Waterski Journal N°3

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JAMIE BEAUCHESNE

Freddie Winter brings the untold story of the 3rd man to ever run 10,25m (41off)

GEAR IT UP

new skis new wetsuits what do you have in your bags for next season ?

U21 world championships

we profile the best U21 skiers on earth prior to their showdown at the U21 World Champs in Santa Rosa Beach later this year

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N 3.

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2021

Edito

Paige Rini will be staring this summer at U21 world championships - Ph. Gregoire Desfond 2021 is ON! We don’t know yet if we will be able to travel the world like we used to. We don’t know yet if all tournaments are going to happen. But DAMN! We are so ready to make it happen! The pro scene is back on track and we are all dying to watch the finest skiers against each other behind those badass boats. n track and we are all dying to watch the finest skiers against each other behind those badass boats.I really enjoyed working on this issue for many reasons. Like every one of us, I love new gear to play with, so it was fun to go over every ski that is coming out. I loved focusing on the young scene and putting together the article about the U21 World Championships made me want to watch this tournament so bad, I can't wait to see who will be crowned this summer.

Freddie Winter put his ski away to produce one of the most interesting reads I ever had. I hope you will enjoy reading about Jamie Beauchesne as much as I did!

This year will be full of Worlds championships! Junior, U21, Open and Seniors. They will all be happening this summer (let’s hope everything goes well). The battle for a World Title is always a must in our sport which promises us a hot summer.

So, stay optimistic folks! The season is not here yet, but everything is on the move to give us a really good one!

I also would like to take a moment here to thank everyone that helped me doing this Waterski Journal, I did not realize the success it would meet when I started everything. So, thank you all!

Gregoire Desfond

Cover Picture : Jamie Beauchesne photographed by Todd Ristorcelli

Swiss Waterski Resort Pleasure and Performance SKI LAKES - GOLF COURSE LAKEFRONT VILLAS - EXPERT COACHING

Clermont, Florida +1 407 968 3481

ski@swisswaterskiresort.com www.swisswaterskiresort.com

www.radarski.com

Waterski Journal N°3 8 Skis for 2021 every skiers looks forward the next ski to ride. Here is the list we could came up with thanks to brands managers!

49 Matt Rini - Word with the coach legend is teaching you something, you better pay attention!

15 Wetsuits it can be cold out there! Better bring the best equipment possible in your bag if the lake is calling despite the chilly weather.

52 U21 Worlds Championships Santa Rosa Beach, this summer, young superstars : perfect components for a fantastic tournament.

22 Featured Lake vamos en Espagna cabron! Where you can find both waterski and tapas!

Ricardo Botas opens up his door to Waterski Journal.

26 Jamie Beauchesne just go read, I cannot say better words than Freddie Winter 34 Lookbook some badass picture from photographer of our sport.

58 Vincent Soubiron how do you stand technic wise? Are you sure you're thinking about the right thing?

60 Portraits of the month Slalom: Nate Smith Jump: Ryan Dodd Trick: Pato Font 74 Rankings who are the best nowadays?

best 78 Contact Keep in touch.

WHAT'S NEW? 2021 water skis !

2021 tools to get in your bags

2021 gear

Good old Goode Goode is showing up with 3 weapons for 2021. They look alike but they all have different features. Goode is never a bad choice, keeping up on the same high standard line as always.

Notable skiers : Regina Jaquess, Dane Mechler, Ambre Franc, Adam Sedlmajer, Elisabeth Monthavon

9970cc

ReVOcc

XTRcc

Price : $2,490

BLACKED OUT UNDER THE RADAR Radar continues to perfect their Vapor series. Bringing some improvement every year to an already fantastic ski that you can enjoy in the course throughout pretty much every level.

Notable skiers : Whitney McClintock-Rini, Trent Finlayson, Jason McClintock, Joel Poland, Paige Rini, K.C. Wilson, Stephen Neveu, Corey Vaughn, Aaron Larkin, Cole Giacopuzzi, Jakob Bogne, Jamie Calhoun, Chris Rossi

Price : $1,899

Vapor Pro Built

2021 gear

3 in 1 Connelly is bringing out something new for sure! The DV8 with its very own Versatail technology. Meaning that you can change yourself the tail of your ski depending of how you want the ski to react. Like you would change the shaft of your golf club. As simple as that. GTR is still on for 2021. Fast and dynamic, just look at Sacha's results to understand how far it can go Notable skiers : Sacha Descuns, Manon Costard, Thibaut Dailland, Joel Howley, Seth Stisher, Siani Oliver

GTR

Price : $1,899 DV8 $1,850 GTR

records are made to be broken None other than Nate Smith, world record holder and Freddie Winter, winner of the Waterski Nation Tour 2020, are riding this ski. No doubt this board is made for one purpose only: ski your best. Main difference between ION and IONs, the "S" stands for Soft.

