Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), the No. 1 ranked skier on the IWWF World Rankings List and current women’s world slalom record holder, has now won every major slalom tournament in the world during her legendary career. Jaquess won her first career Moomba Masters slalom title on Monday at the 63rd Nautique Moomba Masters, presented by GM Marine, on the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia.
Jaquess, 39, scored 2-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off in the finals, edging Canada’s Whitney McClintock, the defending champion, who scored 2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off. Elizabeth Montavon (Lake Worth, Fla.) scored 4 buoys at 38 feet off to place third.
Jaquess, who works full time running her own business, last competed at the Moomba Masters in 2012, when she finished third in women’s slalom. But she is no stranger to the top of the podium Down Under. She also won women’s tricks at the 2003 Moomba Masters to go along with her now 2024 Moomba Masters slalom title. Jaquess also placed third in women’s jump (162 feet) in this year’s event.
Only the most avid water ski followers from outside of Australia might recognize more than just a few names among the local skiers participating in the 63rd Moomba Masters International Invitational. While the top seeds boast seasoned and well-known figures in the world of water skiing, the rest of the field consists of emerging talents, many of whom remain relatively unknown to the international audience. The event’s timing and location have historically restricted the pool of northern hemisphere athletes, adding an extra layer of excitement as these young talents aim to make their mark on the global stage.
Here are five skiers who could pose a challenge to the regular pros in Melbourne this week:
The 25-year-old Canberran is an exceptionally skilled overall skier. Before the Covid Pandemic, he held a top-10 world ranking for men’s overall, capable of running mid-10.75m (39.5′ off), tricking over 9,000 points, and jumping over 200 feet.
While he has excelled across disciplines, the jump event has been particularly successful for him in recent seasons. In the 2022 Moomba Masters, he posted a personal best of 67.4 meters (221 feet), finishing third in the highest-scoring Moomba final ever. Watch for Davis to contend for the title again this week.
The 20-year-old Queenslander was once regarded by some as the heir apparent to Jacinta Carroll. She gained attention by winning the jump event at the 2018 U17 World Championships at just 15 years old, but a series of injuries have kept her sidelined in recent seasons.
2023 marked a significant return to form for her, finishing as the runner-up in slalom, jump, and overall at the U21 World Championships. At the Open World Championships, she narrowly missed the finals in both slalom and jump, including a runoff for the 12th spot in slalom. Look for her to potentially upset the field in either of her two favored events.
The 26-year-old South Australian was incredibly talented from a young age. He narrowly secured second place to Taylor Garcia at the 2014 U17 World Championships and is a former Junior Moomba champion. After setting a personal best of 67 meters (220 feet) in 2022, he took a nearly two-year hiatus from tournament skiing. Now back for the Moomba Masters this year, it will be intriguing to see if he can regain his previous form.
The 18-year-old Queenslander is one of the rising stars in Australian slalom skiing. Finishing as the runner-up at the 2022 U17 World Championships after a dramatic double runoff for the title, he is capable of running 10.75m (39.5′ off). Placing 5th at last year’s Moomba Masters, he aims to climb the ranks further this year.
The 19-year-old New South Welshmen was one of the most improved skiers in the 2023 season, climbing 39 spots on the world ranking list after elevating her personal best from 37 to over 45 meters in jump. She clinched a bronze medal in overall at the U21 World Championships last year and will aim to advance to Monday’s finals across all three events, challenging for a podium finish in jump.
Quiz: Women with multiple Moomba Masters titles this century
Moomba Masters (image: DFW Waterski)
By RTB
3 minute play
In this quiz, you have to name the women with the most Moomba Masters titles this century.
The list contains 12 skiers, all of whom have won at least two women’s Moomba Masters titles in this century. The list is topped by two of the most dominant athletes to ever take to the Yarra, with 10 wins apiece. We have mentioned their country, as well as their Moomba title’s this century.
Note: Night Jump and Overall titles were not included.
Regina Jaquess, arguably the greatest water skier of all time, has seemingly conquered everything there is to achieve in world water skiing. The only skier in the 21st century to win professional titles in all four disciplines — slalom, trick, jump, and overall — there is one crown that still eludes her. Since winning tricks on her debut visit to Melbourne as a 19-year-old in 2003, Jaquess has returned several times to the Yarra but is yet to clinch a Moomba Masters slalom title.
Jaquess, who balances her professional water ski aspirations alongside owning and operating a compounding pharmacy in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, has rarely traveled outside of the U.S. over the last decade. Typically reserving international travel for titled events, such as the World Championships, Jaquess has not competed at the Moomba Masters since 2012.
Her last visit to Melbourne was her most fruitful in the slalom event, placing third behind the Canadian pair of Whitney McClintock and Breanne Dodd. Across her three trips to the Moomba Masters, she has placed fourth, fifth, and third in slalom, incredibly advancing to finals across all three events at each tournament.
This is interesting because nightmare tales of international athletes flying all the way to Australia only to miss their first pass in the challenging conditions of the Yarra are common. Yet Jaquess has performed consistently on each of her visits.
Jaquess, who turns 40 this year, is entering the twilight of her professional career, and perhaps has decided to attempt to conquer the Yarra one last time before hanging up the skis. She will come up against her old foe Whitney McClintock Rini, who has won more Moomba slalom titles than any other woman, as well as a host of other strong contenders.
The American will also compete in the jump event against the local favorite Jacinta Carroll, who is attempting to retain her Moomba crown just 100 days after giving birth. Jaquess, who won the King of Darkness jump event last year, may also challenge for the Moomba jump title.
Quiz: Men with multiple Moomba Masters titles this century
Water skiers compete in the annual Moomba Masters tournament on the Yarra River (image: GM Marine)
By RTB
3 minute play
In this quiz, you have to name the men with the most Moomba Masters titles this century.
The list contains 13 skiers, all of whom have won at least two men’s Moomba Masters titles in this century. Surprisingly, no Australians make this list. We have mentioned their country, as well as their Moomba title’s this century.
Note: Night Jump and Overall titles were not included.
The stage is set for the 63rd Moomba Masters International Invitational, one of water skiing’s premier events, as the Victorian Water Ski Association sent out invitations for the tournament scheduled in March. A total of 65 athletes hailing from 15 countries have confirmed their participation, promising a fiercely competitive and diverse field.
The 2024 roster boasts a remarkable lineup, including four out of the six individual event winners from the previous year’s World Championships and all six individual event world record holders. Notably, Regina Jaquess, making a return to Melbourne after over a decade, will be eyeing her first Moomba Masters slalom title.
While the top seeds showcase seasoned and recognized names in the world of water skiing, the rest of the field comprises emerging talents, many of whom are relatively unknown. The event’s timing and location have historically posed challenges for northern hemisphere athletes, adding an extra layer of excitement as young talents seek to make a mark on the global stage.
A notable addition to the entry list is Jacinta Carroll, the world record holder, who welcomed her first child in December of the preceding year. Carroll, undefeated in professional events since 2013, aims to secure her 10th consecutive Moomba Masters title, provided she recovers in time for the event.
The Moomba Masters, held in downtown Melbourne during the city’s annual Moomba Festival, draws the largest crowd of any water ski event globally. The Yarra River, with its brackish water, variable tidal current, and challenging bounceback from the river’s banks, sets a demanding stage for the athletes. However, the unparalleled atmosphere of skiing in front of thousands of spectators makes it one of the most thrilling experiences in the sport.
Moomba Magic: New Champions Rise on the YarraThe 2025 Moomba Masters was a festival of breakthroughs and unexpected turns, a reminder that on the Yarra, past records and rankings often mean little.
