, largely considered one of, if not the best slalom skiers of all time, once again put on a clinic in the course, tying her record from the first round with 1@10.25m. Vaulting her into 1st place of the Overall race. Still, the fight raged on, as Hanna powered her way to a personal best in slalom of 0.5@10.75, knowing her strongest event was yet to come. 

Thus, moving into jump, Regina led, Hanna was close behind, and Anna rounded out the podium. All four women jumped exceptionally well, with Paige Rini putting on a spirited performance in an attempt to retake a podium place, and Regina’s grit was on display with her solid jumping having only recently begun to truly recover from her ACL tear last year. But, it was Hanna who would not be denied, setting yet another WWS jump record, soaring 56.5m through the air, and thereby breaking Giannina Bonneman’s 2 year withstanding Overall record. With all the action this year and the return of Giannina next year, the stage has been set for what could be the most exciting season of Overall skiing in history.

 

On the Men’s side of the action, Dorien Llewellyn and Joel Poland once again looked to square off in their seemingly never-ending, heavyweight slugfest. With each of the Men having been to three stops, all 5 were guaranteed to make the finals, allowing for Dorien and Joel to push for high scores in the first round, which they absolutely did. Dorien, being ranked an equal 2nd with Louie Duplan-Fribourg heading into the event, was the first of the two to complete a WWS Overall record-breaking round of 5@10.75m, 11060 points, and a 67.8m jump, which also happened to be a new WWS Jump record. Only 1 minute later, Joel would improve upon Dorien’s score by a mere 5 overall points, with 5.5@10.75m, 11200 points, and a 67.1m jump! Thus, Joel would be the top seed in the finals, followed by Dorien, Martin Kolman, Edoardo Marenzi, and Tanguy Dialland, in that order.

 

Also beginning with the trick event, Martin Kolman reminded everyone why he is the 2019 Overall World Champion with a blistering trick score of 11730. Still, Dorien kept himself well within striking distance with his own score of 11360 with Joel still to trick. After a slightly early fall in toes, the expectation was that Joel would fire back with his impressive flip sequence, but shockingly, Joel fell after his second flip, potentially eliminating him from the title race. Additionally, Edo proved himself to be a future title contender with a personal best of 10790. Then in the slalom event, Martin, who had been seemingly struggling to find his form all year, picked the perfect moment to regain his winning ways, swerving to a solid score of 4@10.75m. Knowing that he was now the favorite to win the event, Dorien showed some nerves on his early passes but pulled himself together at the right time to power through the 10.75m line length, only to frustratingly fall at the final buoy. Yet, his score of 5.5@10.75m put him just 6 Overall points behind Martin and with his strength in jump, was a clear advantage to the Canadian. 

That being said, Martin would not go down without a fight. Despite only performing a 3/4 cut, Martin finished with the second-highest jump score of the round, an impressive 206ft jump, which Dorien would not beat after a 205ft first jump. Still, confident in his jumping, Dorien brought his cut later down the lake and boosted 219 and 220ft jumps to secure himself his first win of the 2022 season, finally able to stand atop the podium to spray the champagne. With these results, Dorien took sole ownership of the runner-up position in the tour standings and Martin found himself rounding out the podium in 3rd place, with Joel Poland’s year-long success leading to his first WWS Overall Tour Title and the golden champions bib for the 2023 season.

The 2022 Florida Cup is only days away and we cannot wait to host the best Overall skiers in the world at Ski Fluid. They will be battling it out for event title, the tour title and some big paychecks!

The Men’s Overall World Record was broken 3 times at Ski Fluid in 2021 and a past Women’s World Overall Record was set at Ski Fluid several years ago. With the caliber of skiers we have on the entry list, there is a good chance more records will be set to finish the 2022 season in style.

The Overall Pros will be skiing their preliminary rounds alongside some top amateur competitors on Friday starting at 7:45am. The Overall finals (Top 4 Women and Top 5 Men) will be webcast live starting at 1pm on Saturday. If you live in the Central Florida area come out and watch…if not tune into the webcast (link on the tournament page).

A link to the full schedule and running order is below:

https://worldwaterskiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Florida-Cup-Running-Order-1.pdf

Looking forward to a great event and an awesome after party at Elixir downtown Orlando!