Notable skiers : Freddie Winter, Nate Smith, Samantha Dumala, Ryan Canepa, Frederico Jaramillo, Brooke Baldwin, Luisa Jaramillo, Sade Ferguson, Blaze Grubbs, Kirsten Baldwin

ION

Price : $1,849

IONs

2021 gear

back to basics HO has been at the top of their game for their last collections of ski! They perform well for their pro skiers as well as amateurs that joined the Syndicate team.

By the way, that badass blacked out design is so cool!

A new Omega is also out, the Omega Max! Wider than the previous one to increase stability.

Notable skiers : Will Asher, Jon Travers, Benjamin Stadlbaur, Jaimee Bull, Marcus Brown, Allie Nicholson, Zane Nicholson, Chris Parrish, Rob Hazelwood, Jack Christie, Elisha Nelson, Zack Worden, Igor Morozov, Bob Lapoint, Wade Cox, Matteo Luzzeri, Nick Adams 2021 Syndicate PRO

Omega MAX

Price : $1,799 Syndicate Pro $1,299 Omega MAX

carbon LOVER Reflex is leading the binding market. They also make a well shaped ski. Previously the Zen was their main product, beautiful blacked out carbon ski. The Zen Origin is the combination of their best findings while searching for the most efficient ski. With a new graphic. By the way, Reflex skis has 1@9,75m (43off) in the books thanks to Robert Pigozzi.

No doubt it works.

Notable skiers : Robert Pigozzi, Neilly Ross

Price : $1,920

2021 gear

fresh brand Pro skier Nicholas Parsons decided to cut some carbon fiber and put them together to bring a new toy in the water. He called it the Pineapple. It's shape is Notable skiers : Nicholas Parsons

Price : $2,000 Pineapple

WORLD CHAMPION IS BACK

2017, worlds in Paris. This ski was the only one to go deep enough to win the men title. MC skis is coming back this year with a brand new ski. New shape, new design, new components, brand new everything.

Notable skiers : Alexis Baroni, Carlo Allais, Hanna Edeback, Jeayoung Park, Alexis Keusseoglou

Price : $unknown

n o o S g n i m o C

2021 gear

n o o S g n i m o C

a new element ?

KD is well known for their trick ski that goes beyond 12k with Pato Font. They also shape a super slalom ski : the platinum graphite from the Element series.

They release the second version of it last year and it was as good as what we were expecting from such an established waterski brand.

Question is : what are they preparing for us ?

We couldn't figure out much about the ski yet, but one thing is certain, it's coming !

Price : $unknown

no hype, just science Denali is an Ovni. Walking on a path no one has every taken.

Their last ski, C75 was made to be the best 34 mph (55km/h) ski ever. They soon realize it was also working at higher speed! So I don't know what they have in mind, because let's face it, Denali knows how to disrupt the traditional shaping of a waterski, but it sure will be something interesting.

Hint from the brand, they not only worked on the shape of the board, but got a look at the fin too... stay tuned!

Notable skiers : Adam Caldwell

Price : $unknown

n o o S g in m o C

y r y r D D y a y t a t S S

SUIT UP !

It's important to stay dry!

Or sometimes it just gets a bit chilly out there, it is important to have some gear to rely on.

New kid on the block.

1,5mm $249

1,5mm $199

HO is well known for their slalom skis and their badass team. Syndicate is releasing their first set of wetsuits (full and shorty) + a solid top that you want to wear just because it looks cool! www.hosports.com

1,5mm $139

2mm $172

2mm $82

2mm $185

2mm $150

Stokes is the results of beautiful minds from the waterski: Thomas and June Asher. They are delivering astonishing product. Judge by yourself. Special mention for the 3/4 leg that Stokes is yet the only one to offer. www.stokesskis.com

2mm $140

2mm $140

2mm $100

2mm $130

The Korean brand who made itself a name in a heartbeat with its beautiful life jackets is working some neoprene product as well. Zip tops are a good idea when it comes to take it off once it is wet. They also develop women product such as suit short or innersuit jacket. www.aidecrew.com

2mm $229

1,5mm $180

1,5mm $120

We all have one in the bag. Camaro has been around for a while and is not ready to let go. The Camaro top is a must have when it comes to "stay dry" in a colder water. Not to mention the incredible technology of the Titanium series (bottom three) with extremely thin materials. www.camaro-watersports.com

1,5mm $360

0,5mm $300

0,5mm $180

trick vest $130

trick vest $140

unknown mm $110

Eagle wetsuits is now part of the Masterline company. They offered unique product such as Trick vests and also a 1mm tank top, easy to put under a wetsuit for the cold days. www.masterlineusa.com

1mm $190

1mm $70

1mm $115

2mm $150

1mm $90

GlideSoul is a woman brand that create some unique kind of wetsuits. It's flashy, it's trendy, it's sexy. www.glidesoul.co.uk

0,5mm $160

FEATURED

E K LA

When we think about places to water ski in Europe, there is a lake that comes to our mind : Botaski.

