World Water Skiers Overall Tour Concludes at the Fluid Cup

Presented by Dream Makers

October 18-20, 2024 – Polk City, FL

 

The 2024 World Water Skiers Overall Tour will conclude with an epic final showdown at Fluid Ski and Sports from October 18-20. The WWS Fluid Cup, presented by Dream Makers, serves as the 4th and final stop of the tour, where the Overall Tour Champion will be crowned.

Schedule Update: Due to higher-than-normal winds, and following the challenges brought by Hurricane Milton last week, Ski Fluid is prepared to host the world’s top athletes despite the weather. To ensure safe and fair competition, we’ve adjusted the event schedule, including moving the Overall Finals to Sunday, October 20, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We appreciate your understanding as the athletes dig deep to deliver their best performances under these conditions.

• Preliminaries will begin on Friday, October 18, at 9:00 AM, starting with Slalom, followed by Jump.
• Trick prelims are scheduled for Saturday, October 19, at 9:00 AM.
• The finals will now take place on Sunday morning, featuring the top 9 men from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

The battles at each stop have been incredible, and the TRAVERS Cup was raced at a world-record pace in every round. If you haven’t watched the live webcast yet, you can now catch up on the highlight show and get up to speed on the fierce battle leading into the Fluid Cup.

Despite the weather challenges, the world’s top overall skiers—vying for the year-end bonus—including Joel Poland, Dorien Llewellyn, Louis Duplan-Fribourg, and Martin Kolman, are poised to compete across all three disciplines: Slalom, Trick, and Jump. With only 20 points separating the Tour Podium contenders, this season-defining event will push the athletes to their limits as they battle for crucial tour points and the ultimate title.

The WWS Fluid Cup offers not only thrilling competition but also an exciting fan experience. We invite spectators to join us in the VIP tent for appetizers and drinks while enjoying the action up close.

While the finals will be live webcast, we encourage fans to attend in person for the full experience, including an after-party with the athletes.

Please keep checking the Schedule Tab for any time changes.

The Official Running Order is downloadable under the Start List Tab on your computer or on your phone scroll all the way left and downloads PDF link.

The WWS Travers Cup 2024 Wrap-up

Performing better than anyone in the history of sport is typically a rarity, something that so few have the privilege to achieve, yet when waterskiing comes to Jack Travers Sunset Lakes, the chances of witnessing a World Record increase dramatically. Looking back to the 2021 World Championships at Sunset Lakes, Joel Poland, and Dorien Llewellyn were both pushing the boundaries of the Overall World Record during the preliminary round, with Joel taking over the top seed and setting a new World Record in the process. Fast forward 3 years and throughout the WWS Travers Cup, 3 World Records were broken again here at Sunset Lakes, yet this time both in the Open and U17 category within the Pro event.

With the most competitive Overall field to date, the WWS Travers Cup preliminary round was immediately action-packed. The slalom round started off the fireworks with 3 skiers, namely Joel Poland (GBR), Edoardo “Edo” Marenzi (ITA), and Dorien Llewellyn (CAN), running through the 10.75m line length and many personal bests, all the competitors knew that they would need to bring their top form to make it through to the next round. Moving into the trick event, there were many top scores, with Joel, Dorien, Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA), and Martin Kolman (CZE), skiing strong enough scores to separate themselves from the rest of the field, but the battle for the last 2 spots in the final would be hotly contested between young guns Jake Abelson (USA), Martin Labra (CHI), and Edo. With Martin and Edo having a lower-than-expected trick score, they knew their jump scores would need to far surpass Jake’s, as the current World Trick Record holder put out a superb score of 12220. In the end, Jake would miss out on the spots in the finals, but jumping at a slower speed and lower ramp height typically designated for the U17 division, he instead set a new Pending U17 Overall World Record. In addition, Joel would join Jake in the World Record endeavor, as he set another Pending Open Overall World record as well.

As the skiers reset for final day, many of the skiers had aspirations of undoing Joel’s current dominance on the Overall crown, seeing the perfect conditions of Sunset Lakes as a chance to put their own mark in the history of waterskiing. Beginning once again with the slalom event, many of the previous days’ personal best were seemingly hard to come by. Among the biggest upsets of the final round of slalom were Dorien Llewellyn falling at the first buoy at 10.75m, which would prove a massive hole to climb out of for the Canadian, Louis Duplan-Fribourg missing the 11.25m line length, and Martin Kolman finishing with a score of 3@10.75m. With Edo Merenzi midway through the 10.75m line length and Martin Labra missing his 11m line length pass, the field was understandably frustrated with their slalom performances, knowing the monster that was about to come. Joel Poland smelt blood in the water and powered his way through 10.75m, as he often does, to give himself a commanding lead straight out of the gate, finishing with 2@10.25m. Now it was up to the field to catch up through tricks.

