Steve Glanfield has had a vision for a decade of bringing the world’s best water-skiers to the United Kingdom to stimulate interest in this exciting sport which Steve has supported for all, regardless of background, ability or disability. Steve is looking for sponsors and individual support to make this vision a reality in July 2024. Some sponsors are in place. But to get it over the line he needs support from us to raise the funds that would allow young people to compete on an affordable basis alongside the world’s best.
All donors will have their name printed on a “Donors wall” at the event and will be welcome to attend any part of the two day event, including the exciting night-time run-off final on Saturday 20th July. With sufficient support the event will also be available to all on a live webcast.
Amidst speculation surrounding the future of Malibu’s Response TXi model following recent company layoffs, Malibu Boats has solidified its dedication to tournament waterskiing in Australia. The company announced a long-term sponsorship agreement with Waterski & Wakeboard Australia (WAWA), ensuring its support for the Australian National Water Ski Championships until at least 2030.
The announcement, made during the Open finals at the 2024 National Championships by Noel Gordon, a representative of Malibu Boats Australia, reaffirmed Malibu’s longstanding commitment to the sport in Australia. Gordon expressed Malibu’s pride in continuing to sponsor the national championships, highlighting the company’s long history of support for tournament waterskiing in the country.
Mark Quinn, President of Water Ski Australia, echoed Gordon’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of Malibu’s sponsorship and its positive impact on the sport over the years. “It’s great to have them back on board for the next five years,” shared Quinn, “hopefully we keep running in this direction for many years to come.” Quinn praised Malibu’s involvement in various initiatives, including the New South Wales Malibu Series and junior development programs, underscoring the value of their continued partnership.
Corum, now overseeing the promo program in the US following Dennis Kelley’s unexpected termination, is collaborating with AWSA to try to maintain the presence of Malibu boats at tournaments across the country. The stated goal is to continue to use all three manufacturers at AWSA Regional and National Championships this year, although there are areas of the country where this may be challenging.
Despite some uncertainties regarding promo boat availability in the US, Malibu remains a key supporter of tournament skiing in Australia. Malibu’s strong presence in Australia dates back to the early 1990s when it acquired Flightcraft, subsequently establishing a manufacturing facility in Albury, New South Wales, in 1994.
The company retains deep ties to the water ski community in Australia, perhaps exemplified by Gordon, who is himself competing in the Australian Nationals this week and whose wife, Cathryn Gordon (née Humphrey) is a former Moomba Masters champion.
The move to sign a long-term deal to continue to support Australian water skiing is a positive sign, signaling that the TXi is here to stay. Gordon, for his part, is adamant, telling us to “look out for the TXi 25, [we’ve] got some improvements coming!”
The IWWF Executive Board has approved a bid from New Zealand Waterski Association to host the 2025 IWWF World University Waterski Championships at the Auckland Water Ski Club (AWSC). The Championships, which will include the three traditional events of slalom, tricks and jump, will be held February 26 through March 2, 2025 at the Orakei Basin in Auckland. The dates have been selected to align with New Zealand’s peak summer period and pre- Moomba Masters.
“The site is unique and located inside a dormant volcanic crater on the side of the Hauraki Gulf and Auckland Harbour. It is within sight of the SkyTower in the centre of Auckland. While the site is saltwater based, it has hosted several great skiers and events over the years including the New Zealand Nationals every 5 years. It skis well with historical slalom scores into 10.25 metres and jumps over 65 metres.”
This will be the first IWWF World Titled traditional waterski event hosted by New Zealand and the first since our separation from the FISU World University Championships program. It will be towed exclusively by the World Record-Setting Ski Nautique.
The IWWF World University Waterski Championships is a team event comprised of skiers between the ages of 17 and 28 who are full time students in good standing at an accredited university.
The event itself has a very rich tradition with many of the world’s top skiers competing over the years. Beginning in 1996 with the first IWSF World University Trophy Tournament, in Milledgeville, Georgia, USA and a second IWSF World University Trophy Tournament in 1998 in Cleveland, Tennessee, the IWSF went on to sanction the 1st World University Waterski Championships in Tianjin, China, in 2002. The Tianjin event, probably the largest amateur waterski event in history with tens of thousands in attendance, was broadcast live on China’s National TV Network, which at the time had a total viewership of 600,000,000.
