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Oscar Domino jumps at the 20th International San Gervasio

Jolly Ski Celebrates 20 Years of the International San Gervasio

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Jolly Ski celebrates 20 years of the International San Gervasio

Oscar Domino jumps at the 20th International San Gervasio

Oscar Domino of Denmark jumps during the XX International San Gervasio

By Michela Luzzeri

Jolly Ski

SAN GERVASIO, ITALY — From June 20th to 22nd, the 20th edition of the International San Gervasio took place at Jolly Ski in San Gervasio Bresciano. This historic three-event tournament (slalom, tricks, and jump) has been attracting young talent from across Europe—and beyond—for two decades. 62 athletes from 10 different countries competed in a weekend full of excitement and unforgettable performances.

As tradition goes, the first day of the tournament concluded with the awarding of the Trofeo Josè, given to the junior slalom skier who comes closest to the Italian National in their age group’s. This year’s sixth edition of the trophy went to U14 German skier Maja Leonhardt, who scored an excellent 1@12m. During the awards ceremony, we also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the event with a toast and refreshments, joined by athletes, coaches, officials, and friends who’ve been part of this journey.

Among the standout performances, Austria’s Lili Steiner impressed with a 47-meter jump, confirming her status as one of the top contenders for the upcoming U21 World Championships in Canada. Austria showed up strong this year, having selected the International San Gervasio as one of its official qualifiers for the national youth team ahead of the European Championships.

Many athletes set new personal bests. Among them was local athlete from Alfianello, Edoardo La Malfa, who scored a personal best in tricks (8120 points) and a new overall personal best, thanks to a strong slalom score of 1.5@11.25m and a 55.5m jump.

One of the most emotional moments came from Ukrainian athlete Mykhailo Mykhailichenko, who has found a second skiing home in Italy since the beginning of the war. At just 15 years old, he delivered an outstanding slalom performance with 1@10.75m.

Oscar Domino of Denmark also celebrated a major milestone by qualifying for the U21 World Championships with a new personal best of 54.9m jump. Another strong U21 Worlds prospect is hometown skier Florian Parth, who showed great form with 5.5@10.75m. 

Last but not least, promising signs from the Italian National Team: both Matteo Luzzeri and Nicholas Benatti showed grit and determination, bouncing back after injury-plagued seasons in 2024. The road to the Open Worlds is officially underway!

Ski Nautique 2026

IWWF Rejects 2026 Ski Nautique for Worlds, Citing Fairness and Timing

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IWWF rejects 2026 Ski Nautique for Worlds, citing fairness and timing

Ski Nautique 2026

Image: @nautiqueboats

By Jack Burden

The IWWF World Waterski Council has unanimously rejected Nautique’s late-stage proposal to debut its newly announced 2026 Ski Nautique at this year’s World Championships in Recetto, Italy.

The request came just days after Nautique unveiled its next-generation towboat — a lighter, sharper redesign billed as an “evolution of a true icon.” With flatter wakes, a refined hull, and integrated Zero Off enhancements, the 2026 model is being positioned as a new benchmark in three-event performance. Early impressions from Team Nautique athletes and independent skiers alike have been glowing, with slalomers praising “drastically better wakes” and reduced speed drop out of the turn.

But when Nautique Vice President Brian Sullivan made the pitch during a Masters meeting with IWWF President Jose Antonio, the council’s response was cautious. According to minutes from the May 29 meeting, delegates from all regions agreed the change would unfairly disadvantage athletes outside the U.S., particularly in Oceania and Latin America, where access to the new boat in time for training was unlikely.

“The new boat is completely different, making it unfair for athletes,” said athlete rep Valentina Gonzales, noting that many skiers would have just “two passes (official familiarization) to test the new boat before the Worlds.”

Though Nautique offered to ship three boats to Europe within a week, council members pointed out that large parts of the world — and much of the athlete field — would be left without meaningful prep time.

Athlete chair Martin Kolman was more blunt: if Nautique wanted the boat used at Worlds, “they should have informed the waterski community in a timely manner.” Instead, the request came days after the launch — and just three months before the sport’s flagship event.

For now, the current Ski Nautique — introduced in 2019 and entering its final year of production — will remain in use. And while that may frustrate some, it aligns with the spirit of fair play: the playing field must come first.

Whether Nautique misread the timing or bet too heavily on post-launch momentum, one thing is clear — for all the engineering ambition the new boat represents, it arrived a season too late.

And perhaps, with more riding on this launch than meets the eye. Nautique’s long-held position as the exclusive towboat supplier for IWWF events is set to expire at the end of the year. Rumors have surfaced that Malibu — long absent from the international scene — could take over the contract beginning in 2026. If true, the 2026 Ski Nautique may never get the chance to pull a World Championships.

That’s not just a missed debut. It’s a boatload of R&D with nowhere to run.

Centerline Handle by Spray Research

New Tournament-Approved Handle Offers Fresh Take on Water Ski Safety

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New tournament-approved handle offers fresh take on water ski safety

Centerline Handle by Spray Research

Image: Spray Research

By Jack Burden

The water ski handle hasn’t changed much in decades—but a new option from Spray Research is quietly challenging that status quo.

Officially launched this week, the Centerline Handle—formerly known as the T-Handle—is now available for order through Spray Research’s new website, sprayresearchusa.com. Engineered by Jason Peckham, a Masters Men skier and design engineer, the handle rethinks how rope and handle connect by eliminating the traditional open bridle in favor of a central attachment point.

The design aims to reduce the risk of serious injury during falls, like the one Peckham himself experienced in 2022 when his arm became entangled in a conventional handle at 39.5 off. The result: a fractured radius, torn tendon, and an extended recovery.

The Centerline’s signature feature—a rigid “Centerline Stiffener”—creates a closed, stable loop where the rope meets the core bar, reducing the chances of limb entrapment. It’s already been approved for a 24-month trial in IWWF tournaments, allowing athletes to put the handle through real-world paces at the highest level.

While early testers, including juniors and seasoned skiers, have reported a positive feel, the handle’s radically different shape and grip may require a period of adjustment. As with any departure from long-established gear, adoption may be gradual—and not every skier will prefer the feel.

Questions remain about how the handle performs in high-speed releases, its long-term durability, and whether a new shape can gain traction in a sport deeply rooted in tradition. But its arrival signals an important moment: a meaningful attempt to improve safety without compromising performance.

Available for $225 USD with free U.S. shipping through June, the Centerline Handle is poised for a wider audience this summer. Whether it becomes a staple on docks around the world remains to be seen—but it’s certainly one to watch.

Brisbane 2032 Games Vision

IWWF Urges Water Ski Community to Weigh In on Brisbane 2032 Olympic Vision

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IWWF urges water ski community to weigh in on Brisbane 2032 Olympic vision

Brisbane 2032 Games Vision

Shaping the Future: Brisbane 2032

By Jack Burden

The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) is calling on athletes, fans, and anyone with a stake in the sport to speak up, as the Brisbane 2032 Olympic organizers open the door—just slightly—for public input on the Games’ direction.

A short survey, open to the public until June 20, invites people from around the world to help shape the vision for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s a rare chance for the waterskiing community to register on the radar of Olympic decision-makers—and maybe, just maybe, push the sport one step closer to the five rings.

This campaign comes at a curious and potentially pivotal moment. For the first time in years, the Olympic conversation doesn’t feel like a one-way street. According to insiders, it was the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee—not the waterski federations—that initiated talks about possible inclusion. That’s a reversal big enough to raise eyebrows across a sport long relegated to the Olympic sidelines.

Cindy Hook, the CEO of Brisbane 2032, may be part of the reason. She has a background in skiing—not just the kind with lift tickets and après, but the kind pulled behind a boat. How much that personal link matters is anyone’s guess, but in Olympic politics, connections have always mattered more than most people would like to admit.

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Executive Director Kevin Michael recently confirmed that the organization has launched a new Olympic campaign, anchored by meetings with Brisbane officials. “We’re making the right pitch to the right people at the right time,” he said in The Water Skier magazine. “No promises yet, but this journey will absolutely pay dividends for the sport.”

Whether those dividends come in the form of Olympic inclusion—or simply more visibility and legitimacy—remains to be seen. The waterski world is split. Some see this as a tired, expensive dream that has sapped energy from more realistic efforts to grow the sport. Others view it as a necessary gamble, a long shot worth taking if only to show future generations that the sport hasn’t stopped dreaming.

Behind the scenes, there’s cautious optimism. Rumors are circulating of quiet support within the International Olympic Committee, and even whispers of water skiing being considered for exhibition status at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. But for now, it’s all speculation and strategy meetings.

What isn’t speculation is this: there’s a survey open, and the people running Brisbane 2032 say they want to hear from the public. So, if you’ve ever had an opinion about where the sport should be—or where it could go—now’s the time to speak up.

Take the Brisbane 2032 survey here. Deadline: June 20.

Shocking loss of Stephanie Stange

Gone Too Soon: Water Ski Community Mourns Stephanie Stange

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Gone too soon: Water ski community mourns Stephanie Stange

Shocking loss of Stephanie Stange

Image: AWSA South Central

By Jack Burden

The water ski world is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of Stephanie Stange, a beloved figure in the sport both on and off the water. Stange, 55, was fatally struck by a pickup truck while bicycling outside Denison, Texas, on Thursday evening, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. She was transported to Texoma Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.

A multiple-time national slalom champion, Stange most recently won the Masters Women’s slalom title in 2023. Off the water, she was a Senior Scorer and served as an appointed official at the 2024 National Water Ski Championships.

Her influence on the sport extended through her family as well. Her two children, Parker and Griffin Stange, were standout skiers for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, graduating earlier this year after helping lead the Ragin’ Cajuns to multiple collegiate titles.

In a statement shared by the AWSA South Central Region, Stephanie was remembered as “vibrant, down-to-earth, and full of joy,” someone who brought warmth and humor to every conversation. “She had an incredible way of making everyone feel seen and valued… Stephanie lived her life with courage, laughter, and love.”

Beyond skiing, Stange was a chiropractor in Sherman, Texas, and an adventurer with a deep love for her family, her community, and the sport she helped elevate for decades.

She is survived by her husband Dave, and their two children Parker and Griffin. The entire water skiing community joins them in grieving the loss of a remarkable woman — an athlete, official, mother, and friend who gave so much to the sport and the people within it.

2026 Ski Nautique

“Drastically Better Wakes”: Pros Weigh In on the 2026 Ski Nautique

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“Drastically Better Wakes”: Pros Weigh In on the 2026 Ski Nautique

2026 Ski Nautique

The Next Generation (image: Nautique)

By Jack Burden

The 2026 Ski Nautique has been out in the wild for barely a week, but it’s already generating real-world feedback from the world’s best. Pro slalom skier Cole McCormick took his first set behind the new model earlier this week — and while his analysis comes with the disclaimer of being a one-set impression, his verdict was clear: this boat skis very differently.

“The wakes are drastically better,” McCormick wrote in a detailed review posted to BallOfSpray. “And that’s coming from a guy who really, for the most part, doesn’t care how the wakes feel.”

According to Nautique, the 2026 model is the result of a complete hull redesign — a new blend of carbon fiber and fiberglass, reimagined lifting pads, and a reshaped HydroGate. The result is a lighter, more responsive boat that rides higher in the water, creates less displacement, and theoretically, produces flatter, more supportive wakes.

McCormick echoed that claim, highlighting one area in particular: “There is basically no trough at all at short line. This makes controlling load off the second wake after a heavy turn much easier. That’s probably the number one reason I lose runnable 41s.”

Another notable change is how the boat carries speed through the course — something McCormick says stood out immediately. “With the current boat, I would turn, feel a drop in RPM, then the boat would pick me up as I approached the first wake. With this new boat, it feels like there is almost no drop in speed. It’s a very odd feeling at first, but I suspect once I get used to it, it will be a big improvement at short line.”

That sensation isn’t accidental. Nautique says its Zero Off integration has been recalibrated to work in tandem with the new hull and prop setup, creating more consistent pull characteristics across the letter scale. According to Matt Rini, who walked through the new model in a recent video, “We’ve fine-tuned the feel at the end of the line. This gives the skier more adjustability in the pull… and keeps RPMs consistent across different conditions.”

McCormick noticed the effect immediately. Despite using the same Zero Off letter settings as before, the boat felt like it was pulling entirely differently. “I think there’s a good chance you will have to change your letter on this boat from the previous model,” he said.

While McCormick’s early review holds weight thanks to its independence, it also represents a very specific use case: shortline slalom at top speed. For most buyers, that’s not where they live. A far more important question — especially for the 30-to-34 mph, long-line crowd — is whether those benefits translate at lower speeds.

Team Nautique’s Charlie Ross believes they do. “At the high level, I think it’s a world record boat,” he said. “But even at longer line, the wake’s almost non-existent. It’s going to push the sport to new levels and make it easier for beginners to improve.”

Industry veteran Ski Dunlap echoed the sentiment with a grounded comparison: “You look at the wake at 36 [mph], and you look at the wake behind this boat at 30 [mph], and there’s almost no difference. How they ever figured out to get this boat up on top of the water at 30 mph with no rooster tail and just a flat table — it’s phenomenal.”

Following the boat’s announcement last week, we posed the question: Is this a true leap forward, or just a refined refresh?

The answer won’t come from promotional videos or contract-bound testimonials — it will come from ski rides. Across speeds, skill levels, and disciplines. Behind the wheel, off the dock, and at both ends of the rope.

Early indicators suggest that the 2026 Ski Nautique is far more than just an aesthetic overhaul. As McCormick summed it up: “I think this will be a major improvement across the board in slalom.”

But the real test begins now. As this boat makes its way into dealer demos and amateur hands, a more complete picture will emerge — one that includes the long rope, 32-mph crowd just as much as the pros skiing through 41 off.

2025 Masters Invitations Finalized

Masters 2025: Here’s Everyone in the Final Field at Callaway Gardens

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Masters 2025: Here’s everyone in the final field at Callaway Gardens

2025 Masters Invitations Finalized

Krueger, a 14-time Masters champion, will compete on Robin Lake yet again later this month.

By Jack Burden

The 2025 Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament is officially set. Invitations were finalized this weekend following the second and final Masters Qualifying event, held at Championship Lake in Auburndale, Florida.

The roster features defending Masters champions, current world record holders, and winners of three other Nautique-sponsored tournaments from the past 12 months. Roughly half of the field earned their spots based on performances at two qualifiers staged in Central Florida over the past two weekends.

In total, 40 athletes secured berths in the open divisions. Among the notable qualifiers are Freddy Krueger, who turned 50 earlier this month and continues to defy expectations, and Freddie Winter, returning less than a year after suffering a broken femur.

Here is the full list of qualified athletes, along with the criteria by which each earned their invitation:

Masters Athletes

Men’s Slalom

  • Cole McCormick (Defending Masters Champion)
  • Nate Smith (World Record Holder)
  • Robert Hazelwood (Botaski ProAm Champion)
  • William Asher (CA ProAm Runner Up)
  • Charlie Ross (Moomba Masters Champion)
  • Thomas Degasperi (Qualifier #1)
  • Dane Mechler (Qualifier #2)
  • Frederick Winter (Qualifier #2)

Women’s Slalom

  • Regina Jaquess (Defending Masters Champion & World Record Holder)
  • Jaimee Bull (Botaski ProAm Champion)
  • Whitney McClinctock Rini (CA ProAm Champion)
  • Venessa Leopold Vieke (Qualifier #1)
  • Paige Rini Pigozzi (Qualifier #1)
  • Allie Nicholson (Qualifier #2)
  • Alexandra Garcia (Qualifier #2)
  • Neilly Ross (Qualifier #2)

Note: Christhiana De Osma qualified as runner-up to McClintock Rini and Jaquess at the Moomba Masters but has opted to compete in the Junior Masters instead.

Men’s Trick

  • Jake Abelson (World Record Holder)
  • Matias Gonzalez (Botaski ProAm Runner Up)
  • Joel Poland (Moomba Masters Runner Up)
  • Patricio Font (Qualifier #1)
  • Louis Duplan-Fribourg (Qualifier #1)
  • Dorien Llewellyn (Qualifier #2)
  • Adam Pickos (Qualifier #2)

Note: Defending champion Martin Labra is sidelined due to injury.

Women’s Trick

  • Anna Gay Hunter (Defending Masters Champion)
  • Neilly Ross (World Record Holder)
  • Erika Lang (Botaski ProAm Champion)
  • Paige Rini Pigozzi (Qualifier #1)
  • Giannina Bonnemann Mechler (Qualifier #1)
  • Kennedy Hansen (Qualifier #2)
  • Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya (Qualifier #2)
  • Olivia Chute (Qualifier #2)

Note: Alexia Abelson qualified as runner-up to Lang, Gay, and Ross at the Moomba Masters but will compete in the Junior Masters.

Men’s Jump

  • Joel Poland (Defending Masters Champion)
  • Ryan Dodd (World Record Holder)
  • Freddy Krueger (CA ProAm Champion)
  • Luca Rauchenwald (Moomba Masters Runner Up)
  • Louis Duplan-Fribourg (Qualifier #1)
  • Jack Critchley (Qualifier #1)
  • Emile Ritter (Qualifier #2)
  • Igor Morozov (Qualifier #2)

Women’s Jump

  • Hanna Straltsova (Defending Masters Champion)
  • Lauren Morgan (CA ProAm Runner Up)
  • Brittany Greenwood Wharton (Moomba Masters Champion)
  • Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya (Qualifier #1)
  • Regina Jaquess (Qualifier #1)
  • Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah (Qualifier #2)
  • Valentina Gonzalez (Qualifier #2)

Note: Jacinta Carroll Weeks also qualified as the world record holder but has retired from professional competition.

The Skiers: Craven, Jen

Jen Craven’s The Skiers Reimagines Pro Water Skiing — Fictional Fame, Real Fun

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Jen Craven’s The Skiers Reimagines Pro Water Skiing — Fictional Fame, Real Fun

The Skiers: Craven, Jen

Image: Amazon

By Jack Burden

In Jen Craven’s new novel The Skiers, the high-octane world of professional slalom skiing gets the kind of glossy, tabloid-ready treatment usually reserved for tennis aces or Formula 1 stars. It’s a book where champions dodge paparazzi, grace People magazine covers, and, yes, where 10-year-olds compete for cash prizes. If that last part makes you cringe, you’re not alone — especially if you’re someone who’s spent more than a weekend dockside.

The Skiers follows Willa and Sadie, two fierce, lifelong competitors whose rivalry spans not just the slalom course but also a long-standing love triangle. As they chase the crown at the sport’s biggest event, tragedy strikes in the form of an explosion that fractures the competition and sends suspicion rippling through their tight-knit community. Part thriller, part romance, Craven’s novel trades in intrigue as much as in buoy counts.

For those inside the sport, references to slalom “races” and stopwatch-wielding coaches may induce a wince, and the skiing sequences themselves lean more Hollywood than hard-edge technical. But Craven’s research deserves credit. A self-confessed casual TWBC viewer, she made the pilgrimage to the Swiss Pro Slalom after pouring over years of footage and interviews while writing the novel. “Such a cool day getting to experience the Swiss Pro Slalom IRL,” she shared on Instagram, recounting how she mingled with top athletes like Whitney McClintock-Rini, Regina Jaquess, and Jon Travers — the latter memorably lending a shoelace mid-event to fix a competitor’s broken binding.

Chapter 10 of The Skiers takes place at the same event, blurring the line between Craven’s fiction and reality. And while the real Swiss Pro didn’t feature the drama or scandal her characters face, the blend of fierce competition and genuine camaraderie made a clear impression on the author.

The world Craven builds is one of heightened reality, where skiers are household names and professional winnings are enough to pay more than just boat gas. For those of us grounded in the less glamorous truth — where most elite skiers juggle full time jobs to fund their seasons — the alternate universe wears thin at times. Still, it’s hard not to be charmed by the fantasy.

At its core, The Skiers is a page-turner — packed with drama, secrets, and just enough romance to keep it propulsive. “Friends want to see you succeed, just never more than them,” the tagline warns. Craven delivers on that promise with an engaging story of ambition, betrayal, and the fine line between friends and frenemies.

For readers looking for a light summer read — and for anyone excited to see slalom skiing sneak into mainstream fiction — The Skiers is worth a spot in your beach bag. Accuracy aside, seeing our niche sport woven into a thriller is, frankly, just plain fun.

Bill Yeargin to Step Down as CEO of Correct Craft

Bill Yeargin to Step Down as CEO of Correct Craft

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Bill Yeargin to Step Down as CEO of Correct Craft

Bill Yeargin to Step Down as CEO of Correct Craft

Image: Correct Craft

By Jack Burden

Bill Yeargin, long-time president and CEO of Correct Craft — the parent company of Nautique Boats — has announced he will step down in the spring of 2026. The transition marks the end of a transformative era not only for Correct Craft but also for the sport of tournament waterskiing, where Nautique has played a dominant role.

Since 2016, Nautique has held exclusive rights to tow all International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) titled events, and it continues to be the title sponsor of the sport’s marquee competitions, including the US Masters and the Moomba Masters. Under Yeargin’s leadership, Nautique’s position at the forefront of tournament waterskiing has been firmly cemented.

Yeargin, who took the helm at Correct Craft in 2006 during a turbulent period marked by executive turnover, guided the company to unprecedented growth. Over his nearly two decades of leadership, Correct Craft expanded more than twentyfold and reached the milestone of becoming a billion-dollar enterprise in 2023. The company garnered numerous accolades along the way, including Florida’s Manufacturer of the Year and the boating industry’s Most Innovative Company.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed leading Correct Craft,” Yeargin remarked in his announcement. “Any success we have had has resulted from a wonderful team who has joined me on this journey; we have done some amazing things together. As I transition to another stage of my career, Correct Craft and its team will have my full support.”

A noted author, speaker, and industry advocate, Yeargin has served on multiple boards and represented the marine industry at the highest levels, including advisory councils under both the Obama and Trump administrations. He currently chairs the board of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

Correct Craft’s board, which includes Yeargin, has initiated a succession process. The company expects to name its next CEO within the coming months, ensuring a smooth transition for one of the sport’s most influential companies.

Terry Winter Joins Forces with HO Sports and Syndicate

Terry Winter Joins Team Syndicate, Concierge Experience Launched | HO Sports

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Pro Water Skier Terry Winter Joins Forces with HO Sports and Syndicate to Launch “Syndicate Direct Support” — A VIP Concierge Experience for Skiers

Pro Water Skier Terry Winter Joins Forces with HO Sports and Syndicate to Launch “Syndicate Direct Support”

Image: www.hosports.com

HO Sports

SEATTLE, WA — HO Sports and Syndicate are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with professional water ski legend Terry Winter, bringing an elite, concierge-style service to competition water skiers: Syndicate Direct Support.

As part of this new initiative, Terry Winter — a Pro event winner, industry-renowned coach, and one of the most trusted voices in water skiing — will be available directly by phone or email to offer expert information, tips, feedback, and personalized answers to questions regarding all things Syndicate and HO Skis.

Through the Syndicate Direct Support website, skiers can now tap into the unmatched experience of a man who has ridden nearly every ski on the market. With that unique perspective, Terry brings an honest, unbiased understanding of how Syndicate Skis stack up against the rest — and how to unlock their full potential.

“We wanted to create something personal. Something real,” says Marcus Brown, HO/Syndicate Marketing Manager. “Terry is known not just for his abilities and technique on the water, but for being incredibly honest, humble, and respected. Our goal is simple: give skiers the tools that will enable them to set PB’s, and we believe Terry Winter is an important part of making that happen.”

Terry has dedicated his life to ski design, ski technique, and coaching, making him one of the most well-rounded and respected professionals in the industry. Whether you’re a tournament skier, a weekend warrior or a pro looking for answers, Syndicate Direct Support gives you direct access to one of the sport’s most knowledgeable minds.

Check it out at HOsports.com/SyndicateDirectSupport.com