Overall is often considered to “live or die” by the trick event, with the potential swing of scores anywhere from 0 to over 12000 points. One mistake can completely upend an overall round. Thus, standing up both trick passes was critical for all the finalists, which almost every skier was able to do. Outside of a frustrating fall for Marenzi, all of the finalists finished with a trick score between 11520 and 12030, which created a dramatic podium race with only one problem, Joel’s score was the 12030-point lead. On another World Record pace, Joel would have to make a large mistake in the jump event to relinquish his hold on the Travers Cup title, yet, the battle between Dorien, Louis, and Martin was increasingly tightening and would come down to whoever won in jump, with Dorien and Martin virtually deadlocked and Louis just behind, needing to make up about 2m in distance to surpass them for 2nd place.

Once again, Sunset Lakes proved to be one of the premier jump sites on the planet, with beautiful conditions allowing the skiers to push themselves to the limit. Young superstar Martin Labra found the stronger wind challenging, looking frustrated with a personal best 207ft jump, knowing there was much more to be found on such a great jump lake. Martin would finish 5th off the podium, but for a 2024 debut from the 18-year-old, it was certainly a mighty strong showing for the future to come along with Jake Abelson. Martin Kolman would be the first to take the water of the podium hopefuls, looking his strongest on tour and finishing with another personal best of 213ft, signaling to the rest of the field that he would not go down without a fight. Next, Dorien Llewellyn, who has struggled to find his form in jump so far this year, showed a glimpse of his old self on jump number 1, flying 219ft through the air a given a small fist bump, which looked to be equal to parts of relief that he had finally found a rhythm or the excitement that he landed himself ahead of Martin Kolman.

Coming down to our final 2 competitors, everything would still be on the line for Louis Duplan-Fribourg. Thriving in strong headwind conditions due to his physical strength, Louis rounded the 600ft buoy and charged into the ramp with ample speed, letting the strong boat pull him to another personal best score of 227ft, a new French National Record and also the lead ahead of Dorien. Finally, it was Joel’s event to lose. Coming into his turn a bit slower than Louis, Joel turned extremely patiently for the ramp, making his approach to the ramp increasingly later with each passing millisecond until the boat roared him through the top of the ramp and a solid opening jump of 222ft. The win was his, but he would need to find a little bit more for a second consecutive Overall Record. With Dorien Llewellyn as the only person to ever break an Overall Record twice in the same tournament, Joel pushed himself to the limit on each jump to join Dorien on that list. Building speed and float on each jump, Joel would finish jumps 2 and 3 with scores of 225ft and 228ft, giving him his second World Record of the weekend and capping a run of sheer dominance this year with only one WWS Overall Tour Stop left to go.

With his 3rd consecutive WWS Overall Tour title secured, Joel’s dominance in the sport continues. But the battle for the remaining podium spots is far from over, as Dorien, Louis, and Martin are all in contention for year-end bonus money and bragging rights, with only 20 points separating them.

All water ski fans are invited to be part of this electric atmosphere at the next stop—WWS Fluid on October 18-19. Get ready to witness more world-class performances and record-breaking moments! Check the WWS Fluid Event page for all the details and come out to support these incredible athletes as they push the sport to new heights.

A special thanks goes out to the incredible team that made this event possible! Huge shoutout to the Travers Crew: Lelani, Jack, Chris, Jon & Nati Travers, Mary & Ron Koenig, Shannon & Branden Waters, Becky Lathrop, Martin Bartalsky, Dan Abrascia & Deb Gradick, Kerry & Mike Morgan, Emily Dammeyer, Christina Delka Rocca, Cole McCormick, Kyle Eade, Cyndi Benzel, Jaimee Bull, Rob Hazelwood, Lauren Morgan, Jenna Morgan, Giannina & Dane Mechler, Felipe & Rodrigo Miranda, and Stevie Collins—what a team!

Also, a big thank you to our WWS team: Tom & David Grey, Alastair Byrd, Steven Farley, Johnny Hayward, Curtis William, Britta & Jaret, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to build a platform that strengthens the foundation of the sport we all love!

 

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The Jump Off: A Passing of the Torch or a Glitch in the System?

Two jumpers remain. As they watch the coin fall they already know what they will choose if they win the toss. Go out first to put pressure on their singular opponent? Or go out knowing the score needed to win the inaugural Canada Cup in front of thousands of cheering fans, eagerly awaiting the jump-off to crown a champion. As the coin fell only one could win, only one would take home the glory of one of the best jump finals in recent times.

As the skiers landed on the shores of the Saskatoon Water Ski Club for practice before the WWS Canada Cup, the wind conditions were less than cooperative, both the men’s and women’s jumpers found it challenging to simply go over the ramp, battling upwards of 40-60kph (25-35mph) wind gusts. Yet as the event window started, glimmers of hope continued to appear through the proceeding days, requiring both skiers and event organizers to be on their toes at all times, ready to jump into action as soon as nature allowed for ramping.

 

The first round of competition saw the top women jumpers in the world take to the water first. Hanna Straltsova continues her domination, having just come off a win at the California ProAm only days before, with a 54.3m (178ft) jump. Following her were the girls who have been fighting it out all year, namely Aliaksandra “Sasha” Danisheuskaya, Brittany “Britt” Greenwood, and Lauren Morgan, all roughly 2m apart, with Sasha leading the hunt for second with a 49.1m (161ft) jump. Rounding out the finalists was Valentina Gonzalez, who is making her return from injury late last year and continues to improve each round, edging closer and closer to the leading girls with each jump on her comeback.

On the men’s side of the field, Freddy “The Nightmare” Kreuger, also fresh off a Cali ProAm win, only needed one jump to secure the top seed, namely a 65.5m (215ft) jump. Kreuger was followed closely by red-hot Joel Poland and up-and-coming superstar Luca Rauchenwald. Rounding out the top 8 for the men were many of the tour veterans and names we have come to expect, such as Jack Critchley, Igor Morozov, and Taylor Garcia.

 

Moving into the finals, the women were faced with a tough mental challenge as the wind conditions picked up throughout the day as the event moved towards the 5 pm start time. Despite some nervous looks, the women braved the wind in front of a huge crowd of Canadians, who were being guided through cheers both from announcer Curtis Williams and DJ Steve Kushman. Once again, Hanna proved her might, winning on her second jump with a strong 52.6m (173ft) jump and even going back out to give the electrifying crowd a victory lap 3rd jump, which should be noted, was also far enough to take the title. Once again the fighting trio behind Hanna had a shake-up from the preliminary scores, with Britt leap-frogging Sasha to seal second place on a 49.7m (163ft) leap, which only slightly edge out both Sasha and Lauren, both finishing the event with 49.1m (161ft) scores.

As the crowd became more accustomed to the adrenaline of the jump finals, the men took to the water, starting with the Overall event jumpers. To the crowd’s delight, Canadian local heroes Thomas Daigle and Lucas Pinette kicked off the show, both nearing the 60m mark with each jump. Then the fireworks really began as Luca Rauchenwald set the lake on notice with a huge 66.1m (217ft) jump, the farthest of the tournament thus far. Then as the event moved into its final two jumpers, it didn’t appear as though Joel Poland would be able to best his Austria friend, coming into his last jump well short of the score, but, amid a building Viking clap from the fans, Joel found those precious centimeters to edge out Luca as the 66.3m (218ft) score appeared on the screen. Finally, Freddy Kreuger took to the water. Having been in fine form this year, many were surprised that Freddy was lagging behind both Joel and Luca coming in for his final attempt at the ramp, yet he too seemed to come away from his 3rd jump with the lead, only to throw his hands up in the air as 66.3m once again appeared on the scoreboard. Thus, ladies and gentlemen, we had a jump-off.

The 2 jump head-to-head jump-off would start off with Freddy choosing to go first, having won the coin toss. Once again turning in for the ramp with the Viking clap building as Freddy blasted into the bottom of the ramp, many cheered in admiration as the scoreboard read 66.6m (219ft), the furthest jump off the event once again. Then, as the sun continued to set, Joel returned to his arena, slipping on his first jump and leaving everything to one final cut, one final kick, and one final flight. The crowd cheered and clapped as Joel came flying into the bottom right-hand corner of the jump, soaring into the air, the jump was huge, everyone was thinking, but one man knew it. One man knew it so well that in the midst of his jump, Joel began to pump his fist into the air before he even landed. Screams filled the lake as both the crowd and Joel felt they had witnessed something special, regardless of who won. Yet, most everyone still eagerly awaited the score, not being as convinced as Joel that it was enough until the numbers hit the board, 6… 6… 9. Joel had jumped 66.9m (219ft) and had claimed the first-ever WWS Canada Cup crown.

 

As the champagne flowed from all directions on the podium, the crowd looked on in admiration, eagerly awaiting any announcement of the return of the WWS Canada Cup the next year. To their delight, event organizer and Canadian jumping legend, Jimmy Clunie, declared there would be a rematch between all these great skiers next year. Thus, as the sun went down and the skiers packed their bags, many were reminiscing, but many were also already mentally preparing for the next stop of the tour, namely the Mastercraft Pro at Ski Fluid on September 26-28. With the battles we have seen so far this year, every tour stop will be must must-watch action that you will certainly not want to miss.

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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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Austria’s most successful water skier, Britta Grebe-Llewellyn, once again brought the international pinnacle of action water sports to Upper Austria in the form of the WWS Salmsee Cup. On July 27 and 28, the best Overall skiers in the World competed in Slalom, Trick, and Jump at the Austrian stop of the World Water Skiers (WWS) Overall Tour in Steyregg. Grebe-Llewellyn and her husband, Jaret Llewellyn, a 9-time World Champion water skier himself, have now organized the event for five years and this year’s event was as exciting as ever. Great Britain’s Joel Poland defended his title from last year against his longtime rival out of Canada, Dorien Llewellyn, who made his return to the WWS Tour after missing all of 2023 due to an ankle injury.

 

 

With ten European Championship titles (in a row), two World Championship titles, and four world records, Britta Grebe-Llewellyn is one of the most successful female water skier of all time. Although the Gmunden native, no longer actively participates in competitions herself, she now shares her experience in athlete management and event organization, which includes putting together the WWS Overall Tour. Having completed the first event in Steyregg, she now sets her sights on the second stop of the tour in Canada, followed by the final two stops in Florida at what many consider to be the two best water ski lakes in the World.

