Linyi TV Cameras capture the action for us

All 32 World Cup Stops to date are now 26 minutes of exciting edited TV shows. Usually completed within days of the Podium presentations, they are then issued globally to Broadcasters which have a combined audience of over 500 million viewers. In some respects, that is the easy part of the marketing mix !

Kuching cameras on Rider Harley Clifford AUS

Once distributed, finding out exactly when each Broadcaster actually airs our World Cup TV shows is a challenge which is just too big for many sports. For our World Cup Stops, we are provided with some Broadcast schedules in advance – usually in Europe, the popular SKYSPORTS schedules. As ever, the reason why all schedules are not available in advance is usually a cost one. Major sports have the resources to purchase both the schedules in advance -  and later the final broadcast certificates.

Here are the very latest World Cup Broadcast schedules – for both our recent Linyi China and Kuching Sarawak Malaysia World Cup Stops covering Wakeboard and Jump in Linyi and Wakeboard in Kuching.  The good news is that ll are also available in short clips on our special World Cup YouTube TV Channel.

WORLD CUP YOUTUBE CHANNEL

SKYSPORTS & HOT WATER TV SCHEDULES – LINYI CHINA

KUCHING SARAWAK MALAYSIA TV SCHEDULES

]]> http://waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com/2011/11/catching-world-cup-stops-on-tv/feed/ 0 http://waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com/2011/09/usa-australia-and-belarus-capture-linyi-china-world-cup-gold-medals-in-jump-and-wakeboard/ http://waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com/2011/09/usa-australia-and-belarus-capture-linyi-china-world-cup-gold-medals-in-jump-and-wakeboard/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:23:57 +0000 http://waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com/?p=1955 SOME REAL SUPRISES IN WORLD CUP RESULTS FROM CHINA’S LINYI CITY STOP

With 22 Nations represented in this 32^nd Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup Stop of the Series, this again attracted one of the largest numbers of spectators to date. The spectacular Linyi City purpose built World Cup Stadium on the downtown Yihe River bank in Shandong Province is an architectural masterpiece. The finishing touches were completed exactly on time as the overseas athletes arrived this weekend.

Linyi's Mayor, Mr Zhang Wufeng and Mr Han Jianguo, Deputy Director of State Watersports with appreciation awards from IWWF President Kuno Ritschard

Following two days of Practice and Preliminary Rounds, Sunday’s World Cup Finals took place in 23C sunshine with excellent water conditions. Beijing TV, CCTC5 and LYTV covered all four Wakeboard and Waterski Jump events. Sponsors MasterCraft provided the competition boats and technical support.

22 Nations Represented

At the very impressive formal Opening Ceremony, Kuno Ritschard, President of the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF), congratulated  Linyi’s Mayor, Mr Zhang Wufeng, the Secretary of the CPC Standing Committee of Linyi Municipality Mr Zhang Ahaojun, Mr Wang Jun VP of the Chinese Olympic Committee and Mr Huang Sheng, Vice Governor of Shandong Provincial People’s Government, on their outstanding efforts which made this World Cup Stop possible.

Womens Jump 1. Natalia Berdnikova, 2. Jacinta Carroll AUS, 3. Marie Vympranietsova GRE

The Women’s and Men’s Waterski Jump Finals commenced at 09.00hrs. Four  women and six men qualified from the earlier Rounds. Denmark’s Maj Lund Jepsen set the early pace with a distance of 46.8m. Fully recovered from injury, Marie Vympranietsova GRE quickly increased the lead score to 47.5m. At this point, the 18 year-old sensation from Australia, Jacinta Carroll, yet again took all by surprise with a perfect distance of 47.5m to take the lead. This left an enormous challenge for the remaining Finalist, World Champion Natalia Berdnikova BLR. With excellent water conditions and a very slight tail breeze, not only did the Belarus athlete score a winning distance of 50.8m on her very first Jump but she then went on to increase it to 52.1m on her final attempt. This was a very impressive win.