Located near by Madrid in Spain, this club has everything to please every water skiers on the planet.

Two hand made lakes Perfectly shapes slaloms and ramp Brand new Nautique Boats and a world class driver to pull you: Ricardo Botas Weather is so nice down there it allows you to ski almost all year long. The club has been home for many great skiers like Sandra Botas, Ivan Morros or Pierre Cesinski.

The competitive spirit is all around. Thanks to awesome facilities and the effort of the Botas family, many great Title Events are organized on this lake: European Championships, Big Dawg and the Botaski Pro-Am. Schedule for 2021: Botaski Pro-Am : June 23 to 27 U21 European Championships : July 31 to August 8

Contact: www.botaski.com +34 673 962 426 info@botaski.com Camino de Servicio A-4, altura km.

42 A-4 direccion Cordoba, salida 37, 45223 SeseĂąa, Toledo, Espagne

FEATURED

E K LA

The Botaski ProAm has occurred 3 times already and is now recognized as one of the best tournament on the planet. Top athletes are flying from all over the world to show up at the event.

This year will be the 4th edition and we'll be able to follow the action on live webcast.

The man behind the wheel and the event, alongside his whole family and friends Ricardo Botas

Robbert Pigozzi

Ph. Eudes Metivier

www.aidecrew.com

During 2018 edition, for the first time in history, 4 skiers have ran the 10,25m (41off) line.

Imagine the level of skiing and the quality of the lake, the boat and the driver. This has been a hell of a show for people on shore and in front of the webcast.

Robert Pigozzi made himself the eleventh man in history to ever run this pass in a tournament and the youngest evert to do so. Sacha Descuns said afterward "I saw Robbie did it so I told myself, okay it's doable" then show up on the lake and tied Robert with a score of 1@9,75m (43off).

The next day, the Floridan boy Jon Travers went down the 10,25m (41off) followed by the 2 times world champion Will Asher.

I don't know for you folks, but I just can't wait watching those guys head up to the slalom course in June!

Gregoire Desfond

Can it get any better ?

Sandra Botas skiing behing Mario Pigozzi

The Enigma : In Search of The Elusive

JAMIE

by Freddie Winter

Ph. Todd Ristorcelli for WaterSki Mag.

BEAUCHESNE The term ‘Legend’ is overused in the context of sport. The word is often used hyperbolically, along with ‘icon’ and the acronym ‘GOAT’, to describe someone who has reached a high level in their field.

The overuse has diluted the real meaning to the point of cliche. Of course, there are instances when the shoe fits: those described are remembered amongst the sports gods and their achievements talked about amongst fans for years after their retirement.

The next generation of athletes, aiming to emulate these legends, are measured with regards to the titans that preceded them.

‘Legend’ can, however, also be considered with regards to a different definition, relating more to the myths of old than to sporting greatness. In this context the term pertains to something with a mythic quality, to often-unconfirmed stories that lend to an air of mystique.

Occasionally, the two definitions line up to perfectly fit a mysterious sporting great who achieved at the highest level while marching very much to the beat of their own drum. Diego Maradona in football, John McEnroe in tennis and Ayrton Senna in Formula 1 all reached the very top of their sports while remaining enigmatic and compulsive to watch in equal measure. If we have an equivalent in water skiing it is without doubt Jamie Beauchesne.

Beauchesne is a man who needs no introduction to anyone with a passing interest in the competitive narrative of water skiing over the years. He reached what many, including the man himself, deem the pinnacle of water skiing: The US Masters Slalom title. And he did it twice (‘04, ‘07). He was the third skier to ever run a competitive slalom 10.25m (41off) pass, following in the ethereal footsteps of Jeff Rodgers and Andy Mapple, as he equalled the World Record in 2003. He has been joined by barely more than a handful skiers in the so-called ‘43-off Club’ since. He also, in what surely must be an unparalleled record, won the first ever pro event he entered, beating all the greats on the dock, in 1995.

Multitudes of event and tour wins and podiums around these standout successes confirm a career that only a very few can compare.

But Beachesne’s trophy cabinet and world record certificates tell only a part of the story. Beyond the statistics lies a tale of a man who left his mark on water skiing through not just competitive achievement but an incredibly influential pursuit of technique innovation and an unmatched multi-sport approach to training. All this before abruptly leaving pro water skiing at his peak and, in doing so, cementing his legacy as a man who played by no one else's rules but his own.

Over the course of talking to Jamie for this piece I was struck by something I hadn’t considered before: that skiers from his era were faced with a repeatedly disrupted path as the sport went through seismic changes in multiple areas. As water skiing’s ‘80s and ‘90s heyday faded, along with the TV cameras and money that came with it, those that grew up expecting stardom and financial stability to be part and parcel of a pro water skiers life were presented with a new, more uncertain reality. Event numbers dwindled as the Waterski Pro Tour initially incorporated Wakeboard and then got replaced by it. The year's total events went from around 20 down to between 5 and 10, inevitably leaving a lot of dead time to be filled in the athletes year, as opportunities for competitive triumphs plummeted.

Beyond that, the technological changes that took boats from hand driving to RPM-based Perfect Pass cruise control in the mid-late-’90s to GPS-based Zero Off a decade later, meant skiers had to hugely adapt, not once but twice, throughout their careers.

Beauchesne, as one of the most successful and eye-catching skiers of the time, was perhaps the poster boy of the new generation that came to the fore around the turn of the millennium, as the older, ESPNfeatured superstars hung up their skis for good. Beachesne, while describing himself as a professional who skied for money, talks of his “love-based motivation” to reach the very best level he could, skiing for himself as the industry crumbled around him.

He remembers with a hint of nostalgia in his voice how “it was so rad, such a big deal” when he started out. The events were televised, the crowds were huge and Wade Cox and Andy Mapple were on the starting dock. As the eyeballs, money and opportunities to compete started to disappear, skiers would surely have been forced to question their motivation. Water skiing for a job, as Beauchesne says, requires a huge amount of emotional energy, on top of the physical, but he forged a path into a less certain future by finding his own, unorthodox method of making the job work for him.

Beauchesne was a multi-sport athlete before trendy buzzwords like ‘crosstraining’ were ubiquitous. Snow skiing, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing and surfing all contributed to his renowned agility and strength to weight ratio. This approach was rooted in a pursuit of adventure outside of the slalom course.

Chris Parrish recalls Jamie turning up in Eurolac, Switzerland for the Alizee Cup and, straight off a flight, climbing a mountain in view of the lake simply because it was there and it could be climbed. This may or may not be totally accurate - I didn’t attempt to validate this (or some of the other outlandish anecdotes I was told) with Jamie, it seemed a shame that such a good tale might be ruined by a denial - but that it’s perfectly plausible speaks volumes.

Unlike most of his contemporaries who would never go more than a few weeks without on-water training, Beachesne was known to hang up his ski for up to 6 months at a time as he headed up into the mountains for a full snow ski season.

Beauchesne recalls, however, that this approach was not a reflection of a lack of commitment to his water skiing: “On the snow I would put a lot of effort into relating the movements to water skiing: the physics of riding a bicycle, of snow skiing, of water skiing are so intertwined”. He also found peace in the fun he could have exercising functionally, helping his skiing without the brain overload of attempting to turn 6 buoys on repeat without a break. And it worked. Rhoni Barton, who Jamie skied with on occasion in Orlando, laughs as she remembers how it was ever-so-slightly frustrating to see Jamie turn up after a long winter of his ski gathering dust and rip like he’d never been away.

Beauchesne’s single mindedness and influence on slalom methodology is evident when comparing the slalom technique of those who preceded him and those that followed. Along with a group of collaborative contemporaries, Beauchesne strove to find new, more efficient ways to navigate the same old slalom course. The ‘hips up, pull hard’ methodology of old was replaced by something more fluid. Those developing what became known as ‘New School’ slalom, also including Chris Rossi, Marcus Brown and Terry Winter, fed off of each other's enthusiasm for the innovative on their ever crossing paths. Their efforts resulted in a more subtle move of their centre of mass around the ski to get on edge, without the traditional aggressive shoulder drop and with less emphasis on gluing the hips to the handle. Often a one-handed gate was thrown in to really chuck a finger to the tried and tested old school.

Beauchesne recalls a group enthusiasm for trying everything to find the next breakthrough in technique or equipment: “One day we put huge spacers under our bindings to make us super tall and we found the newest, coolest thing! But after a couple of weeks we realised it didnt work at all, fuck that, onto the next thing”.

