FRANCE GREECE GREAT BRITAIN AND USA PROVIDE SEASON OVERALL WINNERS DECLARED TODAY FOR WATERSKI AND WAKEBOARD WORLD CUP SERIES 2008

It has been another challenging and exciting 2008 season for the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup Skiers and Riders. Having celebrated the 26th successful World Cup Stop and final of the 2008 series in Doha, Qatar, last weekend,  the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF) released the overall season points scores today.  MasterCraft have been the official competition boat suppliers at all 26 Stops to date.

Rising to the top in this World Cup series was the ultimate competitors test. On a journey which included Dubna in Russia, Hacienda Bay in Egypt, Marina Bay in Singapore, Putrajaya Lake in Malaysia and Doha in Qatar, this tested the skills and stamina of the elite group of athletes who qualified for entry. With an estimated 30 million participants in the world today, only the top 15 stand a chance of receiving a World Cup invitation. With an entry which included multiple world champions and world record holders, the differing climates and water conditions provided a tremendous test over the past five months for both the young rising stars and the more experienced athletes in Slalom, Shortboard, Jump and Wakeboard.

In Slalom, both the Men and Ladies World Cup season winners were decisive in terms of points scored. Clementine Lucine FRA has had an outstanding 2008 season in spite of a very impressive challenge from Claire Lise Welter FRA. Lucine took first place in Putrajaya Malaysia and second in both Dubna Russia and Doha Qatar. This was enough to make her the clear World Cup season champion. This year, French athletes actually took all top three Ladies places. The Mens event was a roller coaster series towards the end. World record holder, Chris Parrish USA, missed the first Stop in Dubna Russia. This cost him dearly as the season progressed. However, the sheer focus and determination of the past two-time World Cup season winner Jodi Fisher GBR, earned him a first place in Dubna Russia, a second in Putrajaya Malaysia and a fourth in Doha Qatar. In spite of the first and second places earned by Chris Parrish in the later part of the year, Jodi Fisher had enough points at the end of the season to capture his third World Cup overall Slalom title and another World Cup Crystal Trophy for his collection.

The Shortboard / Tricks battle for World Cup season honors had an amazing conclusion for the Ladies. Leader Clementine Lucine FRA was tested to the very end. Although just 25 years old, her performances of the past ten years have been quite extraordinary. She took the World Junior Tricks title back in 1998 as a 15 year old. Last year she became the World Tricks and Overall Champion and has also set Overall Records. Just two weeks ago, she set a new pending World Tricks Record of 8840 points. That honor was previously held by Mandy Nightingale USA. This season, a first place in Dubna Russia and a third in Doha Qatar left the door open for Mandy Nightingale to respond. This she did. The final tally gave Mandy Nightingale 635 points and Clementine Lucine 638. That is one of the closest margins of all time in this series – and a perfect 2008 World Cup
campaign for Clementine Lucine.

The Mens event was also full of drama. World Record holder Nicolas LeForestier FRA suffered a bad arm injury in July. Shortly afterwards, Jaret Llewellyn CAN took the Dubna Russia Tricks title to head the World Cup leader board at that stage. In Putrajaya Malaysia it was past World Champion Jimmy Siemers USA, who took the title. Jaret Llewellyn did not make that podium. As with Clementine Lucine, Jimmy Siemers was also the World Junior Tricks Champion ten years ago !  Arriving for the last Stop in Doha Qatar, Nicolas LeForestier was back in devastating form. Following a second place in Putrajaya Malaysia, if he took first place in Doha, Jimmy Siemers would have needed just second place to win the season points battle. On the warm emerald green Gulf water at the Diplomatic Club in Doha, LeForestier fell early on his second pass and Siemers score of 11,190 points was clearly enough to give him the 2008 season World Cup Tricks title plus a perfect ending to a very strong season. Oleg Deviatovski BLR greatly impressed in taking second place overall.

In Jump, the very first World Cup Stop in Dubna Russia gave a clear signal of the eventual outcome. At that Stop, the two Greek athletes, Ageliki Andriopoulou and Marie Vympranietsova  both made it to the World Cup Podium – just behind Natalia Berdnikova BLR. Berdnikova then dropped out of the series and the two Greeks shot ahead. The World Champion, Ageliki Andriopoulou impressed all and her great Putrajaya Malaysia win sealed her season World Cup Jump title in style with Marie Vympranietsova taking second place. On the Mens side, Freddy Krueger USA has now become a Jump legend in spite of fierce competition from Jaret Llewellyn CAN. The careers of both are littered with world records, international titles and professional wins. To add to the excitement this season, just two weeks ago, Freddy Krueger set a new pending World Jump record of 75.3m. His World Cup wins in Dubna Russia and Putrajaya Malaysia gave him the clear World Cup Jump title this season – with Jaret Llewellyn CAN and Jason Seels GBR still hot on his heels.

In Wakeboard, World Cup audiences were treated to some of the most outstanding performances seen to date at the last event in Doha. The new 15-year-old sensation Raimi Merritt USA recorded her second impressive World Cup podium place in the ProWomen division in Doha. However, as anticipated, the ex-gymnast and international Wakeboard star Dallas Friday USA, once again took the World Cup season title. Her impressive consistency made all the difference.

In ProMen, after 26 successful World Cup Stops in the series, few have been as dominant throughout as Phillip Soven USA. His effortless performances proved once again that he is truly in a league of his own. He completed this 2008 World Cup season by taking the overall Wakeboard title once again. Both Andrew Adkison USA and Dean Smith AUS also greatly impressed.

All the 2008 Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup details, season scores and Video clips are available on waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com

.

WORLD CUP SEASON WINNERS

SLALOM
1. Clementine Lucine FRA
2. Claire Lise Welter FRA
3. Anais Amade FRA

1. Jodi Fisher GBR
2. Chris Parrish USA
3. Aaron Larkin NZL

SHORTBOARD
1. Clementine Lucine FRA
2. Mandy Nightingale USA
3. Ageliki Andriopoulou GRE

1. Jimmy Siemers USA
2. Oleg Deviatovski BLR
3. Nicolas Le Forestier FRA

JUMP
1. Ageliki Andriopoulou GRE
2. Marie Vympranietsova GRE
3. June Fladborg DEN

1. Freddy Krueger USA
2. Jaret Llewellyn CAN
3. Jason Seels GBR

WAKEBOARD
1. Dallas Friday USA
2. Raimi Merritt USA
3. Shelby Kantar USA

1. Phillip Soven USA
2. Andrew Adkison USA
3. Dean Smith AUS