Jack Burden

Writer | Jack Burden

A collection of article’s by RTB’s editor-in-chief.

Andy Mapple is still the oldest world champion of all time Andy Mapple’s Record Still Untouched as Youth Rule World Championships September 4, 2025 Nearly a quarter century after his last title — also here in Recetto — the sport’s ultimate prizes still belong to the young.
Charlie Ross slaloms at the 2025 World Championships The Highest-Scoring Worlds in History? Recetto Delivers Water Skiing’s Next Level September 2, 2025 For six days in northern Italy, water skiing seemed determined to burst out of its own history.
Joel Poland of Great Britain is consoled by friend Edoardo Marenzi of Italy after Poland fell early in his trick run during the 2025 IWWF World Waterski Championships at Parco Nautico del Sesia in Novara, Italy. The Unsolvable Puzzle of Joel Poland at the World Championships August 29, 2025 It’s hard to reconcile the two Joels — the unstoppable force who has redefined overall skiing, and the athlete undone by the same mistakes at the same tournament.
Brandon Schipper jumps at the 2025 World Waterski Championships Jump Fest in Recetto: Worlds Opens With Wave of Personal Bests August 27, 2025 Brandon Schipper’s 220-foot leap headlined a wave of PBs in Recetto, setting the stage for one of the most explosive jump events in Worlds history.
Lauren Morgan finishing with the silver medal 🥈 with 166 feet in the finals of the 2025 U.S. Masters Lauren Morgan Announces Retirement from Professional Water Skiing August 20, 2025 One of only a handful of women ever to fly over 180 feet, Poochie brought an edge and daring to the jump event that made her a fan favorite.
Recetto, Italy will host the 2025 World Water Ski Championships 2025 World Championships Preview: Who Takes the Gold in Recetto? August 19, 2025 From rising stars to record-hunting legends, we preview every event and predict who brings home gold in 2025.
Axel Garcia tricks during the IWWF U21 waterski championships at Predator Bay waterski club in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Axel Garcia: The King of the Half Jack August 17, 2025 From pioneering new frontflip variations to topping international podiums, this French teenager is pushing trick skiing’s limits while the scorebook struggles to keep pace.
Neilly Ross signs with Goode Skis Neilly Ross Joins Team Goode August 16, 2025 Ross brings world-class talent in both slalom and tricks — and nearly 350,000 social media followers — to the Utah-based brand’s growing roster.
Get ready to watch Wakeboard, Wakesurf, and Cable Wakeboard, all taking place in Chengdu, China, from August 7–17, 2025. Water Skiing Just Lost the World Games. Maybe We Deserved It. August 14, 2025 The organizers didn’t choose wakesurfing to spite us. They chose it because it fits their event better than we do.
12 times European & Africa Champion. 44 and Still on Top: Degasperi’s Record-Breaking European Win August 12, 2025 Thomas Degasperi is still rewriting the record books. The Italian slalom legend claimed his 12th European title — and sixth in a row — cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
The closest overall battles in the history of the World Championships World Championships: We Countdown the 10 Closest Overall Battles in the History of the Tournament August 10, 2025 From heartbreak near misses to historic photo finishes, these overall battles represent some of the most iconic moments in water ski history.
IWWF President José Antonio Pérez Priego IWWF President Strongly Hints at Towboat Shakeup: “We’re in the Process of Moving On” August 6, 2025 While Pérez stopped short of naming the successor, his comments added fuel to long-circulating rumors that Malibu Boats is poised to take over.