Rossi, Beauchesne’s former training partner and oftentime tour travel buddy (whose uncle introduced Jamie to water skiing), describes him as unequivocally amongst the most pivotal and influential skiers of all time. He describes Beauchesne as his personal favourite skier with his innovative technique being the main draw - “when I saw him ski, everything made sense”. Rossi says there was a definitive technical shift at that time, which Jamie was a huge part of, that has not been matched since. Everything after has been an evolution after the turn of the century revolution.

And then suddenly, not long after very much being a dominant skier in pro slalom skiing, Beauchesne left. In typical style, he did it his way: without any fuss but certainly a statement of sorts in its abruptness. At a time before skiers were expected by sponsors to consistently communicate through social media (not that Beauchesne would necessarily have subscribed to this notion) those who followed professional skiing were left confused about where he had gone. Rossi, as Jamie’s closest ally in the pro field, remembers fielding questions about Jamie’s whereabouts even from his confused fellow skiers.

Beauchesne reflects that it wasn’t as dramatic of a decision as perhaps it looked externally. “It was always about love-based motivation and some things just stopped lining up with that”.

Between struggling with a persistent shoulder injury, new event formats that forced skiers to perform an unreasonable number of times over a weekend in a futile attempt to bring back the crowds (“Head-to-Heads: bleurgh!”), a further new cruise control system to figure out and the infamous denied World Record of 2@9.75m in Lacanau, France in 2007, Beauchesne began to question if it was worth it. Consistently skiing at a high level is not easy - “Water skiers are all a little mental. It comes with doing the same course at the same speed but trying to do it better, on repeat, forever”.

He recalls “I felt that I was holding on that last year [2012] and I wanted to leave happy with what I’d done and leaving seemed like the healthiest option. I didn’t want an identity crisis over water skiing”.

Chris Parrish recalls Jamie turning up in Eurolac, Switzerland for the Alizee Cup and, straight off a flight, climbing a mountain in view of the lake simply because it was there and it could be climbed.

Happily, the diversity of Beauchesne’s sporting activity that undoubtedly helped him reach his water ski goals simultaneously set him up better than most pro athletes for leaving the sport. As much as he was amongst the very best, he was never just a water skier. As he left pro water skiing he leant into the outdoor activities and lifestyle he had prioritised along with water skiing over the years: “It’s fun to go ski but when you ramp it up to that level it can be rough. At that point, let’s just go surfing instead!”.

But what of the man behind the mystique? According to Marcus Brown, Jamie could be the most entertaining guy around: “you just want to be there - something rad’s going to happen, something cools going to be said”. Notoriously single minded and not afraid to rock the boat where he deemed necessary, Beauchesne couldn’t help but poke at those that took themselves too seriously. Brown remembers a prize giving banquet at a mid-’00s Masters where Jamie, disconcerted by the pageantry on show and trying to lighten the mood, took a competitors shoes from their feet under a dinner table and throwing them away before storming the stage and being politely escorted from the room.

On another occasion he is reported to have taken issue with the “all competitors must ski both rounds of qualifying” rule at a California pro event after he’d already secured top seeding in the first round. For his second round he jumped the wakes on a tiny pair of kids combo skis he’d found, waving and grinning to the crowd, obeying the rule on a technicality while audaciously holding his own. Rossi remembers these sort of incidents fondly. He feels statements sometimes needed to be made but suspects no other skier would have gotten away with them as Jamie did. As Rossi says “when, like Jamie, you truly don’t care and walk that walk your whole life, you just get away with stuff. What can they do to you?”.

This habit of speaking his truth to power extended to his relationship with the world governing body, IWWF, and its top level tournaments. He, Rossi and a handful more decided to boycott the potentially lucrative IWWF World Cup events when they saw the IWWF officials wining and dining in a cordoned off section from which the skiers themselves were barred from entry. Beauchesne also describes his disdain for what some would describe as the premier event in water skiing, the World Championships. He questions “why as a pro skier why would I care about Worlds where there’s no money for me but others are making it from me turning up? Am I skiing for Santa Claus?”.

As a competitor Beauchesne was known to be fierce. Parrish remembers Jamie as a guy that would rise to the occasion for the big competitive moments, elevating his level when he really needed to. He was known to be chatty and good natured on the dock but not afraid of speaking his mind. Brown remembers a Princes Pro-Am, UK, where Jamie hadn’t skied to his standard in the first round of qualifying and was overtaken by a competitor after a re-ride for swans.

Beauchesne kept it together until he was halfway through changing out of his gear, at which point it got too much. His shorts were thrown, his towel fell down and a crowd of confused Brits looked on as a naked New Englander screamed “fucking remote controlled swans!”.

And then there was the 2010 Malibu Open final that Marcus Brown feels may well have been the beginning of the end for Jamie’s motivation. In the final head-to-head Jamie saw his competitor fall before meeting his score. He swung back to the dock and chugged the obligatory celebratory beer that was handed to him, only to see a reride granted for slow boat time moments later, something completely unheard of since the introduction of Zero Off. He stood on the dock, refusing to return to the water as 1st place was taken from him, sticking to his guns instead of entertaining what he saw as injustice.

“when you truly don’t care and walk that walk your whole life, you just get away with stuff. What can they do to you?”

“One day we put huge spacers under our bindings to make us super tall and we found the newest, coolest thing!

But after a couple of weeks we realised it didnt work at all, fuck that, onto the next thing”

In 2021 there is not a great deal of mystery in water skiing. Pro events are webcast to an almost televisionlike quality, skiers themselves tend to enthusiastically self-promote through their Instagram and YouTube channels with podcasts fleshing out their personalities to the public. By contrast, the start of the century between the sports huge popularity and TV broadcasts that preceded it and the global social media explosion that followed - was a point at which water skiing was less easy to follow, leading to a degree of inscrutability when looking back. No one from that era embodies this more than Jamie Beauchesne - a man who did things his way as he successfully traversed that awkward period defined by disruption, before dropping the mic and walking off into the sunset towards something new and interesting. While we don’t see him at pro tournaments or working for a boat or ski company, his involvement in pro skiing is remembered as much for its mythical stories as its great achievements over the course of a career that burned brightly and then burned out, instead of fading away. “He is such a badass and so great for water skiing” says Rossi. And what is the reason for his nonconformity, the wild stories and the abrupt disappearance? “That’s just Jamie, no other way of putting it”.

Freddie Winter

“He is such a badass and so great for water skiing” Chris Rossi

Robert Pigozzi, 2018 Magic Malibu Open / Ph. Eudes Metivier

Toti Miranda, 2015 US Masters / Ph. Tiare Miranda

Jon Travers, 2019 French Malibu Open / Ph. Eudes Metivier

K.C. Wilson / Ph. Jason Lee

Alice Bagnoli / Ph. Vincent Stadlbaur

Corey Vaughn / Ph. Jason Lee

Natalia Berdnikava / Ph. Tiare Miranda

WORD WITH THE COACH

M A T T R I N I MOVE. DON'T TURN.

The basis for agility is movement. And the most critical part is learning how to move the body as early and as effectively as possible and the result will be a turn.

Imagine a cone drill where there are four cones set up in a large square and you are asked to run around it as quickly as possible. Ready, set, GO! You lean in the the start to make sure your momentum is moving in the direction you want to start running. Then at the first cone, you don’t decelerate and pivot and then start running again; you cut the corner with your body and allow your feet to go outside of the cone while your body is already moving in the direction of the next cone.

On a slalom ski, in order to make the turn happen most effectively, you also don’t want to pivot. Rather, the turn happens best when : 1) the outward momentum in the pre-turn creates a rebound effect back inward 2) the ski is rolling on its inside edge 3) the upper body allows the lower body to be the driver out of the turn.

In order to have outward momentum from the edge change to full extension, the upper body must be somewhat torsionally free from the boat. As a skier comes off the second wake and into the edge change, if the body alignment to the rope doesn't allow the upper body to move outward as the ski releases, the boat will pull the shoulders inward and accelerate the skier straight at the ball instead of feeling a silky separation from the handle.

That smooth outward separation creates a little rebound feeling that makes the movement back in feel almost automatic AND without the need for the upper body to lead the charge. The key to that torsion-free release off the edge change is the alignment of the hips in relation to the rope. When the lead hip (left hip going into 1,3,5 and right hip going into 2,4,6) is in line with the rope, the upper body has the freedom to move out off the wake.

So, why move then turn; instead of turn then move?

It’s the same as when you run, if you just pump your legs without leaning forward first, you will be running in place. The first thing you have to do is lean forward, then the legs move the appropriate speed to keep up with the body. In the preturn, the goal is to cut the corner of the ball just like the cone drill from above. The ski and feet go outside the ball and the body goes before and inside of it. The result is the ski rolling on more and more of an edge. As the ski tips over the flow of the water takes the tilt of the ski plus the amount your body is leading your feet and adds the appropriate angle and speed to keep up.

The more you lead your feet, the faster the ski will catch back up to you. The same as when you run; the more you lean forward, the faster your legs will pump to keep up with your body; so you don't fall on your face.

Now, we have outward rebound working in our favor and the body is cutting the corner and accelerating back to the wakes.

The last piece is, the upper body coming back to the rope slower than the lower body is moving back. This helps to set up that torsion-free release at the next ball. Allow the hip time to get in line as the free hand grabs back on to the handle. This is imperative to avoid disrupting the natural rotation and acceleration that has been set in motion from leading the feet with the body.

