By Jack Burden

The World Championships—waterskiing’s marquee event—return to Recetto, Italy this summer, the same site that saw a 17-year-old Regina Jaquess claim her first world title in 2001, and a then-titleless Freddy Krueger finish second in jump.

Two decades later, the names have (mostly) changed, but the stakes remain colossal.

With the biennial blockbuster on the horizon, we’re throwing caution, restraint, and any fear of being wrong to the wind—forecasting the head-to-heads, highlighting the spoilers, and offering our best guesses at who takes home gold.

Let the speculation begin.

Image: @robhazelwoodcreative

Women’s Slalom

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Jaimee Bull (CAN) vs. Regina Jaquess (USA)

Challengers: Whitney McClintock Rini (CAN), Allie Nicholson (USA)

For arguably the first time, Jaimee Bull enters a World Championships as the outright favorite. With back-to-back world titles and a dominant run on the Waterski Pro Tour, the young Canadian has earned her status. But Regina Jaquess is still Regina Jaquess. The world record holder may have scaled back her pro appearances, but her top-end scores remain unmatched.

A gold here would not only make Jaquess the most decorated women’s slalom skier ever—surpassing Helena Kjellander—but would also tie her with Liz Allan for the most world titles (11) in the sport’s history.

Image: @arthur_sayanoff

Men’s Slalom

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Nate Smith (USA) vs. Freddie Winter (GBR)

Challengers: Thomas Degasperi (ITA), Charlie Ross (CAN), and honestly, about 10 others

Trying to pick a men’s slalom winner lately feels like trying to play darts in a hurricane. Smith and Winter—owners of five of the last six World titles—remain the obvious picks, but their form has diverged. Winter leads the 2025 Waterski Pro Tour and looks sharp in his comeback year. Smith has shifted focus off-tour but still shows flashes of brilliance.

Degasperi has the résumé, Ross has the momentum, and the rest of the pack is deep enough that a piece of three at 10.25m (41′) might not secure a finals berth. Buckle up.

Image: @swissprowaterski

Women’s Tricks

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Erika Lang (USA) vs. Neilly Ross (CAN)

Challengers: Anna Gay Hunter (USA), Giannina Bonnemann Mechler (GER)

Lang looked untouchable all season—until she didn’t. Ross’s late-season charge and commanding win at Botas proved there’s still room for surprises. The margins are thin, the scores are huge, and it’s likely the winner will need to flirt with the world record to seal gold.

And if they falter? Don’t count out Hunter or Mechler, both capable of hitting big numbers when it counts.

Image: @bearwitnesssportsphotos

Men’s Tricks

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Jake Abelson (USA) vs. Patricio Font (MEX)

Challengers: Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA), Matias Gonzalez (CHI), Joel Poland (GBR)

We’re being unfair to Gonzalez by listing him as a “challenger.” He, Font, and Abelson have split almost every major final this season and regularly trade blows above 12,500.

Abelson gets the edge here: he broke the 13k barrier, swept the richest trick events of 2025, and looks nearly unbeatable. But tricks is chaos. A dropped handle or flubbed toe pass can flip the final standings in seconds. Expect fireworks.

Image: @matthewleach.photography

Women’s Jump

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Hanna Straltsova (USA) vs. well… Hanna Straltsova

Challengers: Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya (USA), Lauren Morgan (USA), Brittany Greenwood Wharton (USA)

Straltsova is in a league of her own. She’s jumped over four meters farther than her nearest rival in 2025, hasn’t lost a pro event in more than two years, and looks poised to defend her title with room to spare.

The only person who can beat Hanna right now is Hanna—injury, illness, or divine intervention aside. She’s as close to a lock as sport allows.

Image: @bretellisphotography

Men’s Jump

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Ryan Dodd (CAN) vs. Joel Poland (GBR)

Challengers: Jack Critchley (GBR), Luca Rauchenwald (AUT)

Since 1995, only three men—Jaret Llewellyn, Krueger, and Dodd—have won world jump titles. But with Krueger sidelined following knee surgery, only Dodd remains in the hunt. The defending champ will be aiming to tie Andy Mapple and Patrice Martin with a sixth title in a single event. If he pulls it off, he would also become the oldest champion in World Championships history.

But Poland is the favorite. Undefeated this year and winner of 9 of the last 11 major events, his flying form is undeniable. That said, jump finals are volatile. On any given day, anyone in the top eight could go 70+ and steal gold.

Image: @bearwitnesssportsphotos

Women’s Overall

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Giannina Bonnemann Mechler (GER) vs. Hanna Straltsova (USA)

Challengers: Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya (USA), Kennedy Hansen (USA)

Straltsova is the reigning champion, and she’s been breaking records all season. But Bonnemann Mechler might be peaking at the right time. Already tricking near her best, the question is whether her slalom and jump can catch up in time.

Kennedy Hansen is the dark horse—only the seventh woman ever to score over 10,000 in tricks, and still on the rise. Danisheuskaya is consistent, and a past winner, but may need an upset to regain the top spot.

Image: @lorth.jpeg

Men’s Overall

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Dorien Llewellyn (CAN) vs. Joel Poland (GBP)

Challengers: Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA), Martin Kolman (CZE)

Poland is the clear favorite, coming off back-to-back undefeated seasons on the WWS Overall Tour and a string of world records. Our pick for his biggest challenge goes to Llewellyn—more on potential than form—while Duplan-Fribourg, the reigning world champion, has consistently been second-best over the past two seasons.

Still, Llewellyn’s personal bests across the three events—into 10.25m (41′ off), just shy of 12,000 points in tricks, and over 70 meters (230 feet) in jump—make him the skier who can most seriously challenge Poland at his peak. If Poland stumbles, the depth in men’s overall is arguably at an all-time high, and several others could mount a title run.

Image: @iwwfed

Teams

RTB Picks

Frontrunners: Canada vs. USA

Challengers: France

Team USA are strong favorites to retain their title, with arguably their deepest roster in years. Canada will certainly keep them honest and has the firepower to reclaim the crown. And France—aka the Duplan-Fribourg family and friends—could very well stage an upset if the stars align. The stage is set for an intense battle for the World Championships title.

The World Championships run from August 27-31 and will be broadcast live on TWBC.