Check out Neilly Ross’ World Open Women’s Tricks Record run of 11,380 points.
Canada’s Neilly Ross has broken the World Open Women’s Tricks Record with a score of 11,380 points. This was performance was achieved behind the World Record-Setting Ski Nautique at Okeeheelee Park at West Palm Beach on 26th October 2024. Congratulations Neilly.
2024 will be a year to remember in professional waterskiing. 14 events over 6 countries with 8 different winners and 5 first timers.
Image: HO Sports
By Jack Burden
Another season of the Waterski Pro Tour has drawn to a close, delivering a whirlwind of action across 14 events, spanning six countries and boasting almost $500,000 in prize money. The Pro Tour, with its mission to weave a captivating season-long narrative by uniting various standalone professional events under a single ‘tour,’ has generally been a resounding success. Much akin to the glory days of the U.S. professional water ski tour (i.e., Coors/Bud Water Ski Tour), the aspiration here is to elevate securing the top spot in the standings to one of the most prestigious titles in the realm of water skiing. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that not all tournaments have chosen to be part of this evolving movement.
For the third consecutive year, our sport’s two longest-running and highest-prize-purse events, the U.S. and Moomba Masters, have decided to stand apart from the Waterski Pro Tour. Likewise, the Botaski Pro Am, which serves as a U.S. Masters qualifier and was a part of the Pro Tour in 2022, made a similar choice this year. Other smaller tournaments, such as the Fungliss Pro Am have also opted out.
Despite the overwhelming inclusion of professional events in the Pro Tour, we were curious to explore how the leaderboard might have appeared had all events been encompassed, similar to the old IWWF Elite Ranking List. Employing the same rules and methodology as the Pro Tour, we proudly present our Unofficial Professional Water Ski Rankings for 2024, offering an arguably more complete picture of the competitive landscape over the course of the full calendar year.
As expected, we’re witnessing minimal changes in the slalom leaderboards, given the extensive pool of events already factored in. However, the addition of the U.S. Masters and Fungliss ProAm has valuted Cole McCormick from sixth up to second. Similarly, the inclusion of the Botaski ProAm moves Rob Hazelwood, one of only three men to win multiple slalom titles in 2024, into the top five. Besides these noteworthy shifts, the top positions in men’s slalom remain largely unaltered. On the women’s side, there are no changes in placement from the inclusion of non-Pro Tour events. This reaffirms the Waterski Pro Tour’s status as an accurate reflection of the world’s premier slalom skiers, particularly due to its critical mass of slalom-only tournaments.
Men’s
Women’s
This is where the inclusion of non-Pro Tour events has the potential to shake things up the most, as only two events, the introductory level Swiss Pro Tricks and Monaco Slalom Cup, were featured in the Waterski Pro Tour for 2024. By incorporating the three highest prize purses from the trick event, we gain a much clearer perspective on the athletes’ performance throughout the year. However, changes for this season were minimal at the top of the list. Gonzalez, the only man to finish on every podium of the season hangs on to top spot, with Font and Labra staying tied for second. On the women’s side the top three is similarly unchanged, with Danisheuskaya and Cuglievan vaulting into the top five on the basis of their strong performances at the Moomba and U.S. Masters, respectively.
Men’s
Women’s
Out of the seven professional jump tournaments held in 2024, five were featured in the Waterski Pro Tour, while the legacy events, the U.S. and Moomba Masters, opted out. Our rankings typically align with the Pro Tour, the only significant mover in this category is Ryan Dodd, whose mid season injury ruled him out of the majority of Pro Tour events. Dodd started the season with a victory at the Moomba Masters, then two runner up finishes in Moomba Night Jump and the U.S. Masters. Including these events propels him to fifth place in the rankings. Otherwise, any changes were essentially a reshuffling of podium placements.
Men’s
Women’s
Finally overall skiing, which is not officially recognized as an event by the Waterski Pro Tour. The last two seasons have heralded in a resurgence for the discipline, with competition across four professional events on the WWS Overall Tour. These rankings, although using a different methodology, line up exactly with the final standings of the WWS Tour.
Men’s
Image: Robert Hazelwood
In the context of a season long, globe spanning sporting tour there is always the risk that its finale could end up being underwhelming. Occasionally the destination of the year’s prizes have been wrapped up well before the last event. Often the athletes themselves are physically drained and mentally checked out as they look ahead at rest and recuperation prior to the next season. This can result in a final event in which there is not much to get excited about: less out with a bang, more a ceremonial ritual as the season ends. But this situation could not have been less applicable for this past weekend’s Miami Pro. Oh no. It was, in fact, the exact opposite.
Coming into the last weekend the main talk had been of the women’s slalom Tour Leaderboard. Jaimee Bull had taken top spot at the season opener in May and hadn’t let go since thanks to multiple wins and a 100% podium record. Regina Jaquess had been on a relentless charge in the four events since the Tour returned from Europe, eating into Jaimee’s once huge lead. If she finished in the top 2 in Miami and two places above Jaimee, she would take her first Tour title. Whitney McClintock still hadn’t finalized which spot she’d take on the Tour podium, having shared the wins with Regina in the most recent four events.
So, all down to the last weekend of the season. Ultimately, in the perfect scenario after 11 events, it came down to the very last pass. Regina and Jaimee were tied in the lead at 1@10.25m (41ft off) with Whitney, the top seed after qualifying, still to ski. Whitney ran 10.75m (39.5ft off), of course, to complete the set of such passes for this dominant trio. At this point we’re surprised to see anything else. There were a great many potential outcomes for the win as well as the Tour as Whitney came in at 10.25m for the last pass of women’s slalom in the 2024 season. Suffice to say, the two buoys Whitney heroically turned put her on top of the Miami Pro podium and Jaimee at the top of the 2024 Waterski Pro Tour’s. Whitney also gained a place from Regina on the Tour podium as they ended up in 2nd and 3rd respectively. An incredible season of back and forth between this dominant trio. They took 9 of 11 victories, suitably evenly at 3 apiece, in this year’s Tour.
This level of dominance by a minority of the field just didn’t apply to the men’s slalom field in 2024. If anything the defining story of the season has been of a wild variety of victors after years of only four names hitting the top of the podium. Prior to this weekend there had been seven separate winners this season, including four first timers. After Miami it was eight and five.
Brando Caruso has been only a sporadic presence in the Tour in recent years. Whilst entering most european events and a smattering in the USA he has become increasingly competitive, making podiums here and there but never quite taking the next step. In Miami he did just that with a performance that was up there as the most athletic of the year. Out fairly early in the final after a solid but not spectacular qualifying campaign, Caruso had so shocking of a buoy 2 at 10.25m that it all seemed to be over. Somehow he managed to not only reach 3 but turn it to sneak around 4 in a move that has to be seen to be believed. Some couldn’t understand how he’d managed it after multiple viewings. As the remaining skiers came and went, no one was able to touch his 3.5, giving him his maiden professional win. Nate Smith ended 2nd with a score of 3 and Jon Travers completed the podium with 2, his superior qualifying score breaking the tie with 4 others.
Will Asher had confirmed his status as Tour Champion for the second time a number of events ago. His stellar start to the year – three wins and a second in his first four Tour events – saw him, like Jaimee Bull in women’s slalom, lead the Tour from start to finish. Nate Smith finished 2nd and Jon Travers, with his strongest season yet in his decade and a half of pro skiing, was 3rd.
So, a truly sensational season and almost inarguably the best in years on both sides of slalom with such high levels of competition, variety in winners and placements going down to the wire. It has truly been a hell of a year. A shame to see such an enjoyable season end but it leaves us all the more excited for what 2025 will bring. We’ll see you in April for more of the same!
For event highlights, scores, replays and more visit Waterski Pro Tour.