In 2002, The IWSF (Now IWWF) partnered with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and FISU sanctioned events in Balakovo, Russia (2004), Tianjin, China (2008), Santiago, Chile (2012) and Akita, Japan (2016). Events were also scheduled for Dnipro, Ukraine in 2020 and Minsk, Belarus in 2022. Both were canceled, the first by COVID-19 pandemic, the second due to the war. Ukraine was rescheduled to 2024 but had to be canceled once again due to the war.
2025 marks the beginning of a new era as the World University Championships returns to the IWWF. The next event, hopefully, will take place in 2026 and will include two or more sport disciplines, conducted under the umbrella of the “IWWF University Worlds.”
More than 200 competitors will descend on Mulwala this weekend for the [Australian] National Water Ski Championships, which will include the spectacular Night Ski Show on Saturday.
The tournament is one of the ‘big three’ water skiing events nationally, alongside the recently completed Moomba event in Melbourne and the Australian Masters, which was held at Bridgewater in South Australia in January.
The event returns to the Max Kirwin Water Ski Park for the first time since 2022, and the five-day tournaments runs through to Monday.
Saturday night will feature a full bar and food vans, with the Yarrawonga/Mulwala-based ski show team to give an exhibition of what “waterskiing is all about.”
“It’s a real family night out, with a pretty cool atmosphere when it’s dark with the boats,” championships committee member Ada Richards said.
“All three disciplines will be on display – tricks, flip-off and slalom – it’s pretty cool under lights.”
Finally, we wrap up the series with the overall event, honoring some of the true legends of the sport. In this domain where versatility is key, these athletes stand out from the crowd. While calling someone the “greatest athlete” is a matter of opinion, here, we explore the incredible journeys of those who haven’t just achieved excellence but have mastered three distinct disciplines—slalom, trick, and jump—earning them the title of the sport’s greatest overall skiers.
These individuals haven’t just succeeded; they’ve gone beyond what was thought possible. Our journey takes us from the early pioneers through the sport’s golden age in the 1990s to today’s modern day greats. Along the way, we dive into each skier’s successes and challenges. These overall skiers represent the pinnacle of the sport, demonstrating unmatched athleticism and skill across all aspects of water skiing.
‘Greatest Of’ lists in any sport are inherently subjective and water skiing is no exception. There’s no definitive checklist to crown someone as the absolute best. Every fan out there has their own opinion. But decisions had to be made. We proudly present our picks for the 10 best female overall skiers in the history of competitive water skiing. So sit back, enjoy, and maybe even debate a little over our choices—after all, that’s the fun of it!
Kaye Thurlow receives her Australian team blazer for the 1969 World Championships in Denmark (image: VINTAGE WATER SKI PHOTOS)
10. Kaye Thurlow Faulkner
Representing Australia in five consecutive World Championships from 1967 to 1975, she earned eight medals across trick, jump, and overall, including two bronze medals in the latter event. Additionally, Kaye competed in the water skiing demonstration at the 1972 Munich Olympics, securing runner-up finishes in trick and jump.
Virtually unbeatable at the Moomba Masters, she secured an incredible 20 titles on the Yarra River, including eight titles in her favored overall event. Kaye deservedly makes this list as the most dominant skier in the only professional event of her era.
McClintock won an incredible eight consecutive Moomba Masters slalom titles from 2011 to 2019 (image: @desburkekennedy)
9. Whitney McClintock Rini
Between 2009 and 2019, Whitney achieved remarkable success with two World Championship overall titles and two runner-up finishes. Her impressive collection at the World Championships includes 10 medals, with five of them being gold, spanning slalom, trick, and overall.
Excellent as a junior, Whitney secured multiple junior world championships, including an under-17 overall title and back-to-back under-21 overall titles. Despite her exceptional skills, she faced the unfortunate circumstance of never having the opportunity to compete in a professional overall tournament throughout her career.