Men's Jump 1. Zack Worden USA, 2. Freddy Krueger USA, 3. Scot Ellis USA

Stephen Critchley GBR set the pace in the Men’s Jump event with a solid opening score of 61.4m. Chile’s Rodrigo Miranda could not beat this. However, Thomas Asher GBR did so with a score of 62.3m. That left three World Cup Stars on the dock. Scot Ellis USA got a rousing ovation by increasing the lead score to 63.5m. At this point, the moment all Jump fans were waiting for had arrived ! Twenty year-old Zack Worden USA versus the World Record holder and World Champion Freddy Krueger USA. Worden actually beat Krueger at the Madrid Open in Spain a few weeks ago. When the score-board showed 66.0m for his very first attempt, all knew that Freddy Krueger had a serious challenge on his hands. Zack Worden could barely force himself to watch. The outcome was extraordinary. Freddy Krueger got within 0.1m of Worden’s distance with 65.9m. On this rare occasion Freddy Krueger had to settle for second place. A nagging ankle strain was costly on this occasion for him.

Women’s and Men’s Wakeboard came next. Eighteen year-old World Champion Raimi Merrit USA took the World Cup title in Kuching Sarawak Borneo just a week ago. She was the Women’s favorite here. That is not how it worked out ! China’s Chen LiLi had thousands of spectators on her side. She did not let them down with an impressive 55.34 point score. None of the other finalists could match this till we got to Australia’s Amber Wing. Having already captured the Silver Medal at both the recent IWWF World Championships in Italy, plus last week’s Kuching City World Cup Stop in Sarawak, Borneo, her outstanding score of 65.34 points passed a major challenge to Raimi Merrit. It may have been the pressure or just an off-day, but World Champion Raimi Merrit’s score of 57.57 points was only good enough for this World Cup’s Silver Medal. Amber Wing is the Linyi World Cup Stop Champion.

Women's Wakeboard 1. Amber Wing AUS, 2. Raimi Merrit USA, 3. Chen LiLi CHN

With some outstanding performances, the Men’s Wakeboard Final was more predictable. The first big performance came from World Junior Wakeboard Champion Daniel Powers USA with a score of 70.12 points. This left a major challenge for the last two competitors, past World Champion Andrew Adkison USA and current World Champion Harley Clifford AUS. Adkison was superb. He took the lead with a score of 85.78 points. It forced Clifford to work hard. This he did and took the World Cup Linyi Wakeboard World Cup title in style.

Men's Wakeboard 1. Harley Clifford AUS, 2. Andrew Adkison USA, 3. Daniel Powers USA

For all visitors, Linyi was a special experience. None have ever seen such a clean and tidy city. The excellent organization and generous support from the Linyi Municipality, Shandong Provincial People’s Government and the Chinese Waterski Association created a perfect Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup Stop. Hopefully the World Cup Series will return here again.

WATERSKI JUMP

Men

1. Zack Worden USA

2. Freddy Krueger USA

3.Scott Ellis USA

Women

1. Natalia Berdnikova BLR

2. Jacinta Carroll AUS

3. Marie Vympranietsova GRE

WAKEBOARD

Men

1. Harley Clifford AUS

2. Andrew Adkison USA

3. Daniel Powers USA

Women

1. Amber Wing AUS

2. Raimii Merrit USA

3. Chen LiLi CHN

FINAL WORLD CUP WAKEBOARD RESULTS

FINAL WORLD CUP JUMP RESULTS

END

MASSIVE TV COVERAGE BY CCTV, BEIJING TV AND LYTV

We are now convinced that sunshine follows the World Cup Series ! Following poor weather here in Lunyi recently, once our World Cup Riders and Waterski Jumpers arrived in town, it was sunshine all the way. Last week in Kuching City in Sarawak Borneo, it was exactly the same. Today was the busiest yet here. The very well managed Programme included Wakeboard Men LCQ, Jump Semi-Finals for both Men and Women, Wakeboard Women LCQ and Wakeboard Men Semi-Finals. Sunday will be Finals all the way.