At the WWS Salmsee Cup, the top six Overall skiers in the world battle the conditions and each other to see who was the king in Austria. You see, the special thing about the World Waterski Overall Tour is that the athletes have to prove their skills in the disciplines of slalom, tricks, and jumping, making the battle both one of physical and mental prowess.
The trio of favorites fighting for the title were last year’s tour Champion and World Record holder, Joel Poland, the reigning Overall world champion, Louis Duplon-Fribourg (FRA), and former World Record holder and 2021 World Champion, Dorien Llewellyn (CAN). In addition, Austrian Overall national champion, Alexander Gschiel, from Linz, and vice-national champion, Vincent Ahammer, from Gmunden, faced the international competition as hometown favorites. 

The incredible quality of the high-ranking starter field was evident immediately. Joel Poland led the way, scoring the highest scores in the Slalom and Jump disciplines. Ukrainian, Danylo Filchenko, finished close behind Poland with two personal bests and finished the day with the heights trick score of the day 12,340 in his WWS debut. Rounding out the top 3 was Dorien Llewellyn, who proved that he is inching closer to his best form after his injury break last year. Alexander Gschiel and Vincent Ahammer narrowly missed out on the finals, finishing 7th and 8th respectively, with Gschiel only falling short of Italy’s Edoardo Marenzi by a mere 20 Overall points, which, for example, corresponds to a difference of 0.8m in the jump event. However, both Austrians performed admirably well in the extremely strong field of six of the world’s best riders. 

Finals day started with the slalom competition, which started rainy and windy, but changed into a beautiful day. The men’s final day once again turned into an exciting thriller. Most of the field fought through what seemed like challenging conditions, but Joel Poland

put on a masterclass in slalom, pulling ahead to a commanding lead with 2.5@10.25m, 4.5 buoys ahead of Martin Kolman in second place, and Dorien Llewellyn and Edoardo Marenzi just behind in third. Moving into the trick event, Dorien took the lead with a commanding 11460-point score, which would only be narrowly eclipsed by Poland with a score of 11680, meaning Dorien would have to out-jump Joel by 4.5m to win the event. Louis Duplan-Fribourg would pull into third Overall behind Dorien with 11140 points, leaving Dorien with a 2.5m equivalent lead of Overall points over Louis heading into the jump event. Louis, the first of the three to jump, finished the event with the farthest jump score, namely 62.6m, which was enough to hold the lead in Overall until Dorien’s last jump, which was 61.2m. Finally, after failing to grab the victory from Dorien on his first jump, Poland secured the title with a 60.7m second jump and skied to the dock to the sound of applause from the awestruck audience on the shores of the Salmsee

With a total of 2949.47 points, the current world record holder won the heart-stopping final ahead of Dorien Llewellyn (2846.58) and defended his title from the two previous years. “The conditions were still challenging today due to the wind and everyone skied so well, which made it difficult. But of course, I’m over the moon with my third win here and I just love being here in Austria,” said Poland. In the end, the winner of the 2020 and 2021 Austrian stop, Dorien Llewellyn, was able to move up to second place.  “The competition [for me] was pretty good today, although my performance wasn’t at the same level as before my injury. But I did it cleverly, slalom was good enough, trick was good, but there should be more in there. The same as the jumping, but today I did what I needed. And to beat Joel, you just need super performances. But second place is a great start to the tour,” said, Dorien, delighted with his comeback from injury. Third place went to Frenchman Louis Duplon-Fribourg (2828.16). 

 

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Stop 1 WWS Salmsee Cup

Steyregg, Austria

July 27-28

At the Austrian stop of the World Water Skiers Tour, the international elite of water skiing will compete in the disciplines of Slalom, Trick, and Jump. Organized by Austria’s most successful water skier, Britta Grebe-Llewellyn, the action-packed water sports event will take place on 27-28 July from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission at Salmsee in Steyregg, Upper Austria.

For the fifth time in a row, Britta Grebe-Llewellyn is bringing top international athletes to Austria with the Salmsee Cup as part of the World Water Skiers Tour. The first stop of the international series will take place on July 27 and 28 at the Salmsee in Steyregg. The last few years have shown how exciting and action-packed this event can be when the best water skiers in the world come together.

The special thing about this tour is that the athletes have to compete in all 3 events, slalom, trick, and jump, and only the combination of these three water skiing disciplines is judged. The top 10 men in the world rankings will be competing, the best and most versatile water ski athletes in the world. The “local hero” and two-time Austria winner of previous years, Britta Grebe-Llewellyn’s son Dorien Llewellyn will be back on the dock after his injury-related time off last year and he has of course prepared himself well for the competition. “I’m looking forward to the competition at Salmsee, it’s a beautiful site. After my injury break last year, I can hardly wait to take part in the WWS Overall Tour again. The ten best men are at the starting dock and everyone is looking forward to competing in Austria. Winning this competition, or rather this tour, is the most difficult title for a water skier to win, It will be a great show, everyone should come and watch it live,” says the 28-year-old, looking forward to the Austrian edition in his second home country. 

The Canadian, with Austrian roots, is the third in an unusual trio leading the water skiing scene. The exciting battle between the Brit and defending champion Joel Poland, who also recently broke the world record in the Overall, and the reigning World Champion Louis Duplon-Fribourg (FRA), will once again come to a head to head.