Between 1977 and 1983, the Florida transplant secured an incredible seven World Championship titles spanning slalom, jump, and overall, with back-to-back victories in the overall category in 1977 and 1979.
Cindy’s dominance extended to the U.S. Masters, where she asserted herself as a four-time overall champion. Stepping into the void left by Liz Allan’s retirement, Todd claimed three consecutive titles from 1976 to 1978. Her supremacy wasn’t limited to a singular discipline; across slalom, jump, and overall, Cindy clinched a total of eight titles at the Masters, solidifying her reputation as one of the greatest skiers of her era.
Willa Worthington’s father taught her to water ski on Oswego Lake in 1942 when she was 14.
7. Willa Worthington
Water skiing’s first ever world champion, Willa came agonizingly close to sweeping a World Championships, winning slalom, jump, and overall and finishing runner-up in tricks at the inaugural event in 1949. She would go on to win a total of 14 World Championships medals, eight of them gold. At her last World Championships in 1955, she narrowly missed the clean sweep again, repeating her placements from the first event.
At the U.S. Nationals she won nine overall titles, losing only once from 1946 to 1955. Three times she clean swept the competition, winning all four gold medals. In total, she was a 29-time U.S. National women’s champion, unmatched by any skier to this day.
The only reason she is not placed higher on this list is because of the difficulty in gauging performances from this far in the past. While she was incredibly dominant, the women’s field was often thin in the 1940s and 1950s, with only three women competing at the inaugural World Championships.
Berdnikava held the world trick, jump, and overall records throughout her career (image: @natiski200)
6. Natallia Berdnikava
With an impressive tally of ten World Championship medals earned between 2007 and 2017, Natallia Berdnikava stands as one of the most formidable figures in water skiing. Her crowning achievement unfolded at the 2011 World Championships in Dubna, Russia, where she achieved an extraordinary sweep in women’s trick, jump, and overall events. This remarkable feat laid the foundation for Belarus’ team victory, securing its place as only the fourth nation to claim that prestigious title.
Despite limited opportunities to compete professionally in overall competitions throughout her career, Natallia clinched the 2018 Latrobe City International. Regarded among the greatest trickers and jumpers of all time, she has emerged as one of the dominant athletes in the 21st century.
A trailblazer in the sport, Natallia still holds the distinction of being the highest-scoring female of all time. She has broken the world overall record three times, maintaining her grip on it since 2012, making it one of the longest-standing records in the sport.
Elena Thomsen-Milakova excelled in trick, jump, and overall (image: Swiss Waterski & Wake)
5. Elena Milakova
The Russian dominated the sport at the turn of the century, clinching three consecutive world overall titles from 1997 to 2001. Throughout her career, she amassed a total of nine World Championship medals, demonstrating her skills across the trick, jump, and overall events.
Her other major achievements include overall victories at the 1999 U.S. Masters and 2001 World Games, underlining her consistent excellence on the international stage. During a remarkable run of form in 2001, Elena broke the world overall record three times. This incredible feat included setting new records in both the preliminary and final rounds of the European Championships.
Karen and her husband Mick made up one of the sport’s greatest duos through the 1980s (image: VINTAGE WATER SKI PHOTOS)
4. Karen Bowkett Neville
The standard-bearer for Australia’s golden generation, Karen graced the overall podium in four consecutive World Championships from 1985 to 1991 and claimed the top spot twice. Her instrumental role in the Australian team led to three consecutive second-place finishes from 1985 to 1989, bringing them on the cusp of dethroning the United States’ decades-long reign. Her remarkable achievements include breaking Deena Brush Mapple’s four-year winning streak in 1989 to secure the U.S. Masters overall title, and she added another feather to her cap by winning the U.S. Open in 1991.
Karen dominated the Moomba Masters throughout the late 1980s, securing eight overall titles between 1984 and her retirement in 1993. Her remarkable tally of 20 titles across all four disciplines places her on par with Kaye Thurlow Faulkner as the most successful skier in the history of the Moomba Masters. Karen’s outstanding achievements in water skiing became a source of national pride, leading to her recognition as the Australian Sportswoman of the Year in 1985.