 

WWS Florida Cup The Final Stop 

• Friday, Oct 28th – Preliminary Rounds – Top 5 men and 4 women will advance to the Saturday finals
• Saturday, Oct 29th at 1 pm Finals – Will be 3 hrs of action-packed skiing in all 3 disciplines

 WWS Florida Cup Champions will be taking home $25 thousand USD 

but also the Year End Overall Tour Champions will take home another $14 thousand in bonuses, marking history as the 1st legitimate World Tour Bonus payout in 24 years. “World Water Skiers is super proud of putting together this 4-stop World Tour + year-end bonuses that give credence to the Tour Title.” “All incredible athletes deserve a stage to perform on.”

Please see the “Scheduling Tab” for a complete order of events. Finals will be Live Streamed, so please set a reminder on the WWS YouTube Page

Our Event and Tour Sponsors love our sport and they genuinely want to help build the sport. Please check them all out by doing a little research on them. Maybe even send them a note and thank them for us! Also, don’t forget to hit the share button right on the TOURNAMENT PAGE, below, so all your friends and family can take part.

@WWSOverallTour   or   #WWSOverallTour

The 2022 Fluid Fall Record is scheduled for this coming weekend starting Friday the 2nd September at 8am through Sunday 4th September.

The schedule and running order has been posted below and we are looking forward to a great competition with a number of the world’s best in the line-up.

https://worldwaterskiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-Fluid-Fall-Record-Running-Order-1.pdf

Several world records were broken at Fluid last year…will we see another in 2022??!!

 

“That was awesome,

I never saw skiing like that!”

That is what we kept hearing from fans leaving the site!

WOW

This heavyweight overall battles just keep getting better! The WWS Overall Pro Tour is now two stops into the season and the results continue to keep everyone on the edge of their seats for what is next to come. Following the incredible finish at Lacanau, which saw Louis Duplan-Friburg claim the tour ranking lead heading into the WWS Calgary Cup, Joel Poland, and Dorien Llewellyn lit the lakes of Predator Bay on fire with what can only be described as their World Champion Battle 2.0. Beginning with the slalom event, the men all improved upon their first-round scores, with Conley Pinette, first off the dock, running 4.5@11.25m, followed by Poland, who put the rest of the field on notice with a stellar 2@10.25m. Moving into the top three seeded skiers, Martin Kolman put down a solid 3.25@10.75m, with Louis ending up with a bit of ground to make up with his 3@11.25m, and Dorien rounding out the event in dramatic fashion with a seemingly solid full 10.75m pass, only to wind up late out of 5 ball and with too much slack to handle out of the gates, resulting in his final score of 6@10.75m with no continuation to 10.25m. Point – Poland.

The men then moved into the trick event with stronger winds starting to set in. Conley sparked the Canadian fan base with the first two stand-up passes of the day, clearly excited to be on his way to a great overall score in his home country. Following Conley, Joel looked to take another step towards securing the WWS Calgary Cup, standing up two solid, but slightly altered runs, still finishing with a great score of 11190.

Louis, looking to make up for his deficit in slalom, did just that by smoothly moving through both of his trick runs, only losing his final trick, TWL5B (600 pt trick), to a judge’s decision, giving him a score of 11420 points. Finally, Dorien saw his chance to respond to Joel and looked locked in as he nailed both of his runs, securing himself the top score in trick with a 11610 point total. Point – Llewellyn, tie game.

Heading into jump, the Overall race could not have been any simpler for Dorien and Joel, the name of the game was win Jump, win Overall. Their scores being almost exactly the same after slalom and trick, whoever managed to outjump the other would beat the other in Overall. As the headwind continued to increase in strength, the jumpers struggled to keep up their speed before the turn for the ramp. Conley, who was impressed with a 64m jump in the prelims, couldn’t find his timing in the wind and finished with a 60.7m score. Joel, who has been in fine form in jump this year, adapted from his mistakes in Lacanau to secure a tournament-high 65.2m distance on jump two.

Dorien, the hometown favorite, left the dock as the final skier to strong applause from the Calgary crowd, knowing if he jumped 65.3m, he would win the title. After solid opening jumps of 62.6 and 62.7m, Dorien knew he had to push the limits on jump 3 and launched a visibly bigger jump on the final jump of the tournament. As the crowd quieted to wait for the score, Dorien sunk into the water and Joel raised his arms in triumph. Point – Poland, game, set, match. Dorien finished with a distance of 64.2m, just a meter shy of Joel.

