The Rise of Waterskiing Season 1 – Episode 3
By TWBC
Follow the rapidly changing new era of professional waterskiing as it goes through rises, falls, and everything in between in this adrenaline fueled series.
Professional Waterskiing
Seven 41s: Travers Grand Prix Shatters the Ceiling
NewsSeven 41s: Travers Grand Prix shatters the ceiling
Image: @bretellisphotography
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.
Charlie Ross Makes History: Two 41-Offs, Two Tournaments, One Day
NewsCharlie Ross makes history: Two 41-offs, two tournaments, one day
Image: @charlieross_ski
By Jack Burden
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Rising Canadian star Charlie Ross packed a career’s worth of milestones into a single Saturday.
In the morning, the 20-year-old Rollins College sophomore took to the water at Sunset Lakes during the FSC-Rollins Fall Collegiate Tournament. Skiing for the Rollins Tars, Ross ran 10.25 meters (41 off) — the first complete pass at that line length in the history of collegiate water skiing. In doing so, he broke Will Asher’s NCWSA record of 3.5 @ 10.25m, a mark that had stood untouched since 2003.
Ross wasn’t even born when Asher, then skiing for Lafayette, set that record.
“Watching Will growing up, admiring him and wanting to be like him on and off the water — that was pretty cool,” Ross said on the TWBC Podcast. “He gave me a big hug when I saw him on Saturday. His record lasted 22 years. That’s older than a collegiate skier can be — it says everything about the career he’s had.”
Then, just hours later, Ross was back on the water — this time at the MasterCraft Pro on the Isles of Lake Hancock. Having qualified for the men’s slalom final, he went toe-to-toe with world champion Nate Smith in a near-repeat of their World Championships showdown just weeks earlier. Ross ran another 41 off (1 @ 43 off / 9.75m), tying Smith for the lead and completing his second full 41 of the day across two separate tournaments.
The two remained inseparable, tying again in a runoff before Smith narrowly edged out Ross in a second tiebreaker. “That one kind of stings,” Ross admitted. “Back-to-back weeks of 1 @ 43 and second place. But I know I’m right there.”
The MasterCraft Pro marked a triumphant return for elite skiing to U.S. waters, with world-class performances across the board. Regina Jaquess turned the tables on Jaimee Bull, claiming the women’s slalom title in a 41-off duel mirroring the World Championships final. In jump, both Joel Poland and Hanna Straltsova capped off undefeated seasons — though not without pressure. Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya and Brittany Greenwood Wharton both delivered season-best distances, while Ryan Dodd and Jack Critchley outjumped Poland in prelims before falling just short in the final.
Still, the weekend belonged to Ross — the rare skier to make history twice in a single day, at two tournaments, on two of the sport’s biggest stages.
The Home Stretch: What’s Left to Play for in the 2025 Water Ski Season
NewsThe home stretch: What’s left to play for in the 2025 water ski season
Image: @bearwitnesssportsphotos
By Jack Burden
The 2025 World Championships are in the books. After months of buildup, the sport’s marquee event delivered a record-breaking spectacle in Recetto, and with it came both exhaustion and relief. Athletes can finally exhale, knowing the season’s emotional and physical peak has passed.
But don’t mistake the back half of the calendar for a cool-down lap. Four major professional events remain, and with season championships still undecided on both the Waterski Pro Tour and the WWS Overall Tour, the final weeks of 2025 promise as much intrigue as any stretch of the year. Rivalries are sharpening, records are within reach, and season-long storylines are about to find their conclusion.
September 19–20: MasterCraft Pro
The Waterski Pro Tour roars back into action in Central Florida with its richest U.S. stop, the MasterCraft Pro. Now in its sixth year, the event shifts to the Isles of Lake Hancock, a venue known for packing in crowds during past editions of King of Darkness.
For jumpers, this is the season finale—a high-stakes showdown with extra weight given the tour’s pared-back jump schedule in 2025. Joel Poland and Hanna Straltsova remain undefeated this season, but both must deliver again to secure back-to-back season titles.
In slalom, Jaimee Bull appears untouchable, with a fifth consecutive season championship in her sights, though the battle behind her remains wide open. On the men’s side, Freddie Winter holds the edge, but with challengers lurking, one slip could turn the race on its head.
September 26–29: Travers Grand Prix
A fan and athlete favorite, the Travers Grand Prix brings the 2025 Waterski Pro Tour season to a close at Sunset Lakes. Equal parts festival and battleground, the event blends a lighthearted ProAm team contest—where skiing shares the stage with go-karts and skeet shooting—with some of the fiercest pro slalom competition of the year.
