DRAMA AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS AS THE WATERSKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGIN AT BOCA LAGUNA IN CHAPALA, MEXICO
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![]() ![]() Hours later, news emerged that Jacinta Carroll (AUS), the defending Ladies World Jump Champion and current World Record holder, had damaged a toe in her right foot. However, in true Australian spirit, she has just increased her preparations in the gym and is determined to defend her hard won title captured in Santiago Chile two years ago. Will she recover sufficiently to be able to take on the challenge this week? We will know in the coming days.
With these two dramatic events unfolding, this certainly opens the door for several highly successful challengers. In Men’s Jump, top of the pile must be Ryan Dodd (CAN) and Bojan Schipner (GER). Both shared the podium with Krueger in 2013. Dodd won the 2015 US Masters and Mandurah World Cup Stop this year. Schipner was on the podium this season at both the US Open and Mandurah World Cup Stop. Others are also getting closer. Carroll, injury put aside, will be fending off many in the Women’s Jump event, including Natallia Berdnikava (BLR) and Jutta Menestrina (FIN). Berdnikava has already broken the World Record three times and Menestrina is rarely off the Podium these days. An exciting event is certainly in store.
![]() ![]() In Tricks, often seen as Gymnastics on the water, Erika Lang (USA) and Aliaksei Zharnasek (BLR) look set for gold although coming from different eras. Lang, defending World Champion, at just 20 years of age, has already taken titles at the US Masters, U21 World Championships, Moomba Masters, and PanAm Championships, to mention but a few. She also has two World Records under her belt. Excluding injury or a very rare bad day, she has every reason to be confident. Zharnasek, at 35 years of age, is the ultimate professional. As the defending World Tricks Champion and current World Record holder, he has all the experience and must be confident. However, one slip in Tricks is all it takes and watch out for the French attack. Pierre Ballon (FRA) has been ranked number one twice in recent times and Alexandre Poteau (FRA) continues to be very high in the Rankings. Watch out also for Adam Pickos (USA), who at just 24 years of age has already been US National Trick Champion nine times!
Clearly, this is a golden era for Waterskiing. With MasterCraft providing all the boats and technical support and the facilities at Chapala’s Boca Laguna Waterski Club being some of the best in the world, this will be a week to remember.
On Wednesday evening at 18.30hrs, the IWWF will present the International Hall of Fame Awards in the restored historic Chapala Railway Station building nearby. This promises to be a glittering affair. The 2015 Inductees will be athletes Cory Pickos (USA), Mike Kjellander (SWE) and Mike Seipel (USA). Two Officials will also receive Induction Awards, Jeffry Armstrong (USA) and Clint Ward (CAN).
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IWWF CONTACT : Des Burke-Kennedy, Media Chairman, International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation |