Jack Burden

Writer | Jack Burden

A collection of article’s by RTB’s editor-in-chief.

Hanna Straltsova world record Straltsova Ends 13-Year Reign with New World Record October 12, 2025 Hanna Straltsova’s world overall record has been officially ratified by the IWWF, eclipsing the sport’s longest-standing mark by less than a third of a point.
Sergio Font leads the IWWF Trick Committee IWWF Trick Committee Moves Toward Major Scoring Overhaul October 8, 2025 The IWWF is contemplating the first major scoring overhaul in more than 20 years—raising values for high difficulty flips and signaling a new era for trick skiing.
Freddie Winter sealed his Waterski Pro Tour title with a victory at the Travers Grand Prix Seven 41s: Travers Grand Prix Shatters the Ceiling October 1, 2025 History was made at the 2025 Travers Grand Prix, with record-breaking runs and season titles for Freddie Winter and Jaimee Bull.
Charlie Ross skis for Rollins College Charlie Ross Makes History: Two 41-Offs, Two Tournaments, One Day September 25, 2025 First shattering Will Asher’s 22-year-old collegiate record, then dueling Nate Smith to the wire at the MasterCraft Pro — Charlie Ross made history this past weekend.
Hanna Straltsova jumps at the 2024 WWS Canada Cup The Home Stretch: What’s Left to Play for in the 2025 Water Ski Season September 17, 2025 With four marquee events left on the calendar, season titles on the Pro Tour and Overall Tour still hang in the balance.
Jean-Francois Rapp with the Duplan-Fribourg siblings Tributes Flow for Jean-François Rapp, Mentor Behind the Duplan-Fribourg Dynasty September 16, 2025 A French champion turned coach, Jean-François Rapp shaped generations of skiers—most recently guiding the Duplan-Fribourg brothers to the top of the world stage.
The IWWF has selected Mailbu as its official towboat IWWF Awards Towboat Contract to Malibu in Long-Rumored Industry Shakeup September 16, 2025 Once thought to be scaling back its involvement in tournament skiing, Malibu Boats is now poised to tow the world’s biggest events—ending Nautique’s decade-long reign.
Golden Lake Ski Club in Poti Georgia Crumbling Concrete, Pristine Waters: Pro Tour Lands in Georgia’s Forgotten Ski Mecca September 5, 2025 In Stalin’s backyard, water skiing rises again. The Pro Tour hits Poti, Georgia — a forgotten Soviet hub where overgrown ruins surround the picturesque Golden Lake.
Andy Mapple is still the oldest world champion of all time Andy Mapple’s Record Still Untouched as Youth Rule World Championships September 4, 2025 Nearly a quarter century after his last title — also here in Recetto — the sport’s ultimate prizes still belong to the young.
Charlie Ross slaloms at the 2025 World Championships The Highest-Scoring Worlds in History? Recetto Delivers Water Skiing’s Next Level September 2, 2025 For six days in northern Italy, water skiing seemed determined to burst out of its own history.
Joel Poland of Great Britain is consoled by friend Edoardo Marenzi of Italy after Poland fell early in his trick run during the 2025 IWWF World Waterski Championships at Parco Nautico del Sesia in Novara, Italy. The Unsolvable Puzzle of Joel Poland at the World Championships August 29, 2025 It’s hard to reconcile the two Joels — the unstoppable force who has redefined overall skiing, and the athlete undone by the same mistakes at the same tournament.
Brandon Schipper jumps at the 2025 World Waterski Championships Jump Fest in Recetto: Worlds Opens With Wave of Personal Bests August 27, 2025 Brandon Schipper’s 220-foot leap headlined a wave of PBs in Recetto, setting the stage for one of the most explosive jump events in Worlds history.