Writer | Jack Burden
A collection of article’s by RTB’s editor-in-chief.
Poland and Straltsova Named IWWF Athletes of the Year January 11, 2026 Poland and Straltsova capped dominant 2025 seasons with IWWF honors, finishing unbeaten, breaking records, and redefining elite water skiing.
Year in Review: We Countdown the Most Memorable Moments of 2025 December 31, 2025 Water skiing in 2025 was a season of liftoff—records fell, comebacks soared, and new rivalries emerged as the sport recalibrated its ceiling.
Team USA Sweeps Overall Titles at Record-Setting Disabled Worlds December 12, 2025 The three days of competition delivered standout performances, tight battles, and an impressive nine pending world records.
SplashEye Fly Approved: Jump Measurement Takes to the Sky December 7, 2025 Jump measurement has evolved from meter stations, to fixed-camera grid systems, to today—a drone hovering 210 feet above the landing zone.
Nautique Flips Decades of Tradition at Flagship Junior Events November 30, 2025 Buried in the fine print of Nautique’s World Series launch was a tectonic shift—sunsetting the under-17 Jr. Masters and redrawing the map for the sport’s next generation.
Inside the Water Ski Multiverse: Nautique’s Power Play Begins November 16, 2025 Nautique’s breakaway tour has redrawn the map of pro skiing overnight—pulling the sport into a fractured multiverse of competing tours.
2025’s Unofficial Professional Water Ski Rankings November 2, 2025 What if every major tournament counted? RTB's unofficial rankings reveal an arguably more complete picture of who really ruled pro skiing in 2025.
Ragin’ Cajuns Capture Sixth Straight National Title, Extend Historic Streak October 21, 2025 UL Lafayette claimed its sixth consecutive NCWSA national title extending a dominant streak that now ranks as the second-longest in collegiate water ski history.
The Joel Poland Effect: When World Records Become Routine October 14, 2025 Joel Poland’s reign has sparked a new kind of arms race. As rivals close the gap, he keeps raising the bar—driving a cycle of collective greatness in water skiing.
Straltsova Ends 13-Year Reign with New World Record October 12, 2025 Hanna Straltsova’s world overall record has been officially ratified by the IWWF, eclipsing the sport’s longest-standing mark by less than a third of a point.
IWWF Trick Committee Moves Toward Major Scoring Overhaul October 8, 2025 The IWWF is contemplating the first major scoring overhaul in more than 20 years—raising values for high difficulty flips and signaling a new era for trick skiing.
Seven 41s: Travers Grand Prix Shatters the Ceiling October 1, 2025 History was made at the 2025 Travers Grand Prix, with record-breaking runs and season titles for Freddie Winter and Jaimee Bull.