 

 

 

 

 

From an Austrian perspective, 20-year-old homeboy Alexander Gschiel from Linz and Vincent Ahammer from Gmunden, will be flying the flag at the home event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 

Saturday 27.7. – 1 – 4 pm  Slalom,  Trick and Jump  

Sunday    28.7.  –  1 – 4 pm Slalom, Trick and Jump, Prize giving Ceremony

See Event Page for full details

 

World Water Skiers Announces 2024 Overall Water Ski Tour Stops

World Water Skiers (WWS) is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated stops for the 2024 World Overall Water Ski Tour. After months of meticulous planning and preparation, we are excited to announce that this year’s tour promises to be stronger and better than ever.

The 2024 tour will feature exhilarating competitions across four spectacular locations, showcasing the best talent in Three Event Water Skiing:

Stop 1: WWS Salmsee Cup, Linz, Austria – Known for its stunning landscapes and pristine waters, the Salmsee Club hosts its 3rd WWS Salmsee Cup presented by Gschiel. This could be the favorite stop of all the athletes on tour! Not only does the lake ski incredibly, but the atmosphere and culture make this stop unforgettable. As the birthplace of the Overall Tour, it will set the stage for an unforgettable start on July 27-28.

 

 

Stop 2: WWS Canada Cup, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada – presented by Korpan Considered the world’s breadbasket, Saskatchewan produces more than a third of the world’s total exported durum wheat. Home to some of the friendliest people, the Saskatchewan Waterski Club will host the WWS Canada Cup, highlighting Overall and Jump disciplines. All the top skiers will be vying for the highest payout the sport has seen in years on August 27-28.

 

Stop 3: WWS Travers Cup, Sunset Lakes, Florida, United States – Presented By Girl Love A Sunset (Luxury Charters) is the 3rd stop will be held at the highly regarded Jack Travers Ski School located at Sunset Lakes in beautiful Lake County. Known in the water ski world as possibly the best site on the planet for setting personal bests, this stop will see world records fall as athletes achieve new heights on September 21-22.

 

Stop 4: Ski Fluid, Polk County, Florida, United States – Presented by Dream Makers, this is the final stop of the 2024 tour takes us back to a place where the sky is the limit for those pushing themselves to win the tour title. Ski Fluid will be where athletes score their final points to become the overall champion of 2024. With such a premier site and athletes striving to win the tour title, there is no doubt that world records will fall again, as they did last year, on October 18-19.

 

This year’s tour is set to elevate the sport of water skiing to new heights, with each stop offering unique challenges and breathtaking scenery. We are confident that the 2024 World Overall Water Ski Tour will captivate audiences and inspire the next generation of water skiers.

 

“We are incredibly proud of the impact that the WWS Tour has had on the sport. Our team is always willing to test boundaries to what this sport could be,” says Jaret Llewellyn of World Water Skiers. “We are so grateful for our list of supporters who believe in our vision to make a difference in our sport. The enthusiasm from our host clubs in getting their cities involved to bring these incredible athletes to engage in their communities has been extraordinary. We can’t wait to see these athletes continue to evolve in slalom, trick, and jump disciplines, leaving everyone around the world speechless.”

Stay tuned for more details on each tour stop, including dates and athlete bios. Join us as we embark on an exhilarating journey through Austria, Canada, and the United States, celebrating the best in water skiing.

Please take the time to recognize our supporters below, and support them when you can.  For more information about the tour, please contact: Jaret Llewellyn Jaret.Llewellyn@worldwaterskiers.com

Follow us on social media for the latest updates:

Instagram: @world.water.skiers

 

 2024 WWS Overall Water Ski Tour Page 

 

                                              

 

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 

 

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

Overall Battle Right to the End

As the sun set on the pristine beaches of Lacanau last Sunday, the lakes of (Lacanau Ski Club) finally settled from the excitement of the Lacanau Overall Cup and the Malibu Open. Both of these professional events brought about incredible skiing and hard-fought victories, with the Malibu Open representing some of, if not the highest scores ever seen in a professional slalom event. (full slalom story link below)

After the culmination of the slalom event and the Saturday night festivities organized by the event organizers for the slalom skiers on the beaches of Lacanau, the stage was set for the Overall finals on Sunday. The event displayed top-notch skiing, major plot twists, upsets, a full range of emotions, and two very deserving winners, or as we like to call it, a typical Overall event. After the preliminary round of jump was completed, Canadians Paige Rini and Dorien Llewellyn emerged as the top-seeded skiers into the final, yet with no protected scores, any of the finalists were still able to win the event.

In the women’s slalom portion of the Overall final, Paige and Brooke Baldwin continued their dominance of the weekend by both running into the 10.75m line length. Brooke, going on the water first of the two, elected to run the 11m pass in a strong tailwind to give herself the best chance of running the 10.75m pass. Unfortunately, her gamble didn’t quite go as planned, as Brooke fell at 2 ball at 10.75m, putting her arm through the handle in the process. Paige, having watched Brooke, strategically started her set at the 14m line length in order to run the 11m in a headwind, which she did, finishing with a solid score of 1@10.75 to set herself up for tricks, knowing she was the strongest in the field in that event. After inspecting her arm, Brooke and the medical staff felt it was unsafe for her to continue skiing and thus, the Overall race became a battle between Paige and France’s own Ines Anguenot.

