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In glorious 26C / 79F sunshine all week, with a slight head wind on occasions, the athletes from 32 countries could not have hoped for better. With World Records falling regularly during this year, expectations were high as Slalom began – and we were not disappointed. While the defending World Champions Whitney McClintock (CAN) and Thomas Degasperi (ITA) put in great performances once again, it was Regina Jaquess (USA) and Nate Smith (USA), who established new World Championships Records in securing their new titles of World Champion on this occasion. Jaquess was the first woman ever to achieve a score on the short 10.25m / 41 off Slalom line in a World Championships. Her score of one buoy made history. Nate Smith also set a World Championships Slalom Record of 3.5 buoys on the 10.25m / 41 off line. These two athletes are also the current holders of World Slalom Records. Whitney McClintock (CAN) and Clementine Lucine (FRA) took silver and bronze in the women’s event. Will Asher (GBR) and Fred Winter (GBR) did likewise for the men.
Again in Tricks, the current and new World Record holder Erika Lang (USA), at just 18 years of age, went on to set a new World Championships Tricks Record of 9570 points here in Santiago this weekend. This was just 10 points ahead of Iris Cambray (FRA) who took the silver medal. Clementine Lucine (FRA), the first woman ever to exceed 10,000 points, took the bronze medal. In the Men’s event, Aliaksei Zharnasek from Belarus, the current World Record holder, was one of only two World Champions to retain his title this time around. Twenty four year-old Pierre Ballon (FRA) took the silver medal with the highly experienced Oleg Deviatovski (BLR) securing the bronze. In both the men and women’s events, clearly there is enormous young talent rising to the top. The future of Tricks looks very bright.
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Usually, once the Jump event is over, that is the end of the drama. However, a totally captivating Overall story now emerged as the complicated score calculations to identify these winners were finalised by Chief Judge Candido Moz (ITA). This is the Triathlon of Waterskiing involving performances in Slalom, Tricks and Jump. Firstly, in the Women’s event, Regina Jaquess (USA) showed that her Slalom skills are unbeatable. As World Champion, World Slalom Record Holder and World Championships Record Holder, this strength gave her the perfect edge in Overall scores. It also gave her the well deserved Gold Medal. Defending champion Whitney McClintock (CAN) and Clementine Lucine (FRA) took Silver and Bronze. The Men’s Overall battle was unique this year. Again there is some background to this. Almost 20 years ago, the creator and owner this beautiful man-made Lago los Morros site had a dream – to build a perfect lake and have at least one of his son’s become a World Open Champion. Not only did he construct a magnificent facility but his son Felipe Miranda had almost achieved his dream. In recent years, he already secured the World Overall title for IWWF Juniors and U21 and now the Open title was the final hurdle. With two past World Open Overall Champions to beat – Adam Sedlmajer (CZE) and Javier Julio (ARG), this was the moment! While Sedlmajer performed well in Slalom and Tricks, his Jump score was disappointing. Julio’s Trick’s score also let him down on this occasion. Martin Kolman (CZE) was also very strong in Slalom and Jump. However, it was time for a miracle. Felipe Miranda was crowned World Overall Champion and his father’s 20 year dream came true. This was a perfect ending to a first class World Waterski Championships.
While the Team results really showed the dominant strength of Team (USA) once again, the battle between Canada and France for second and third places was unequalled. In the end, Team Canada took the Silver Medal by a margin of just over three points. France needed just a little extra in Slalom and Jump but it was not to be on this occasion. Congratulations to Team (USA).
RESULTS :
http://www.iwwfed-ea.org/ classic/13IWWF03
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CONTACT : Des Burke-Kennedy, Media Chairman, International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation