QUALIFIED ATHLETES ANNOUNCED FOR PUTRAJAYA MALAYSIA STOP – PLUS MAJOR WEBCAST PROGRAMME

With just 10 days to go, the final list of qualified Waterskiers for the 29th World Cup Stop in Putrajaya, Malaysia, has been released. Competition for these places is at an all time high. With over 30 million participants in the sport, gaining a top 20 ranking position and a World up place is a lifetime dream for most. This will be the final World Cup Stop of 2009 and so the season overall titles are also at stake.

A special Webcast presentation will bring all the World Cup thrills to those

viewers around the World who cannot attend. Access details are shown below. Live TV coverage in Malaysia with be provided by RTM. Putrajaya Corporation and the Malaysian Waterski Federation have produced an action packed programme for the entire weekend of November 6/8 and MasterCraft will again be the official World Cup boat sponsors.

Athletes from 15 countries are now on this World Cup starting list. These include five World Record holders, 3 World Champions and 5 Putrajaya 2008 defending Champions. It is one of the most impressive entries seen to date in Slalom, Shortboard and Jump. At this level, trying to guess who might take a place on the November 8th winners podium at the magnificent Presint 6 Putrajaya Watersports Complex is almost impossible. However, it is worth trying !

In Slalom, two Waterski World Record holders will defend their 2008 Putrajaya

titles, Athlete of the Year Clementine Lucine FRA in the women’s event and World Slalom Record holder Chris Parrish USA in the men’s event. Lucine’s real strengths lie in Shortboard and Jump and her 2008 Slalom victory here was a major bonus. Co-holder of the World Slalom Record, Karina Nowlan AUS, and Karen Truelove USA, will be a real threat to Lucine on this occasion. In the men’s event, Parrish will again be pitched against the best in the world. The biggest challenge is likely to come from the newly crowned World Slalom Champion Will Asher GBR. Jean Baptiste Faisy FRA and the very experienced Jodi Fisher GBR will also be strong contenders. In reality, any one of the 12 talented qualifiers could take this title.

In Shortboard, all eyes will be on the sensational 19 year old Marion Aynaud FRA. As both the defending women’s Putrajaya Champion and 2006 World Junior Champion, she beat the World Record holder Clementine Lucine FRA here last

year. She will also have to fend off Mandy Nightingale USA who has four previous World Cup titles including the Dubna Russia 2009 title plus a World Champion title in her collection of achievements. Natalia Berdnikova BLR will also be a strong contender. As a Shortboard and Jump specialist, her talents are extraordinary. Jimmy Siemers USA will defend his 2008 men’s title. His achievements last year were exceptional and was a well deserved World Cup season champion. However, he will have an enormous challenge from the new World Champion Aliaksei Zharnasek BLR, World Record holder Nicolas Le Forestier FRA and rising star Herman Beliakou BLR. Again, the Shortboard events are guaranteed to thrill.

Lastly, the Jump event is guaranteed to get the packed Putrajaya Grandstand spectators on their feet. World Champion Ageliki Andriopoulou GRE is recovering

from knee surgery in Athens and must miss this Stop. However, this will open up many interesting possibilities. June Fladborg DEN took the World Cup title in Dubna Russia earlier this year and was the runner-up in Putrajaya in 2008. Challenger Natalia Berdnikova BLR took the World Cup Jump title in Liuzhou City China just three weeks ago and Iryna Turets BLR, World Cable Overall Champion, will also be pushing hard for her first World Cup gold medal. Any of these champions could take this title. As ever, all expect a nail-biting conclusion in the men’s jump event. Freddy Krueger USA and Jaret Llewellyn CAN are almost guaranteed to push each other to the absolute limit once again. Krueger is the defending Putrajaya Champion, the World Champion and the World Record holder. However, Llewellyn with eleven World Records to his credit, ensures that there will be nothing to separate these two exceptional athletes every time they enter the arena. If either slips up, those who will quickly grab the opportunity will include Ryan Dodd CAN, Jason Seels GBR and Kyle Eade NZL. The photographers on site will certainly capture spectacular shots during this final event.

Not everybody will be fortunate enough to enjoy the 30C sunshine and attend the World Cup Stop at this beautiful Tropical site just outside Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. However, they can share in all the excitement both on the live RTM TV broadcast in Malaysia – and also on the multi-camera Webcast. The detailed event Timetable will be featured here next week. To enjoy this World Cup Webcast at home, here are the details for when transmissions begin :

Click on the LIVE WEBCAST Tab above