This is where the men’s slalom title will be decided. Winter remains the frontrunner, but veterans Adam Sedlmajer and Thomas Degasperi, along with young gun Rob Hazelwood, all have mathematical paths to stealing the crown. Expect a tense finish under the Florida sun.
October 11–12: WWS Fluid Cup
The spotlight shifts to the WWS Overall Tour, returning to Ski Fluid for its penultimate stop. The site’s reputation speaks for itself—world records have been born here in recent years, and if conditions line up, history could repeat.
In men’s overall, Joel Poland rides a ten-stop win streak and could clinch a staggering fourth straight season championship with another victory. But don’t count out reigning World Champion Dorien Llewellyn or France’s Louis Duplan-Fribourg, both hungry to halt Poland’s dominance.
The women’s race, meanwhile, is wide open. Kennedy Hansen, Hanna Straltsova, and Giannina Bonnemann Mechler have split victories and podiums so evenly that the title race will come down to centimeters—and likely won’t be decided until the final stop.
October 25–26: WWS Travers Cup
The curtain closes at Sunset Lakes with the WWS Travers Cup, where season titles and year-end bonuses will be on the line. Last year, Poland stunned with back-to-back world overall records in prelims and finals, a reminder that this event has a knack for producing fireworks.
As the last major tournament of the season, it’s more than just a finale—it’s the stage where reputations are sealed, rivalries settled, and momentum carried into the long offseason.
The Final Word
From Florida’s lakefront amphitheaters to the sport’s most record-prone waters, the next six weeks hold decisive moments for waterskiing’s biggest stars. The World Championships may be over, but the story of 2025 is far from finished.
Watch: Champions Collide in Austria | World Water Skiers
Video
Champions Collide in Austria – The Best Water Skiers in the World | 2025 WWS Austria Cup (S2:E2)
Welcome to the second stop of the 2025 World Water Skiers Overall Tour — the WWS Austria Cup in Linz, Austria, September 6–7. The world’s best water skiers battled across Slalom, Trick, and Jump, carrying the momentum from Canada into another weekend of spectacular performances.
With crucial Tour Points on the line, every pass, flip, and jump brought us closer to deciding the 2025 WWS Overall Tour Champions. Next up: Orlando, Florida, October 11–12, for Stop #3 of the Tour.
Enjoy the action — and be inspired by these incredible athletes!
🔗 Official Event Page: https://worldwaterskiers.com/tourname..
Watch: Legends Rise in Saint-Donat | World Water Skiers
Video1st Stop – Legends Rise in Saint-Donat – 2025 WWS Tour Begins | Canada Cup (S2:E1)
Watch as the world’s top water skiers compete in the Slalom, Trick, and Jump disciplines, kicking off the tour with intense action and spectacular performances. Athletes will earn crucial Tour Points, setting the stage for the journey to become the 2025 WWS Overall Tour Champions. Next, join us in Linz, Austria, for the 2nd exciting stop on Sept 6-7. Enjoy the excitement and be inspired by these incredible competitors!
Official Event Page – https://worldwaterskiers.com/tournament/25wws001
Italy’s Head-to-Head Showdown Ends in Fireworks | TWBC
RepostSan Gervasio Pro Am
Image: @andrea_gilardi_fotografo
By TWBC
San Gervasio had some magic in the water in their 11th edition. PBs were being tossed around like it was nothing, athletes were coming out of retirement, and the cut was as high as it’s ever been. All of this led to a seat clenching head to head finals where no one could predict the outcome.
The pro womens portion of the event featured athletes from 9 different countries, including veteran skiers and newcomers alike. This provided a wide range of scores and ski styles in a qualifier that you just couldn’t look away from. Jaimee Bull made 10.75m look like an opener, Ali Garcia established herself as a threat to the title with 3 at 10.75m, Allie Nicholson secured a 4 at 10.75m with the start of a lifetime. It’s safe to say adrenaline was pumping and excitement was in the air. As everything settled, the head to head bracket was determined.
- Jaimee Bull vs. Chiara Bonnemann
- Allie Nicholson vs. Beatrice Ianni
- Ali Garcia vs. Jaime Metcalfe
- Manon Costard vs. Annemarie Wroblewski
Full article at The Waterski Broadcasting Company
Watch the 2025 San Gervasio Pro Am
Bib Ceremony
Highlights Video
Webcast Replay – Day 1
Webcast Replay – Day 2
New Ski Nautique to Make Competitive Debut at California ProAm
MediaNew Ski Nautique to make competitive Debut at California ProAm
Image: @nautiqueboats
By Jack Burden
The California ProAm returns for its 23rd edition next weekend at Shortline Lake in Elk Grove—now the longest-running professional waterski event in the world outside of Moomba and the Masters. But this year brings a notable first: the competitive debut of the all-new 2026 Ski Nautique.
Billed as the largest professional slalom tournament in the country, the three-day event also features pro jumping and amateur competition. On-site displays will showcase Nautique’s new flagship model, giving West Coast fans their first look at the next generation of tournament towboats.
On paper, this should be one of the biggest events of the year: head-to-head slalom, a rare pro jump field (one of just five in 2025), and a $60,000 prize purse—second only to the Masters in the U.S. It’s also the final professional stop before August’s World Championships, a last chance to preview key matchups on the sport’s biggest stage.
And yet, the slalom field is surprisingly thin.
As of publication, only one woman from the Waterski Pro Tour’s top five is entered, with just three from the top ten. The men’s side is slightly stronger, but still missing most of its stars: just four of the top ten, and only one from the top three, are confirmed.
Whether that’s down to fatigue after a long European stint, the looming Worlds in Italy, or the ProAm’s absence from this year’s Pro Tour calendar is unclear. There’s still time for late entries—but the message feels unmistakable: something is missing.
Still, fans will be treated to a rare jump showdown, a significant boat debut, and one last look at the world’s best before the biggest event of the season.
Garcia Breaks Through with Emotional Podium as Bull Sweeps European Leg
NewsAli Garcia breaks through with emotional podium as Jaimee Bull sweeps European leg
Image: @andrea_gilardi_fotografo
By Jack Burden
SAN GERVASIO, Italy — For Ali Garcia, the breakthrough didn’t come with fireworks. It came with tears.
After months of grinding on the Waterski Pro Tour with little reward, the 23-year-old American finally stood tall in San Gervasio, riding a season-best performance into the finals and finishing second behind an undefeated Jaimee Bull. But it wasn’t the result that made the moment — it was how she got there.
In the qualifying round, Garcia tied her personal best of 3 buoys at 10.75 meters — a score she hadn’t managed all season — grinning ear to ear as she took the provisional lead and forced top seeds Allie Nicholson and Bull to deliver under pressure to hold their spots.
“I’m so happy, honestly,” Garcia said after qualifying. “This whole week I’ve been skiing really well and I felt like I could get my first three of the summer. I didn’t feel good the whole set — my rhythm was crazy — so the fact I could still put up a score makes me feel really confident.”
Then came the semifinals.
Matched up against Nicholson in a head-to-head showdown, Garcia needed a piece of 4 at 10.75 to advance — a score she had never achieved in competition. She delivered a gutsy 3.5, a new personal best, and stood afterward with tears in her eyes, soaking in the weight of the moment.
“A week ago I was calling my parents crying, saying I thought I should come home,” she said. “Now I PB’d. I thank my brother for teaching me how to throw a ski because I wouldn’t know how if he didn’t push me to crash more often.”
In the final against Bull, Garcia claimed 3 at 10.75 again — matching her previous best for the third time that weekend.
“I just figured I had nothing to lose,” she said. “Thirty minutes ago, three was my PB, so to tie it in a final — I’m psyched. It was so fun just to participate.”
No skier — man or woman — has entered more pro slalom events in 2025 than Garcia. Until now, she had yet to reach a podium. But her San Gervasio run changes everything. She now sits fourth on the Waterski Pro Tour leaderboard behind Bull, Nicholson, and Neilly Ross — with momentum, and belief, finally on her side heading into the U.S. season closers and the looming World Championships.
For her father, Steve Garcia, watching from across the world, it was a moment years in the making.
“More tears than can be counted,” he wrote. “Like so many challenges, especially the last 12 months. And on one special day, in one special moment, I’m confident Ali would say it was all worth it.”
At the top of the table, Bull’s dominance continued.
The Canadian completed a perfect five-stop sweep through Europe, winning every event and locking up the top spot in the Waterski Pro Tour standings. Neither of her biggest rivals — Regina Jaquess or Whitney McClintock Rini — made the trip across the Atlantic, but Bull left little room for doubt. Her control at 10.75 has become surgical, and her consistency now matches her explosive potential.
“Ali crushed it last round and I knew she was going to go for it,” Bull said after the final. “I played it a bit safe at four just to make sure I didn’t fall — it’s a bit choppy down there — and made sure I had a full five. I’m happy. It’s been a great five weeks. Really good skiing for me, and I’m happy we get to go home now.”
Bull owned the top step. But Garcia may have delivered the weekend’s most powerful story — a reminder of how much the sport demands, and how sweet it can be when persistence finally pays off.
No crushing expectations. No top-seed pressure. Just a ski, a rope, and one more try.
And this time, she made it count.
Watch: San Gervasio ProAm Highlights | Waterski Pro Tour
Video2025 San Gervasio ProAm: Final Highlights – Waterski Pro Tour Stop 7
Catch all the excitement from the finals of the San Gervasio ProAm.