On the men’s side of slalom, the final placements were not exactly surprising, yet the scores were lower than anticipated. Both Dorien Llewellyn and Joel Poland, who had been on fire in the slalom event, grabbing scores at 10.25m every round, failed to ski through 10.75m in what proved to be a very strong headwind, finishing with scores of 2.5 and 4 buoys respectively. These scores proved to decrease their previous gaps on Frenchman Louie Duplan-Fribourg and Tanguy Dailland, who both finished with 2@10.75m scores, as well as Martin Kolman not far behind with 4@11m. Thus, the men’s event was already proving the potential to come down to the wire.

In the trick event, both Paige and Ines had unexpected falls in tricks, yet Paige proved her worth in the event, still finishing with the higher score of the two and taking a strong lead heading into jump. While Ines is quite the capable jumper herself and on par with Paige in the event, she would have felt the need to try to make up Overall ground in tricks, possibly leading to her early fall on her hand pass. As for the men, the Trick event proved itself as the biggest wildcard event in Overall. After an early fall from Tanguy Dailland, essentially eliminating him from the Overall race, Martin Kolman showed the value of experience by not allowing his slalom deficit to influence his tricking, instead calming standing up two solid passes and finishing with a score of 10690. With Louie next up, the fireworks began to fly. Louie mastered his way through his flips and spins, finishing once again with a Tour Record 11900 points, which when paired with his solid slalom, began to put a real threat in the minds of both Joel and Dorien. Joel fended off any outward pressures and put his flashy skills on display for the excited French crowd, landing himself in second with a 11680 point total and setting up a brilliant final battle in the Jump event. Last off the dock, Dorien, who is often known for his fluidity in the trick event under pressure, was clearly putting himself under pressure as the Defending Tour Champion.  Dorien rushed his flips on his second pass, having a very uncharacteristic fall on his fourth flip, only rotating to his back before smashing into the water and making his chances at the Cup title extremely slim. 

WWS has been working closely with EyeTrick for the last few years and knew that if the scores could be posted in real-time trick would undergo a revolutionary transformation. It worked so well that it even caught the announcers off guard, who were not expecting to see scores as quickly as during the first replay of the trick pass. Jaret said “this was a dream come true, we did not realize how the data would come across our screen but for the sport, it is a game changer. To be able to walk fans through a pass and educate them on why the score came out the way it did is inspiring for the future of the trick event. Skiers will have to mentally deal with hearing their scores come out so fast, which will make the event so exciting.” 

While the Jump event offers a great chance for consistent skiers to get good scores with 3 jumps, nothing is ever truly over until the last jump is taken. This proved true once again at the Lacanau Cup. With Tanguy Dailland and Martin Kolman putting up good jump distances, the final three skiers presented multiple battles still raging. Primarily, there was the battle for the Lacanau Cup Title between Louie and Joel, with Joel holding a 0.3m lead over Louie, and between Dorien and Martin for 3rd place on the podium, with Kolman having about an 8m lead over Dorien. Louie took to the water first, smoothly flying through the air on all three jumps, improving each jump to finish with a 62m score. Thus, Joel needed a distance of 61.7m to win the Overall event. While most considered Joel to be well on his way to winning the Cup before even setting foot on the water, he failed on his first two jumps to find his footing, landing short of the 61.7m distance each time. Then, with one final jump, Joel rounded the 600ft timing buoy, turning very late for the jump ramp and bringing with him tons of load into the jump. Despite his best effort, even this wouldn’t prove to be the winning jump, leaving Louie on shore with both hands on the Lacanau Cup, yet still not entirely sure whether to lift it just yet. While Dorien’s requirement seemed highly unlikely, he still had a small chance to win the event with a jump in the 70m range. Still, this challenge proved too much with the conditions on hand, and after Dorien’s 63.7m first jump, he clapped his hands together for Louie, knowing that the Frenchman had won the battle on home soil. 

  

As we move on to the 2nd stop of the WWS Overall Tour, the skiers look back on their time in Lacanau and reminisce on a truly unforgettable experience. The site, the people, the city, the beach, all in all, the memories will last a lifetime and we are already looking forward to next year. If you have not been to Lacanau this city and ski club need to be on your bucket list, they are truly one of the best on the planet. Lacanau is not just an incredible ski site, but with private villas available for rent, a pool, and an incredible restaurant right at the dock with the friendliest staff you can imagine, it is truly a special place. If you want to get a moment outside of the resort the ocean is 10 minutes away with endless restaurant options right on the beach where you can watch some of the best sunsets imaginable. But as the sun sets on Lacanau, we are off to Calgary, Canada, for the second stop of the WWS Overall Tour. On July 29-31 the battle continues to see who will take out the Overall Tour Title. 

