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HISTORIC OVERVIEW
WATER SKI CLASSIC
The concept of skiing on water dates back to about 1922 in the USA. The first World Championships were held in France, in 1949. This featured the three disciplines of Slalom, Tricks and Jump – referred to now as Tournament Skiing. In recent years, the trend has been away from athletes attempting to master all three – and towards greater specialisation.
WAKEBOARD
While Waterskiing emerged as a successful sport back in 1946, it was not till 1985 that the sports of surfing, snowboarding and waterskiing merged to become Wakeboarding. The concept of a towed board has since taken off so much so that the International Waterski Federation (IWSF) changed its title in 2009 to the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) to include this new important discipline.
IWWF
International Waterski and Wakeboard
Federation
Federation
Mount Salus
Knocknacree Road Dalkey
County Dublin
Ireland
Knocknacree Road Dalkey
County Dublin
Ireland
phone: +353 86 255 8754
fax: +353 1 285 5205
fax: +353 1 285 5205
Press contact:
Des Burke-Kennedy
Des Burke-Kennedy
BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE RULES
SLALOM
Performed on a single Slalom ski, Slalom skier is pulled through a course which comprises an entry and exit gate and six course buoys by a GPS-controlled competition boat with a maximum speed of 58kph for men and 55kph for women. Skiing around all six buoys is deemed a clear pass. Once cleared at the maximum speed, the degree of difficulty is greatly increased as the rope is then shortened by fixed lengths for each following pass. The objective is to score the highest number of buoys without falling.
TRICKS OR SHORTBOARD
Usually performed on a single short ski with no stabilising fins, each athlete is granted two passes through a fixed course in which to perform a choice of defined manoeuvres. Each pass lasts exactly 20 seconds. A single fall brings that pass to a conclusion. Tricks have pre-established scores. Skiers may perform while holding the ski handle by hand or by using a foot-harness which is equipped with an emergency release system operated from the boat. The highest score wins.
JUMP
As in Slalom skiing, the boat speed is fixed. Using two long aerodynamically designed skis, helmet, speed suits and various protection equipment, the jumper uses a pendulum principal to propel him/her self on to the floating jump ramp. Approaching take-off speeds of over 100kph, the winner is simply the athlete who scores the longest distance and skis away safely.
MOST IMPORTANT ATHLETES
Men
Chris Parrish (USA)
Will Asher (GBR)
Nate Smith (USA)
Nicolas le Forestier (FRA)
Aliaksei Zharnasek (BLR)
Jimmy Siemers (USA)
Freddy Krueger (USA)
Jason Seels (GBR)
Zack Worden (USA)
Will Asher (GBR)
Nate Smith (USA)
Nicolas le Forestier (FRA)
Aliaksei Zharnasek (BLR)
Jimmy Siemers (USA)
Freddy Krueger (USA)
Jason Seels (GBR)
Zack Worden (USA)
Women
Regina Jaquess (USA)
Whitney McClintock (CAN)
Regina Nowlan (AUS)
Natalia Berdnikova (BLR)
Clementine Lucine (FRA)
Iris Cambray (FRA)
June Fladborg (DEN)
Marion Mathieu (FRA)
Whitney McClintock (CAN)
Regina Nowlan (AUS)
Natalia Berdnikova (BLR)
Clementine Lucine (FRA)
Iris Cambray (FRA)
June Fladborg (DEN)
Marion Mathieu (FRA)
MOST SUCCESSFUL NATIONS
CAN, USA, FRA, GBR
TRIVIA
Water Skier Freddy Krueger, has set seven world records and is a three time World Jump Champion. Like Formula 1’s Michael Schumacher he started his career before the age of 6. Both are the same height and weight. However, there is the vital difference! At full throttle off the grid, Schumacher will go from Zero to 100kph in a staggering 2.7 seconds. When Freddy Krueger makes his final cut to the special Bemman Pressure Wave Jump Ramp, he will accelerate from Zero to 100kph in only 1.8 seconds!
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