From 1979 to 1989, the Sacramento native played a pivotal role in guiding the U.S. Team to an impressive seven consecutive World Championship team titles, showcasing her consistency by only missing the overall podium twice during this period. Following two runner-up finishes and a bronze, she solidified her legacy by claiming back-to-back world overall titles in 1987 and 1989. Her illustrious career boasts a total of 15 World Championship medals, spanning slalom, jump, and overall events, with an impressive six golds.
Renowned as one of the most dominant skiers in the history of the U.S. Masters, Deena secured a remarkable 20 titles across slalom, jump, and overall, with 14 of them earned after the Masters became professional in 1985. Her prowess in women’s overall was particularly noteworthy, experiencing only one loss between 1985 and 1993 on Robin Lake. Similarly, at the U.S. Open, she won four consecutive overall titles from 1987 to 1990, before taking the 1991 season off for the birth of her first child.
Deena stands as the sole female athlete to simultaneously hold the world slalom and jump records. Among her many accomplishments, the Grand Slam Victory in 1987 stands out, securing overall wins at the World Championships, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Masters, and the Pro Tour—a feat only matched by one other athlete. Known fondly as the ‘Queen of Water Skiing,’ Deena’s achievements place her among the greatest of all time.
Liz Allan revolutionized women’s jumping through the 1960s and 70s (image: VINTAGE WATER SKI PHOTOS)
2. Liz Allan
At just 14 years old, the American phenom announced her arrival on the global stage by becoming only the second woman to jump 100 feet. In that same remarkable year, she clinched her inaugural world titles, seizing gold in both the jump and overall events.
Liz’s dominance in water skiing is unparalleled, as evidenced by her incredible tally of 15 World Championship medals between 1965 and 1975, boasting an impressive 11 golds—the highest count by any skier in history. Notably, she stands alone as the only skier to secure World Championships in all four disciplines: slalom, trick, jump, and overall, winning the latter event three times throughout her illustrious career.
In 1969, at the age of 18, Liz showcased near invincibility, very nearly effecting a clean sweep across all three events and overall at the U.S. Masters, U.S. Nationals, and World Championships. Her sole defeat that season came in slalom at the Masters. Liz’s dominance at her peak has yet to be surpassed by any other skier.
Her legacy extends to the U.S. Masters, where she reigns as the most successful skier in its storied history. Liz secured a staggering 24 titles, including an unmatched nine overall titles, with only one loss between 1966 and 1975. Liz’s extraordinary accomplishments reached their peak before she made the decision to retire from top-level competition at the remarkably young age of 24.
Jaquess is arguably the greatest water skier of all time, male or female (image: @regina_jaquess)
1. Regina Jaquess
Displaying exceptional talent from a young age, Regina Jaquess received her inaugural invitation to the Junior Masters at the tender age of 12. At 16, she nearly achieved a clean sweep at the Under-17 World Championships, securing victories in slalom, jump, and overall, only stumbling in the trick final, despite posting the highest score of the tournament in the preliminary round.
Undeterred, Regina clinched her first open world title in the trick event the following year at 17. She continued her dominance into the first two editions of the Under-21 World Championships, amassing a total of six gold medals. Her illustrious career includes five world overall championships, with back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2005, and an impressive three consecutive titles from 2013 to 2017. In total, Regina boasts 19 World Championship medals across slalom, trick, jump, and overall, securing 10 golds. A record-breaker, she has broken the world overall record four times and holds the World Championship tournament record.
Regina’s prowess extends to the Pan American Games, where she is a three-time overall champion, triumphing in 2011, 2019, and the most recent victory in 2023. Her outstanding performance in Chile last year, clinching gold in slalom, jump, and overall, earned her a nomination as the female athlete of the games.
Despite her remarkable achievements, Regina has faced a scarcity of opportunities to compete in professional overall tournaments, her career coinciding with a two-decade drought of events. Nonetheless, she made her mark by winning tricks and overall at the 2002 U.S. Open as an 18-year-old. In recent years, she has reached the podium on the WWS Overall Tour, reaffirming her enduring excellence in water skiing.
Honorable Mentions:
Clementine Lucine
While Clem may be best remembered as the first woman to trick 10,000 points, she boasts an impressive collection of eight World Championships medals, with four earned in overall competitions from 2003 to 2013. Her crowning achievement came in 2007 when she stood atop the podium in both the trick and overall events. Notably, she held the overall world record for an impressive five years, breaking it twice in 2004 and 2006.
Rhoni Barton Bischoff
While Rhoni could never secure top honors at the World Championships, she earned four medals, including back-to-back bronzes in the overall event in 1999 and 2001. On the professional circuit she was a two-time U.S. Masters overall champion and multiple-time U.S. Open champion. Making history, Rhoni became the first-ever world record holder in the overall category when the IWWF started recording records in the late 1990s.
Judy McClintock Messer
Between 1985 and 1995, Judy featured on the World Championships overall podium five times, finally clinching the coveted gold in 1995. She emerged as the backbone of the Canadian team, playing a pivotal role in their groundbreaking victories during the 1990s.
Ana-Maria Carrasco
Despite her greatest achievements coming in tricks, Ana-Maria secured a world overall title in 1983, alongside two runner up finishes throughout the 1980s. Throughout the decade, Carrasco consistently performed at an elite level, claiming gold in overall and trick at the inaugural World Games in 1981, and earning a U.S. Masters overall title in 1984.
Karin Roberge Woodson
The first Roberge to make their mark on the world stage, Karin secured back-to-back U.S. Masters overall titles in 1979 and 1980. She then claimed the title of world overall champion in 1981, showcasing her skills with podium finishes in both the slalom and trick events. Throughout the 1980s, she continued to shine, adding three consecutive Moomba Masters overall titles to her career achievements.
Giannina Bonnemann Mechler and Hanna Straltsova
These two young stars have been at the forefront of women’s overall for the last few seasons and are beginning to post scores that could threaten Berdnikava’s longstanding world record.
Bakersfield, Calif. (KBAK/FOX58) — More than 500 of the nation’s top water ski athletes will head to the Ski West Village in Arvin, for the Goode Water Ski National Championships in August.
The Ski West Village last held the event in 2007, which marked the last time the competition was held in California.
Athletes will compete in multiple events including slalom, tricks, jump, and overall.
The Ski West Village is located at 28311 Millux Road, Arvin, California 93203.
SNOQULAMIE, WA – HO Sports & Syndicate Waterskis are pleased to welcome Marcus Brown as Marketing Manager. His journey with HO began back in 1994, at 15 years old, with the HO Limited. Over the years he has worn many hats for the HO/Syndicate brand: pro athlete, ski designer/engineer, grass roots ambassador and coach, filmmaker and producer of FlowPointTV. His vast knowledge of the sport and our brands will bring a ton of value to HO & Syndicate moving forward
As a youngster, Marcus was drawn to the HO brand and what it stood for. In 2008, Marcus’ childhood heroes, Wade Cox and Bob LaPoint, were integral in bringing Marcus back to HO as a professional athlete. His past titles include Jr. Masters, University World, Moomba Masters and U.S. Open Championship as well as an induction into the Collegiate Water Ski Hall of Fame.
For over a decade, Marcus has worked hand in hand with HO Sports’ Production Director, Dave Wingerter, who also leads the Syndicate brand vision. HO & Syndicate have so many exciting products and plans for 2024; we couldn’t be happier with the addition of MB.
“I’ve known and been a fan of Marcus for years…” says Sr. Marketing Director, Greg Nelson “he’s a respected skier and his FlowPointTV series has been epic, looking forward to having Marcus lead the way for our brands.”
“Much of the success I’ve had in the industry has been thanks to the people who made HO/Syndicate what it is today… the risks they took on my crazy ideas has made all the difference.” says Marcus. “I am humbled and honored by this opportunity.”