 

A Special thank you for all the long hours it takes to put on an event of this level. Hats off to Geraldine, Christophe, the Jamin family, the staff, judges, volunteers, and especially to the sponsors, which are special friends of the water ski community that wants to give back. So please check out the names at the bottom or on the Event Page and drop a personal thank you for their support, it is what builds a stronger foundation for our sport!

 

 

See full Malibu Open Slalom Recap Story

Thanks to Eudes M-Tivier for the great shots all weekend –

photos – Friday – Saturday – Slalom

photos – Sunday – Overall finals 

This club has it all, a Full pro shop, Marine sale and repair, Villa Rental, and dockside Restaurant (Lèau à la bouche) 

Lacanau Ski Club

 

This coming weekend, the Lacanau Ski Club will bring together the world’s best slalom and overall skiers. Slalom superstars such as World Champion and World Record Holder Nate Smith, Dane Mechler, Jon Travers, and Moomba Master’s Champion Vennessa Vieke. On the Overall end, the event will feature current World Champion and World Overall Record Holder Joel Poland, the Former World Record Holder and World trick Champion Dorien Llewellyn, as well as Brooke Baldwin and Paige Rini, who will both be looking to make their mark in the Overall World Tour over the weekend. The Lacanau ski club, one of the premier sites in the world, has put on countless international events, and the site claims the 1st 230-foot jump by Jaret Llewellyn (CAN), 1st run over 12,000pt by Nicolas Le Forestier (FR), and 1st full 10.25m by Jamie Beauchesne (USA) performed in a pro event.

The Lacanau Ski club is a world-renowned ski school run by European superstars, Geraldine Jamin and Christoff Duverger. The club facilities include a full pro shop, on-site villas for rentals, and a high-end restaurant with fresh food and ingredients provided daily. In fact, you may never want to leave this oasis of a ski club. Yet, if you want to venture outside of the ski compound, the beach is 10 minutes away and the town of Lacanau has bursting nightlife energy. In the water ski world, this is a bucket list item that will leave you wanting to come back time and time again!

 

The Lacanau Cup is the launch of the 2022 season for the overall skiers. WorldWaterSkiers (WWS) is proud to have partnered with the Lacanau Water Ski Club and the professional slalom event being held in conjunction with the first Overall Tour Stop. Combining the two events will be one of the biggest payouts the sport has seen in a decade, Totaling $62,500 – with $37,000,- for Slalom on the PRO-AM side + $25,500 going to the Overall skiers, plus points towards the tour rankings and Year-End TOUR BONUSES.  Lacanau Ski Club partnered with World Water Skiers to utilize the EMS hub built by WWS, giving clubs and federations novel technology to promote better the sport we all love. The unity on display over the course of the weekend will be a beacon of the potential for the sport to reach larger fan bases together. Moreover, the prospects of the congregation between the world’s best slalom skiers, along with the reintroduction of the Overall World Tour is something that no water ski enthusiast is going to want to miss. So be sure to check the schedule to see when each round is and what the cut is, who makes the finals and when it goes live. 

This coming weekend, the Lacanau Ski Club will bring together the world’s best slalom and overall skiers. Slalom superstars such as World Champion and World Record Holder Nate Smith, Dane Mechler, Jon Travers, and Moomba Master’s Champion Vennessa Vieke. On the Overall end, the event will feature current World Champion and World Overall Record Holder Joel Poland, the Former World Record Holder and World trick Champion Dorien Llewellyn, as well as Brooke Baldwin and Paige Rini, who will both be looking to make their mark in the Overall World Tour over the weekend. The Lacanau ski club, one of the premier sites in the world, has put on countless international events, and the site claims the 1st 230-foot jump by Jaret Llewellyn (CAN), 1st run over 12,000pt by Nicolas Le Forestier (FR), and 1st full 10.25m by Jamie Beauchesne (USA) performed in a pro event.

The Lacanau Ski club is a world-renowned ski school run by European superstars, Geraldine Jamin and Christoff Duverger. The club facilities include a full pro shop, on-site villas for rentals, and a high-end restaurant with fresh food and ingredients provided daily. In fact, you may never want to leave this oasis of a ski club. Yet, if you want to venture outside of the ski compound, the beach is 10 minutes away and the town of Lacanau has bursting nightlife energy. In the water ski world, this is a bucket list item that will leave you wanting to come back time and time again!

 

The Lacanau Cup is the launch of the 2022 season for the overall skiers. WorldWaterSkiers (WWS) is proud to have partnered with the Lacanau Water Ski Club and the professional slalom event being held in conjunction with the first Overall Tour Stop. Combining the two events will be one of the biggest payouts the sport has seen in a decade, Totaling $62,500 – with $37,000,- for Slalom on the PRO-AM side + $25,500 going to the Overall skiers, plus points towards the tour rankings and Year-End TOUR BONUSES.  Lacanau Ski Club partnered with World Water Skiers to utilize the EMS hub built by WWS, giving clubs and federations novel technology to promote better the sport we all love. The unity on display over the course of the weekend will be a beacon of the potential for the sport to reach larger fan bases together. Moreover, the prospects of the congregation between the world’s best slalom skiers, along with the reintroduction of the Overall World Tour is something that no water ski enthusiast is going to want to miss. So be sure to check the schedule on the Lacanau Cup event page for all the details like Live streaming or scores. 

