WWS Salmsee Cup Prelims Are In the Bag!

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.