World Cup Linyi – Day 2 LCQ Results

World Cup Linyi – Day 2 Pro Men’s Semi-Finals Results

ONE OF THE BIGGEST & HAPPEIST AUDIENCES FOR A WORLD CUP STOP

As ever, our excellent Hotel Blue Horizon and well managed transport ensured that the Mens Wakeboard LCQ got of to a perfect start after a short excellent Waterski Show by our China hosts.With two Heats of six Riders and two Semi-Finals places available from each, both were very competitive with the higher standard in Heat 1. Emerging from that were Nikita Martyanov RUS and David O’Caoimh IRL. In Heat 2, Michael Callebert BEL was unlucky but here Lucas Langlois FRA and Steel Lafferty USA got through. Steel Lafferty has greatly impressed all as has David O’Caoimh and we hope to see both young Riders again in future World Cup Stops.

LINYI WELCOMES WORLD RECORD HOLDER FREDDY KRUEGER USA

Next today came Men’s Jump Semi-Finals followed by Women’s Jump Semi-Finals – with six Finals places available for the Men and four for the Women. As Steve Critchley GBR was first out for the men, conditions were good but with a slight tail wind which was bound to hold distances back. The MasterCraft ProStar was driven by World Cup’s Davide Gandola ITA. Steve set the pace with 59.6m – good enough for a Finals place. Both Brian Kinney USA and Mark Lane USA were not so fortunate. Mark is still on the way back from injury but looks strong again. The only other surprise was Damien Sharman. His 57.1m was just not enough today. The last two off were 20 year old Zack Worden USA and the World Record holder / World Champion legend Freddy Krueger. Zack posted 64.1m on the board on his first attempt. Freddy took three jumps to beat that with 64.3m. Tomorrow’s finals promise to be special here in Linyi City in south east China.

MARTIN JAMES DRIVES THE X2 MASTERCRAFT IN LINYI

By the time the Women arrived for Jump, that tail wind had increased and posed quite a challenge. Marion Mathieu FRA was the only casualty but recovered well from her fall. Marie Vympranietsova GRE really impressed on her return from injury with a lead score of 45.3m at the half way point – and a Finals place. Surprisingly, Alex Lauretano USA fell short today with 40.6m. The top three were really no surprise – Maj Jepsen DEN 42.7m, Jacinta Carroll AUS 47.6m and World Champion Natalia Berdnikova with 48.7m – all great scores given the tail wind.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORLD CUP VENUE !

Women’s Wakeboard LCQ was next – and as often happens, the tail wind disappeared and we again had perfect water conditions in glorious sunshine and huge numbers on spectators at this immaculate venue on the River Yihe. Here past World Champion Robbie Rendo was the only upset as she missed the Finals cut. All were delighted to see China’s Chen LiLi make it through with the experienced Elke Venken BEL.

MASSI PIFFARETTI ITS RIDES INTO THE LINYI SUNSET

The day finished with a warm sinking sun and thee Heats of Wakeboard Men’s Semi Finals. Unfortunately, the young rising star Steel Lafferty has not quite recovered from an upset stomach and missed a Finals place this time. Nikita Martyanov RUS and Sam Carne GBR were outstanding and made it through. In Heat 2, World Cup Rookie David ‘O Caoimh IRL lead at the half way point but just got pipped for a Finals place by Daniel Powers USA and Andrew Adkison USA who was superb. In the last Heat, Dan Nott GBR was the big surprise. He was beaten by Physiotherapist student Lucas Langlois FRA – and of course Harly Clifford who clocked up a near perfect 92.77 points to steal the show once again.

WE DO APOLOGISE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE

A WEBCAST THIS TIME.