Already being talked about around the world as having the greatest Overall battle of all time, Dorien and Joel found a way to create an even more exciting show at the Calgary Cup. Furthermore, Louis showed that even on a less than perfect day, he cemented his place in the ever-growing 3-way overall battle that will continue to rage this year and into the future. Finally, Martin Kolman continues to prove his consistency and will always be ready to strike at any mistakes made by the top 3 tour-ranking leaders. With the WWS Austrian Cup on tap next, there is no telling what is in store next, so make sure you don’t miss any of the action!

For all the fans that came out and were stunned by what these amazing athletes can do on the water, mark your calendars for next year, the WWS Tour, WILL be back! We look forward to seeing you down at the most beautiful site in the world, The Lakes Of Cast And Stone!

Full WWS Tour Points Standings

Full Photo Gallary Of the WWS Calgary Cup – Johnny Hayward

THE WOMENS’ OVERALL RECAP STORY

The 2022 Polk City Open will kick off this Friday 15th July with 3 days of some of the world’s best waterski action. A tentative Schedule and Running Order has now been posted to the tournament page or the link can be found below:

https://worldwaterskiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-Polk-City-Open-Running-Order-1.pdf

Headlining the starting list will be multiple time World Champion and Record Holder, Freddy Krueger, and current Women’s World Trick Record Holder, Erika Lang. The field also includes numerous international skiers including a large contingent from Chile, Australia, and New Zealand along with a number of top US Junior skiers.

We are looking forward to a great event!!

 

 

The 2022 Fluid Summer Showdown was held last weekend (June 17-19) and featured some of the best skiers in the world competing for World Ranking List scores and attempts at National and World Records.

Erika Lang made history tricking 11420 in the second round of competition setting a new pending Women’s World Trick Record!

Other National Records included:

Tia Byrne 1@35 Pending G2 Slalom Record
Lexi Abeslon 2@35 Pending G2 Slalom Record
Aaliyah Yoong 4@35 Pending Malaysian and Asian Slalom Record
Aaliyah Yoong 8080 Pending Malaysian and Asian Trick Record
Aaliyah Yoong 41.9m Pending Malaysian Jump Record
Elliot Westlund 53.4m Pending Swedish U17 Jump Record
Jake Abelson 11490 Pending B4/B5 Trick Record
Lexi Abelson 5910 Pending G2 Trick Record

There were also a ton of personal best and notable performances:
Neilly Ross 10760
Pato Font 11800 plus all 3 rounds
Jamie Calhoun 2@41
Jessie Dobbertin 4.5@38
Graham Fizer 3@39
Reagan Baxter 2.5@39
Quinn Haines 203ft

Thanks to Lynn Novakofski photos from Friday and Saturday have been posted to this WWS tournament page.

A big thank you to all of our officials who volunteered their time to help run this event and a special thanks to Becky Bartlett (Chief Scorer) who flew in to score the tournament along with Layne Moroney for stepping in as Chief Judge.

We are looking forward to our next event in July which is already completely full for 3 days. We still have room for the September and October tournaments but please sign up soon here on WWS if you wish to reserve a spot.

All the best for the rest of the season!

The 2022 Ski Fluid Classic is only a few days away and we are excited to host our first record tournament for this year!

Below is a tentative schedule and running order for the event.

https://worldwaterskiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Ski-Fluid-Classic-Running-Order.pdf

Included this year is 10-time Masters Champion Freddy Krueger, World Trick Record Holder Erika Lang, the No 1 ranked trick skier in the World Patricio Font and U21 World Champion Neilly Ross, along with a host of other National Champions and Record Holders.

The tournament will start at 7:30 each day with Tricks, followed by Slalom, then Jump with non-stop action all day.

All competitors must ensure their USAWS membership and EMS license is current, registration, waivers and payment has been made through the WWS system and their SafeSport certification is completed.

The USAWS Waiver can be completed online at:

https://skifluid.com/liability-waivers/

Spectators are welcome with ample free parking.