As the 2021 Overall professional season comes to an end, the final battle did not disappoint. 5 of the Best Men’s Overall skiers in the world faced off in what proved to be a challenging weekend. While the Ski Club of the Palm Beaches at Okeeheelee Park is typically known as one of the premier sites in the world, having hosted multiple World Championships of different levels, heavy rain on Friday for official practice, followed by extreme wind conditions throughout the tournament made for a difficult weekend of skiing. Nevertheless, Joel Poland, Dorien Llewellyn, Rob Hazelwood, Edoardo Marenzi, and Martin Kolman put forth their best to take home the American Open Crown.

In the end, Great Britain’s Joel Poland completed the Overall sweep, placing 1^st in all three individual events en-route taking home the grand prize of Overall Champion. Close on his heels was Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn, who narrowly finished second in each individual event, coming up just short to claim 2^nd in Overall. Also from Great Britain, Rob Hazelwood rounded out the podium as the 3^rd place finisher in Overall, having exhibited an uncharacteristic fall in slalom, finishing 3^rd, while also taking the 3^rd place in Trick, and finishing 5^th in Jump. Italy’s Edoardo Marenzi, an event dark horse, finished 4^th in Overall and finally in 5^th was Martin Kolman from the Czech Republic, who had an early fall in tricks and was never able to recover after.

The one-round final began Sunday with the trick event in strong winds between 15 and 20mph. Each tricker was forced to play strategy in terms of which run, to begin with, toes in the stiff headwind surprisingly being the preferred option for every skier but Hazelwood. When asked why he started with toes, Dorien Llewellyn said, “I would typically only do toes in a tailwind, but I was worried the wind chop would make flips really difficult. Also, I saw that the headwind made ski lines really draining for Rob at the end of his run, so I decided the tailwind for hands was more important.” In the end, Joel’s high-powered runs were enough to take the lead coming out of tricks, finishing with a score of 11220 points. Dorien was just behind with a score of 11010, followed by Rob’s 9310, Edoardo’s 7830, and Kolamn’s 6450.

After a set of recap interviews following the Trick event, the Slalom event started with improving conditions, but deceptively strong winds were still in effect once each skier began to round the buoys. Edoardo looked to be running 11.25, until biting off a little too much at 5 and finishing with 4.5@11.25. Kolman decided to take a risk and position himself for an 11.25 tailwind, knowing he had much ground to cover after tricks. Unfortunately, the gamble did not pay off, as he ended up inside 5 and finished with 4@11.25. Joel Poland finished his set and stated, “It looks pretty nice from here and the lake still skis well, but man the wind did not make things easy. When I pulled out for my gate at 39 the wind just kept pushing me.” All the skiers shared Poland’s sentiments, only realizing just how difficult the conditions were when skiing through their first passes. Joel took the lead in the event with 2@10.75m, with Hazelwood and Dorien still left to ski. Knowing slalom was his strongest event, Rob was prepared to take the risk of running 11.25 in the tailwind, masterfully powering through the pass to set up at 10.75 in the headwind, which no other skier had been able to do. Unfortunately, Rob’s fin skipped out of the water at the first buoy, and he finished with a score of 0.5@10.75. Finally, Dorien decided to play the long game in Overall and match Joel’s 11.25 headwind pass. Having run 11.25, Dorien ran 1@10.75 in the tailwind, visibly disappointed that he had just let a great opportunity to gain points back on Joel on the table, but knowing he was still very much within striking distance for jump.

Finally, the Jump event experienced high-performance weather, with a beautiful headwind rolling down the lake just as the sun began setting. Despite the great wind, long distances were difficult to come by at Okeeheelee. Edoardo began the final discipline with an impressive 59.5m jump, followed by Martin Kolman’s 60.7. Joel took to the water next and began his set with two underwhelming jumps, slipping on both, leaving all the pressure on his third and final attempt. Seemingly pulling off a great jump, Joel looked disappointed with his 62.7m score, having become accustomed to seeing higher scores on the leaderboard. As the sun began to set behind the West Palm Beach trees, Rob Hazelwood could not find his footing on the ramp, slightly slipping on all three jumps to finish with a 58.1m leap. Then, with the sun almost completely out of view, Dorien Llewellyn took to the water with high hopes of capturing the American Open title with a 64m jump. Joel Poland looked on as Dorien opened his set with a 61.7m score, looking poised for more. But it was not to be, as Dorien followed up with back-to-back 62.2m jumps, and the Overall title was signed, sealed, and delivered to Great Britain’s Joel Poland.

That wraps up the 2021 Overall Season! We would like to extend a BIG thank you to our sponsors and donors, we truly appreciate your passion to step up and back our vision in order to help the sport as a whole. Even though it is the off-season, there will be no resting. Bigger and Better is just around the corner for 2022. WorldWaterSkiers is excited to expand the “World Of Overall” to more events and open the door to new locations, which will be announced soon. So, stay tuned and be ready for more nail-biting action with the kickoff the WWS World Overall Tour.