SUNDAY – Sept 25

09.00-09.32 / Jump Women Finals

09.42-10.30 / Jump Men Finals

10.40-11.28 / Wakeboard Women Finals

11.38-12.26 / Wakeboard Men Finals

12.30-13.00 / World Cup Awards Ceremony

IN LINY CHINA TODAY

World Cup honoured by the attendance of so many important guests

Everything worked like clockwork here in Linyi today for both the great World Cup Opening Ceremony and the first stages of the Wakeboard Eliminations Rounds. Waterski Jump will feature tomorrow. The flawless organisation of the complex water based Opening Ceremony got us all off to a really great start. Present in the specially constructed World Cup Grandstand were Linyi’s Mayor, Mr Zhang Wufeng, the Secretary of the CPC Standing Committee of Linyi Municipality Mr Zhang Ahaojun, Mr Wang Jun VP of the Chinese Olympic Committee and Mr Huang Sheng, Vice Governor of Shandong Provincial People’s Government. IWWF President Kuno Ritshard made presentations of gratitude to our very generous hosts.

Twelve Skier Pyramid carries China's flag

The Opening Ceremony started with our World Cup Riders and Jump Skiers bringing the flags of 22 Nations to the wonderful arena in the gleaming red and white MasterCraft World Cup competition boats. Then Zack Worden USA gave a great Jump demonstration. This was followed by Freestyle skiing and Jet Ski demonstrations, Wakeboard, Freestyle Jumps and a very impressive Pyramid performed perfectly by China’s Show Skiers.

MasterCraft brings in the Flags !

In 24C sunshine and excellent water conditions, the Pro Women’s Wakeboard Semi Finals began. All were delighted to see China’s Duan Zhenkdun put in a great performance and take the first Finals place. Amber Wing AUS outperformed all to take the second Heat 1 Finals place. In Heat 2, China’s Chen LiLi was unlucky today and will have to wait for an LCQ opportunity tomorrow. However, Singapore’s Sasha Christian was back in form after a disappointing performance in Kuching Sarawak last weekend and she joined Raimi Merrit USA in the Finals.

The Men’s Quarter Finals had four Heats – with some surprises. Nikita Martyanov RUS got outperformed in the first Heat to allow Sam Carne GBR and young Daniel Powers USA through to the Semi Finals. In Heat 2, the very popular Padiwat Jaemjan THA got a rousing cheer as he took the first place in the next round ahead of Dan Nott GBR who took the second slot. In Heat 3, Marcelo Giardi BRZ was thrilled to outperform all but past World Champion Andrew Adkison USA. Both now advance to the next Round. Heat 4 had World Champion Harley Clifford USA included and so many saw this as a challenge for the second place ! That is exactly as it turned out. Ireland’s new World Cup Star, David O’Caoimh came very close but just got pipped by his pal, Massimilliano Piffaretti ITA. The LCQ battle tomorrow will be fun.

Sam Carne GBR makes it through

Saturday’s programme will kick off at 09.00hrs local time – GMT+7. At this point, the Webcast URL has not been confirmed. We will post it as headline news if it becomes available. Click here for the DAY 1 Results – or go straight to our RESULTS page here on our World Cup Website :

Wakeboard World Cup Linyi – Day 1 Results

Perfect morning here at the Linyi City site

Clear blue skies, 22C and flat calm clean water in the River Yihi welcomed the first Practice session this morning. A perfect day today here in Linyi China !  All the Riders have arrived and caught up with sleep after the fantastic Kuching Sarawak World Cup Stop last weekend. Right now the Waterski Jumpers are still arriving and by tomorrow, they too will be ready for World Cup action.

Martin James with a full load in the MasterCraft

Apart from all the Riders, having lunch a few minutes ago in the four star Blue Horizon Hotel were Danyelle Bennett USA, Steve Critchley GBR, Scot Ellis USA, Marion Mathieu FRA, Damien Sharman GBR, Brian Kinney USA and Zack Worden USA. They will now head to the site for Practice after the Riders are finished and there will be another session tomorrow morning from 08.00hrs to 10.00hrs,  before the Official Opening Ceremony.

How about that for a World Cup Ramp ?

