By Jack Burden

GROVELAND, Fla. — The pass that once felt like Everest is starting to look more like a stepping stone. At last weekend’s Travers Grand Prix, four different skiers ran 10.25 meters (41 off) a combined seven times — smashing the previous record of four, set two years ago at the Kaiafas Battle ProAm.

For decades, 41 off stood as the ultimate barrier in men’s slalom. Now, it’s falling with almost startling regularity. Over the last three elite events — the World Championships, the MasterCraft Pro, and now Travers — the men’s title has been decided at 9.75 (43 off). Nate Smith and Charlie Ross have set the tone through the back half of this season, but in Groveland, they were joined by Jonathan Travers and Freddie Winter, who pushed through to 43 and eventually took the win.

Winter’s victory capped a powerful redemption arc.

“This is the first season title I’ve ever won,” he said, after claiming the 2025 Waterski Pro Tour championship. “A year and a half ago I had a really terrible time, I hurt myself, and I worked really hard to come back. In some ways it’s very emotional — this one’s for everyone who gave me motivation to return.”

It wasn’t just the men raising the ceiling. The women’s final delivered one of the most thrilling showdowns in recent memory — a three-way tie at 10.25m (41 off) between Regina Jaquess, Jaimee Bull, and Whitney Rini, the first of its kind in waterski history. A cold-start runoff at 10.75 (39.5 off) followed, with Jaquess pulling ahead to take the win and close her 2025 season in fitting style.

It was Bull, however, who claimed the top honors.

“I’m super stoked,” said Bull, who clinched her fifth consecutive Waterski Pro Tour season title. “Five years in a row — I’m proud of the consistency, and hopefully there’s more to come.”

As the sun lowered over Sunset Lakes, the numbers told the story: seven 41s, four skiers into 43, and one message loud and clear — the sport’s limits are shifting, and fast.