Next week, on July 24/26, the City of Dubna in Russia will have the distinction of hosting more World Cup Stops than any other on the international circuit today. This 5th year will highlight the significant impact the event has had on the City itself and also attract a host of new talent to this exclusive Waterski event.

Dubna is renowned as one of Russia’s leading Science cities and is currently constructing a major IT Technopark. Up to five years ago, Dubna also had a strong and distinguished domestic Waterski history as the first Waterski World Cup arrived on site. Today, it is seen around the world not just as a very competent host of the World Cup series but also as a major location for future international water sports events. It has already been declared as Russia’s Watersports capital and is preparing ambitious plans for the further expansion of its water-based facilities. In the pipeline is a new downtown man-made lake facility with state-of-the-art technology and high quality spectator facilities. City Mayor, Valery Prokh, has spearheaded this programme with the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF) on the back of the World Cup success. This is one to watch very closely in the coming years.

Preparing for the first 2008 Waterski Stop of the World Cup series this year are athletes from fifteen nations. To qualify, they must earn success points on the Elite Ranking Table of the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF). Given that there are an estimated 30,000,000 active participants in the sport globally, getting in to these top rankings is strictly for extreme athletes. The countries represented will include Australia, Great Britain, USA, France, Belgium, Canada, Italy, New Zealand, Argentina, Greece, Belarus, Mexico, Denmark and Switzerland. Included are an impressive nine athletes from both the USA and Great Britain. However, watch out for the exciting young rising stars from France, Belarus and Australia this year. Anais Amade, Marion Mathieu and Nancy Chardin of France have enormous talent for such young athletes. Natalia Berdnikova and Herman Beliakou of Belarus have burst on to the international stage with major promise. Australia’s young Michale Briant has already taken the Moomba Masters Shortboard Title in Melbourne and Dubna will offer her another great challenge. This could well be a season for new faces on the IWSF World Cup podium. As usual, some injuries and cancellations have arisen and the final World Cup entrants list for Dubna will be confirmed in the coming days by the IWSF.

As always, the sponsors response to the World Cup in Dubna has been outstanding. Joining MasterCraft, the official boat suppliers for all World Cup Stops around the world once again this year, will be Moscow Regional Government, Akrilan, Sberbank, Tenzor, Murexin, Nuclear Research Institute, Atoll and Vozrozhdenije Bank.

Dubna has built an enormous international reputation for spectator loyalty and involvement. The special atmosphere created by an estimated 30,000 spectators anticipated for July 24/26 is the result of careful planning. Purpose built permanent seating at the Volga River’s edge, creates a wall of enthusiasm which few athletes ever experience. This has all the ambience of an Olympic Final ! The IWSF will make available a DVD of the Dubna Stop shortly after the Closing Ceremony in Russia on Sunday week. The stage is set for a high quality Wwaterski World Cup Stop next week.

CONTACT : Des Burke-Kennedy, Media Chairman, International Waterski Federation

For Sponsorship opportunities, contact [email protected]

Web Site : waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com