Will Furze and Martin James had a late night last night and early morning today getting the all new MasterCrafts prepared for today’s Practice. They drove those two beautiful machines to the dock at 10.00am and will continue on the water till 16.30hrs today.

Tented Village for World Cup athletes

The frantic work around the amazing World Cup site continues and all will be completed before the Official Opening Ceremony scheduled for 10.30hrs tomorrow Friday. We can be quite certain that this will be impressive as here in China great attention is paid to these arrangements. They always set a high standard right from the start. We have our cameras ready !

Riders Dan Nott GBR, Sam Carne GBR, Michael Callebert BEL and Marcelo Giardi BRZ

Today also was TV time ! We finished a series of TV and Newspaper interviews on site and these will continue over the weekend. The Webcast details have not yet been confirmed. We hope to have these for you shortly. As a locally produced upload, we are not sure if it will include our live on-site World Cup commentary or not so lets wait and see.

Always happy - Padiwat Jaemjan of Thailand

Here again is the World Cup Timetable. Everybody is looking forward to a perfect final 2011 32^nd World Cup Stop here in Linyi for our Riders, Waterski Jumpers and of course for our audience and hosts here in China.

THURSDAY – Sept 22

10.00-16.30 / Practice

FRIDAY – Sept 23

08.00-10.00 / Jump Practice

10.30-11.30 / Opening Ceremony

13.00-14.20 / Wakeboard Women Semi Finals

14.30-17.18 / Wakeboard Men Quarter Finals

SATURDAY – Sept 24

09.00-10.28 / Wakeboard Men LCQ

10.38-11.50 / Jump Men Semi Finals

13.30-14.42 / Jump Women Semi Finals

14.52-15.40 / Wakeboard Women LCQ

15.50-15.26 Wakeboard Men Semi Finals

SUNDAY – Sept 25

09.00-09.32 / Jump Women Finals

09.42-10.30 / Jump Men Finals

10.40-11.28 / Wakeboard Women Finals

11.38-12.26 / Wakeboard Men Finals

12.30-13.00 / World Cup Awards Ceremony

Totally new Grandstand just for our Linyi World Cup

The first impression arriving late last night here in Linyi City in south east China for our last 2011 World Cup Stop was one of cleanliness, friendliness and excellent organisation. Our World Cup Volunteers took care of everything at the Airport. Our official Hotel – the Blue Horizon – is first class and over the door is a large LED  WORLD CUP WELCOME sign ! That makes all feel at home.

Blue Horizon Hotel Welcomes Riders and Jumpers

This morning, with sunny 20C weather, many of the Riders had already transferred from the outstanding Kuching Sarawak World Cup Stop last weekend. Those who arrived here safely so far include Wakeboard Riders Dan Nott GBR, Marcel0 Giardi BRZ, Padiwat Jaemjan THA, Michael Timmers NED, Lucas Langlois FRA and Nikita Martyanoc RUS. ‘No sign of any Jumpers yet.

World Cup Riders and Jumpers from 23 Countries in Linyi

The site is quite amazing. The Jump Ramp is already positioned and there is a steady head breeze to help settle the nerves ! The nicely graded banks should remove any backwash issues. Right now, the final touches are being put to an entire facility constructed just for our 2011 World Cup Stop. This includes a spectacular Grand Stand, Tented Village for our Riders and Jumpers, Judges facilities, a Boardwalk and extensive landscaping and flower planting. The flags of the visiting World Cup 23 Countries are flying beside China’s flag at the entrance. Once the construction team close off tonight, Practice tomorrow should be a lot of fun for all.

New site constructed for 2011 World Cup Stop

The advertising Billboards in the Linyi City area are also enormous and by all accounts, huge numbers of spectators are expected over the weekend. If getting off to a good start is the secret to a another great World Cup Stop, we are already on our way today !

Great World Cup event advertising in Linyi City

As all the focus of the Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup is on Kuching City in Sarawak this coming weekend, already preparations are also at an advanced stage in Linyi City which will host the 32nd Stop of the Series on the following weekend. Large numbers of spectators are expected at both major events.