Image: Nautique
By RTB
3 minute play
In this quiz, you need to name the skiers, male or female, with the highest winning percentage in professional tournaments this century.
The list has 15 skiers, all of whom have a winning percentage of greater than 33% in a single discipline competing in professional tournaments this century. We have set the cut off at least ten professional victories in each discipline. 10 skiers have winning percentages of 50% or better. We have given you the skier’s country, discipline, and winning percentage in the mentioned time period.
Data updated as of November 3, 2024
Note: Data may be incomplete for 2000-2002, as professional tournaments were not yet systematically tracked for the IWWF elite ranking list. Return to Baseline has conducted extensive research and is committed to compiling results from all historical tournaments.
Catch all the action from the finals of the Miami Pro Slalom.
Image: Waterski Pro Tour
By Jack Burden
MIAMI, Fla. — In a sensational end to one of the most fiercely competitive seasons in professional water skiing history, Brando Caruso clinched his maiden pro victory at the Miami Pro Slalom, the final event of the 2024 Waterski Pro Tour. Held at the Greater Miami Ski Club, the Miami Pro Slalom was the highest cash-prize slalom event on the 2024 calendar and marked a dramatic conclusion to a season that saw a record number of unique winners.
Caruso, who became the 10th different winner in men’s slalom this year, emerged victorious against a field filled with world-class talent. “That was unexpected,” Caruso said, reflecting on his win. “I didn’t train as much as I used to, so I wasn’t expecting this, but I’ve been waiting for this moment for the last two, three years. Wow! I’m out of words.”
The 2024 men’s slalom season featured six first-time winners and matched the 2008 record for the most unique winners in a single year, making it the most competitive season in over a decade. Caruso’s victory at Miami placed him in rare company, as more new winners emerged this year than in the previous nine seasons combined.
The season also concluded with William Asher of Great Britain and Jaimee Bull of Canada securing the Waterski Pro Tour season championships for men and women, respectively. Asher’s frequent podium finishes across most of the season’s events cemented his lead, while Bull’s consistent performance saw her clinch her fourth consecutive Tour title. Whitney McClintock Rini added to the excitement by winning the women’s slalom in Miami, topping off an engrossing season for both men and women competitors.
For Caruso, the Miami Pro Slalom marked the peak of a career moment long in the making. The Italian skier had been on the edge of a major breakthrough, and his win stands as a testament to perseverance amid a season defined by close margins and fierce competition.
Image: @erikalang36
By Jack Burden
GRANBURY, Texas — Just one week after Canadian water skier Neilly Ross set a pending world record, Erika Lang has reclaimed her status as the world’s highest-scoring women’s tricks skier, achieving an impressive 11,450 points at the Timber Cove Record Tournament in Granbury, Texas.
Lang’s score surpasses the current record of 11,360 and edges past Ross’ pending 11,380-point run, potentially restoring the American’s position at the top of the sport. This comeback follows a remarkable week of intense competition and record-breaking, with Lang adapting her strategy after observing Ross’ innovative hand sequence.
Lang’s world record run
“11,450 points!! So excited to have set a pending World Record at the Timber Cove Record Tournament,” Lang shared after her performance. Her response highlights the fierce, fast-paced competition in women’s tricks skiing, where top athletes continually push the boundaries at each tournament.
Ross, 22, had made headlines just days earlier by setting the pending record in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her 11,380-point score was celebrated for its technical precision, featuring an innovative hand run that split her six flips into a series of wake spins and ski line tricks.
Lang, who also competed at the Okeeheelee tournament in pursuit of a world record, seems to have replicated Ross’ record-breaking run, learning and perfecting the sequence in the few days between the two events.
If ratified, Ross’ record would end Lang’s eight-year streak as record-holder, marking a potential passing of the torch in women’s tricks. However, Lang’s recent achievement could keep her at the forefront of the sport.
The escalating rivalry between Lang and Ross brings renewed excitement to the sport, with each record-setting performance intensifying the competition. Both scores are currently pending review from the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation.