Sr. Director, Product Development, Dave Wingerter adds “Marcus is a watersports visionary. From winning pro water ski events, reinventing water ski technique, to crafting the finest watersports films in the industry, I am excited for Marcus to showcase our brands.”
On July 2, 1922, history was changed when Ralph Samuelson became the first person to successfully water ski. USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is honoring the birth of our sport this summer by offering everyone the chance to learn to ski all summer long.
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, along with our affiliated ski clubs across the country, will host free learn to ski events June 1-August 31, 2024. USA Water Ski & Wake Sports recognizes that financial limitations often hinder participation in towed water sports and Get on the Water was designed to provide a fun, non-intimidating environment in which participants can learn to water ski for free.
Presented by Radar Skis, Get on the Water is a coast-to-coast initiative, waiving all sanctioning fees and guest membership fees for USA Water Ski & Wake Sports affiliated clubs that host basic skills learn to ski events through Aug. 31, 2024, providing clubs with a national platform, the opportunity to connect with their community, and the ability to better reach those who might not otherwise be able to participate.
The clinics are open to anyone who would like to learn to ski. Participants do not need any prior water-skiing experience to participate. The ability to swim is recommended but not required (each participant will wear a life vest).
Louis Duplan-Fribourg, the reigning world overall champion, made his return to the water this weekend for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in November last year. With his sights set on the US Masters in late May, the 23-year-old Frenchman is diligently working towards regaining full strength.
During his first set back on his trick ski, Duplan-Fribourg took a cautious approach due to his still recovering shoulder. However, he expressed his excitement at being back on the water, stating, “It’s fun to be on the water,” and adding, “the feeling is unreal!”
Duplan-Fribourg underwent shoulder surgery on November 15th to address persistent issues that had plagued him over the past couple of seasons. Opting for surgery during the post-World Championships period, he seized the opportunity to resolve the issue once and for all.
The French national record holder in tricks and jump recently completed a one-month stint of intensive rehabilitation at the European Sports Rehabilitation Center (CERS) in Capbreton, France to facilitate his return to the water. Reflecting on his rehabilitation journey, he expressed gratitude, stating, “It has been a difficult and intense month of work.” He also expressed appreciation for the support received from the team at CERS, saying, “I gave my best every day, and every time you gave it back.”
Duplan-Fribourg is determined to build on his successful 2023 season. For 2024, he has set ambitious goals, aiming “to win the US Masters in tricks and the WWS Overall Tour.” Now the third highest scoring trick skier of all time, the Frenchman’s anticipated rivalries with athletes like Patricio Font in tricks and Joel Poland in overall are expected to be among the most captivating storylines of the upcoming season.
His immediate focus will be on regaining his form in the trick event ahead of the Masters Qualifying Series in mid-May, with the aim of securing his spot at Robin Lake. In 2023, Duplan-Fribourg finished third in the Master’s trick event behind Font and Poland, two athletes who have tricked over 12,000 points more times than any other active skiers.
As the eldest of three remarkably talented siblings, Louis’ younger brother Pol recently clinched his first professional jump title during the night jump at the Moomba Masters earlier this month, edging out Ryan Dodd. Meanwhile, his youngest brother, Tristan, is poised to compete in both the Junior Masters and Under-17 World Championships later this year, where he is considered a favorite in jump and a strong contender in overall.
As Louis embarks on his road to recovery, we can expect to see much more of him, as well as the entire Duplan-Fribourg family, on top of podiums in the coming year.
In this quiz, you need to name the female skiers with the most podium placements in professional tournaments, without finishing on top, since 2010.
The list has nine skiers, all of whom have finished in the top three at least three times since 2010, without clinching a title. The list is a mix of now retired skiers, whose last victories came before 2010, and current professionals, who are still battling for their first professional title. We have given you the skier’s country, event, and podium finishes in the mentioned time period.
Data updated as of January 1, 2024.
* Does not include her America’s Cup victory, as the event was not open to non-US skiers
Independent perspectives on tournament water skiing