Drop by Action Water Sports in between watching or competing to check the 2022 MasterCraft line-up and their fully-stocked Pro-Shop.

See you at Fluid!

 

Fifteen National Records were broken this past weekend at Ski Fluid’s Holy Cow Cup along with a new pending U17 World Slalom Record.

The event was held over 3 days, Friday 24th to Sunday 26th of September and the weather gods smiled nicely upon the competition with brilliant weather every day.

Records fell in all events and in numerous divisions but the highlight was Charlie Ross breaking the U17 Boys World Slalom Record in the first round with 1.25@41off. He followed this up in the 3rd round with 1.5@41off and looked like he was on his way to number 3! At only 15 Charlie is the youngest to ever run 39 and has stormed onto the world slalom stage in the past year or so. He will definitely be one to watch at the upcoming World Championships and MasterCraft Pro in October.

Fluid currently claims the host site to the Men’s World Overall Record with a new pending record in the approval process, as well as the site of the Women’s World Jump Record and the U21 Men’s Trick Record. In the past, Fluid has also seen the Women’s World Overall and Trick Record as well as the Men’s World Jump Record broken on it’s waters. However, Charlie’s achievement is the first World Slalom Record set on the site behind the 2021 MasterCraft Pro Star proving Fluid is the place for it all!

The other National Records included Neilly Ross breaking the Canadian Open Women’s record twice with 10660 and 10790, Vale Gonzalez tying the Chilean Jump Record of 49.9m, Frankie Dees coming out of retirement for the M8 Jump Record of 123, 14 year old Jake Abelson laying down 11450 for a B4 Record, while his sister upped the G2 Slalom record to 1@35off. Bruce Kistler broke his existing trick record 3 times in M8, while Leza Harrison broke the W9 record in multiple rounds.

Other notable performances were from Team Fluid skiers, Jacinta Carroll flying 194ft in her first competition in almost 2 years and Jack Critchley launching 224ft setting themselves up nicely for the World’s next month and the professional events that will complete the 2021 season.

There were so many other personal bests notched up during the event that it was impossible to keep count. Big thanks to all of the drivers, judges and volunteers that helped out over the 3 days. And a special mention to Action Water Sports for providing the 2021 MasterCraft Pro Stars for all of the competitors to perform behind.

The Holy Cow Cup is Fluid’s longest running event and has been held annually since Fluid opened in 2009. This tournament wrapped up our amateur schedule for 2021, but we are looking forward to hosting the MasterCraft Pro presented by Action Water Sports on October 29/30 and will be back in 2022 with at least another 5 record events and we are sure even more amazing performances.

Team Fluid.

 

 

Skiers and Officials,

Thank you all for registering to participate in the 2021 Holy Cow Cup…one of Ski Fluid’s longest running events with an 11 year history!

This tournament will begin on Friday 24th September at 8:30am, with Saturday and Sunday starting at 8am. Please arrive early to complete your registration if it hasn’t been done so already.

The Schedule and Official Running Order has been posted below:

https://worldwaterskiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-Holy-Cow-Cup-Running-Order.xlsx

If there are any errors in your division, events or rounds please notify us asap.

All skiers must be current members of USAWS and have rejoined the Florida Water Ski Federation since the Nationals in August. If not please complete before skiing at:

Memberships

The weather looks great for the 3 days and we are excited for a great competition!

See you all this weekend.

Team Fluid.

 

 

 

 

Skiers & Officials,

The Fluid Fall Record will be held this coming weekend (September 4th and 5th) at Ski Fluid starting at 7:30 am on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Schedule and Running Order have been posted below but are subject to change depending on the weather. Tricks will be first both days, followed by Slalom around 10 am, then Jump.

 

Click to access 2021-Fluid-Fall-Record-Running-Order.pdf

 

All skiers must complete their registration prior to competing. We have 2 busy days of skiing with 90 rides planned each day so please arrive early to ensure you do not miss your turn. Due to the increase in Covid cases, there will be no check-in at Action Water Sports.

Everyone must renew their Florida Water Ski Federation at the beginning of the new ski year which began after Nationals. Please complete this prior to this weekend:

Memberships

We are looking forward to a great event with a number of skiers moving into new divisions after the Nationals and taking their first shots at new National Records.

See you all this weekend!

Team Fluid