By Jack Burden

In a move that signals growing momentum behind its renewed push into tournament water skiing, Malibu Boats has re-signed British slalom legend Will Asher to its athlete team.

Announcing the partnership on Instagram, Malibu wrote: “The legend returns. We’re fired up to welcome Will Asher back to the Malibu team… Good to have you back where you belong.”

For Malibu, the signing represents more than a nostalgic reunion. It marks the company’s first confirmed athlete sponsorship after a turbulent period that saw long-time stars Regina Jaquess and Thomas Degasperi depart for rival Nautique, fueling speculation the Tennessee-based manufacturer was retreating from tournament skiing altogether.

Those fears have been put to bed in recent months. Malibu secured the coveted towboat contract from the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation beginning in 2026 — a landmark agreement that places its Response TXi at the center of world-titled competition. Re-signing Asher now adds a human face to that corporate resurgence.

At 43, Asher remains one of the sport’s defining competitors. A two-time world champion and four-time year-end No. 1, he has amassed 39 professional victories and more slalom podium finishes this century than any of his peers, trailing only Nate Smith in total men’s slalom titles. His late career victories on the Waterski Pro Tour in 2022 and 2024 reaffirmed his enduring competitiveness.

Yet the Brit enters this new chapter after a comparatively lean 2025 season, managing three professional podiums without a victory — though he still claimed bronze at the World Championships. Even so, few doubt his continued relevance at the elite level.

From an industry perspective, the signing also reshapes the athlete-sponsorship landscape. Nautique currently boasts a deep roster of eight skiers, while MasterCraft supports six. Until Asher’s return, Malibu had none.

Whether this marks the beginning of a broader recruitment drive remains unclear. But for a brand recently accused of abandoning the sport, bringing back one of slalom’s most decorated figures feels like a deliberate statement.

Malibu is not just towing world championships — it is once again investing in the athletes who define them.