Facing the Yellow Sea in south east China on the Yihe River, Linyi City has a 2,400 year history and a population today of 10 million.

World Jump Champion Natalia Berdnikova

On the Eurasian Land Bridge, it is actually now possible to travel from here by train to Rotterdam – a distance of almost 12,000km ! Many multi-nationals are based here including Kellogg, Volvo, Saint Gobain and others.

For the Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup Series it is a special opportunity to attract an affluent new audience to the sport. The

Raimi Merrit - World Wakeboard Champion

venue will be on the Yihe River in the centre of Linyi City which is very keen to attract more major sporting events to its many outstanding sporting facilities. Organised by the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) and the Chinese Waterski Association (CWA), it is anticipated that this will be the first of many World Cup Stops in Linyi.

As in Kuching City this coming weekend for the 31st World Cup Stop, this 32nd Stop will include Wakeboard with the world’s top

Freddy Krueger - World Jump Champion

Riders flying in to Linyi following the spectacular event at Kuching. In addition to this, the highest ranked IWWF Waterski male and female Jump athletes will also arrive from Belarus, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Greece and USA. Included will be both the male and female World Wakeboard Champions and also the male and female World Jump Champions.

Harley Clifford - World Wakeboard Champion

MasterCraft will once again provide the competition boats and technical support crews as they have done for all 32 World Cup Stops to date.

Following the Kuching World Cup Stop this weekend, next week’s programme in Linyi in China will be as follows. Webcast details will also be announced shortly :

Friday, September 23rd

10.10hrs – 11.46hrs – Womens’ Wakeboard Semi-Finals

14.30hrs – 17.10hrs – Men’s Wakeboard Quarter Finals

Saturday, September 24th

09.00hrs – 10.36hrs – Men’s Wakeboard Last Chance Qualifiers

10.46hrs – 12.22hrs – Men’s Jump Semi-Finals

14.30hrs – 15.34hrs – Women’s Jump Semi-Finals

15.44hrs – 16.32hrs – Women’s Wakeboard Last Chance Qualifiers

16.42hrs – 18.18hrs – Mens’ Wakeboard Semi-Finals

Sunday, September 25th

09.00hrs – 09.32hrs – Women’s Jump Finals

09.426hrs – 10.30hrs – Men’s Jump Finals

10.40hrs – 11.28hrs – Women’s Wakeboard Finals

11.38hrs – 12.26hrs – Men’s Wakeboard Finals

12.30hrs – 13.00hrs – Linyi World Cup Award Ceremony

WORLD CUP 2011 KICKS OFF IN AUGUST

With 30 successful Stops completed, numbers 31, 32 are just around the corner and again, the venues are the stuff of exotic travel brochures !

The World Cup Stop scheduled for Bogota, Colombia on August 13/15 has been postponed due to local political issues. This was quite a disappointment for our athletes and fans and it is hoped that it will reappear on the World Cup calendar again soon.

On September 16/18, the World Cup will head for yet another great downtown location and this time it will be at sea level. The venue will be in the City of Kuching on the Sarawak River in Borneo with its beautiful riverside esplanade providing perfect viewing for all. This will include both Wakeboard and the Stars of Florida Show Team. Again, huge numbers of spectators are expected to enjoy the spectacle.

Immediately following the Sarawak experience, the World Cup team will move over  to the City of Linyi in China which lies directly south of Beijing and north of Shanghai. It is known as China’s geothermal city ! With a population of over 10 million, again huge numbers of spectators are expected to attend. This time the World Cup Stop will include Jump and Wakeboard.

As we get closer to the 2011 Stops, watch out for updates, photos and news reports here on our Website. As many of the top World Cup athletes will also compete in the World Waterski Championships in Dubna, Russia, on July 22/24, all eyes will be on the winners to see who is then likely to top our great World Cup Stops of 2011.