Aliaksei Zharnasek (BLR) can trick 11,900 points  !  That is just 500 short of a World Record. He has been as high as Rank 2 in the IWSF Elite tables in Tricks. With past US Open and Moomba titles already under his belt, following a disappointing 2008 season, he will now aim at taking the World Cup Shortboard / Tricks title in 2009. Here is an insight to his preparations.

As with many top athletes, Aliaksei Zharnasek (BLR) takes his Gym work very seriously. This is a major part of his cross-training programme which also includes running, mountain biking, agility and balance workouts. Over the past few months, he has also taken to the snow ski slopes in the spectacular Taos area of New Mexico, USA. This high altitude work greatly speeds up his fitness development for the World Cup season ahead. In the past month he moved from New Mexico to real Mexico for some further training on the water at the private members resort of Club Aquaski – www.acuaski.com – home of such Tricks legends as the Fonts, Nelsons, Chapoy and Torres families. From there it was straight back to Orlando in Florida – and now Aliaksei is in the air on his way to Melbourne, Australia for the Moomba Masters, his first big test of 2009

In the 2008 World Cup season, it was Jimmy Siemers (USA) who dominated in Tricks / Shortboard. Challenger Nicolas LeForestier (FRA) was recovering from injury and Aliaksei Zharnasek showed all the signs that his World Cup moment is very close indeed. Back in 2004, he was a frequent visitor to the famous Jack Travers in Okahumpka, Florida and so he has all the skill required to reach the very top. Watch this space for Alaiksei’s progress in our World Cup Stops – and this could well be his year on World Cup water.