That lead hip connection is what frees the upper body on the next edge change. Slowing down the free hand allows the hip to come back to the handle and get aligned without spiking the boat; it also avoids tip rise at the finish of the turn, which disrupts acceleration to the next ball and decreases drive to the wakes.

This timing is more critical out of the good side because the lead hip is connected to the back foot so naturally it takes a little longer to get aligned than it does on the offside.

For this reason, skiers will often have their shoulders slightly more open out of the good side; it is the most natural way to give that outside hip a little more time to get back to the rope.

Matt Rini

www.mattrini.com

www.inspiredbyryan.com

U21

Take your agenda and note the date: August 22 to 29.

Place: Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Cory and Adam Pickos

So young and yet, the level is so high…

U21 is the last step before jumping into the Open with the real Pros out there.

That does not mean that the task is easier to be crowned as the best in the field. The competition is fierce. Those guys don’t really know fear.

I mean those kids (are they ?) are jumping above 60m, trick more than 10k points for 5 of them. Not to mention Pato Font, world best tricker nowadays, with a world record at 12220 points. And slalomers are now scoring into the 10,25m rope length (41off). Even on the girl side with Jaimee Bull.

If you are not lucky enough to be on site to watch it, there will be a webcast. We do not have the informations yet but be assured you will be able to find every needed information on the IWWF new website : EMS as well as @waterski_nation Instagram. We always share the good links to watch some waterski.

Paige Rini with her coach/dad Matt Rini

Neilly Ross at Open Worlds in Malaysia, 2019

Only the best! As mentioned, last chance for many of those young guns to bring their A game before having to face the top Pro at the Open level. Conditions should be at their finest. This lake is where a certain Regina Jaquess trains… no doubt the lake should be in shape for the event! Not to mention that Pickos Ski School is what waterski has for the best; World Champion home lake: Adam Pickos (tricks), Cory Pickos (tricks), Regina Jaquess (Slalom, Overall). This heritage should bring a special thing over that tournament.

Slalom will be hard disputed for boys and girls. Favorite for the event, Jaimee Bull (CAN) will have to fend off assault of other killing girls like Brooke Balwind (USA) or her teammate Paige Rini (CAN). Luisa Jaramillo (COL) won’t let the title go without bringing her best as well.

Sean Hunter (USA) has the strongest score in the books with 3@10,25m (41off).

He will have to deliver high slalom skiing because Jamie Calhoun (CAN), Frederico Jaramillo (COL) and Jack Christie (AUS) have shawn what they where capable of during pro event this year. They will do everything possible to get that extra buoy where the Gold medal is waiting.

Louis Duplan-Fribourg all smile out in Putrajaya

Trick will be intense. They will have to get those flips cleans because the scores should not be far apart. Superstar Pato Font (MEX) is already an open World Champion and World Record holder but Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA) is learning new tricks every day just to be sure he does not leave no chance on the dock. This summer is gonna be hot!Same deal for Neilly Ross (CAN). World Champion already in Paris (2017), I am sure she doesn’t want to miss another Gold medal. Paige Rini (CAN), Kenedy Hansen (USA) and Brooke Baldwin (USA) are the closest to the top to outright that title.

5 boys within 5 meter range! William Roberts (USA) with 62,9m, Luca RAUCHENWALD (AUT) 62,1m, Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA) 61,1m, Jonathan Leutz (USA) 61m and Tobias Giorgis (ARG) with 60,1m.Fly with caution boys…

World champion in 2019, Pato Font

Brooke Baldwin

Quiet same deal with the girls. Brooke Baldwin (USA) has a 46,7m best score last year but the other are close: Agustina Varas (CHI) 46m, Sade Ferguson (AUS) 45,5m and Paige Rini (CAN) 43,5m.Interesting too!

Overall favorite, Louis Duplan-Fribourg Overall is something special. Imagine how much time you have to dedicate to the sport in order to compete in a World Championship for an event. Multiply this per three now. This is how committed is an Overall water skier.Long time friends won’t give a inch to the other one. Brooke Baldwin (USA) and Paige Rini (CAN) are leading the pack. Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA) has a slight advance over his opponents but during Worlds, everything can happen! He will have to stay focus and keep his mind cold until the last jump. Alexander Samoilov (UKR), Tobias Giorgis (ARG), Edoardo Marenzi (ITA) and even his own brother Pol Duplan-Fribourg (FRA) will remind him at every event that they are on his tracks.

Gregoire Desfond

Paige Rini

Jamie Calhoun at Swiss Pro

Neilly Ross

U21 superstars

Let's check who are the TOP 4 in every event and their average score according to the IWWF ranking list U21

OVERALL FAVORITES Louis Duplan-Fribourg FRA 2615pts

Alexander Samoilov UKR 2462pts

Tobias Giorgis ARG 2357pts

Edurado Marenzi ITA 2324pts

Paige Rini CAN 2774pts

Brooke Baldwin USA 2767pts

Kennedy Hansen USA 2523pts

Sade Ferguson AUS 2310pts

Sean Hunter at Swiss Pro Slalom

SLALOM FAVORITES Sean Hunter USA 3@10,25m (41off)

Jamie Calhoun CAN 2@10,25m (41off)

Frederico Jaramillo COL 1,25@10,25m (41off)

Jack Christie AUS 0@10,25m (41off)

Jaimee Bull CAN 0@10,25m (41off)

Brooke Baldwin USA 2,5@10,75m (39off)

Paige Rini CAN 2@10,75m (39off)

Luisa Jaramillo COL 1@10,75m (39off)

U21 superstars TRICKS FAVORITES Pato Font MEX 12220pts

Louis Duplan-Fribourg FRA 11500pts

Martin Labra CHI 10975pts

Neilly Ross CAN 9850pts

Jake Abelson USA 10435pts

Paige Rini CAN 9310pts

Kennedy Hansen USA 9085pts

Brooke Baldwin USA 8185pts

Luisa Jaramillo at Moomba Masters

JUMP FAVORITES William Roberts USA 62,90m

Luca Rauchenwald AUS 62,10m

Louis Duplan-Fribourg FRA 61,10m

Jonathan Leutz USA 61m

Brooke Baldwin CAN 46,70m

Agustina Varas CHI 46m

Sade Ferguson AUS 45,50m

Paige Rini CAN 43,50m

Vincent Soubiron World class waterski coach – University Master’s Degree Lecturer – Keynote speaker Sponsors: Connelly – Proskisimulator – Wakeye

vincentsoubiron@me.com www.vincentsoubiron.com

What is the best technique ?

From the expression of your unique born pattern to

What will be left of self-expression or innovation if

self-efficacy,

everybody was following a leading model?

through

the

optimization

of

your

capacities and the environment in which you evolve

Of course we can categorize skiers into different

and, the constraints to which you must adapt. Find

groups and see an emergence of a certain tendency

out what you’ve been given by life that you haven’t

to ski in the same way by identifying or modeling

used yet to help you find your own technique.

certain principles, but we cannot reduce them to an individual scale.

I know you guys want to know what’s the best body position, what’s that unique secret answer to help

Every now and then, there is and there always will

you perform like a champion. I’m afraid no one has

be

the answer to such a question. Many people have

follow. Many studies have shown that we are an

wasted their time trying to copy and paste Nate

imitating

Smith’s

seeking for love and approbation from others even

technique

as

this

dude

showed

up

from

a

dominant

specie

model

as

well

that

as

everybody

a

social

wants

one

that

to

is

a

when it goes against our intrinsic nature. I am not

scandalous consistency at 43 off. I even heard some

saying that this is bad, but we do need to adopt a

people

and

more human-centered approach, not only based on

closer!

content and knowledge. Performance shouldn’t be

almost

out

of

nowhere

started

switched

on

Unfortunately,

to D3

but

drink skis

and

kicked

regular to

thankfully

coca

get it

would be pretty boring if it was.

asses

ain’t

with

cola

even that

easy!

It

reduced to a technique, a norm, or even a standard, but be considered an infinite and singular individual approach.

So what makes you a better skier then?

Sacha Descuns

Einstein said: “If I had an hour to

Are you trying, over and over, that

No

solve

55

cool move you saw on a superstar’s

unavoidable.

minutes thinking about the problem

skier, but you can’t make it and you

dichotomy

and

are

actual

a

problem,

5

I’d

minutes

spend

thinking

about

not

performing

to

what

technical

a

people

move

overview right

that

will

solutions

bring and,

meantime,

develop

mind.

will

It

get

your

allow

an

ways.

out

the

problematic,

in

the

different

critical you

drills

to

acknowledge if what you are doing

Go

back

challenge

perspectives

that

connects

your

representation

it

with

performing a task is influenced by

prefer

a dominant model, while reality is

to

your

skier

has

the

to

and

you

a

idea,

for

perception they have of it. The self-

different

will

the

and

many

into

you

and

is

not a good or a bad way, but many

problem

example,

between a

natural there

a

questions

is

it’s

Plus,

expectations?

complex

there

do,

here,

solutions”. Hereby, if you fragment

simple

Remember

your

offense

while

expressed in a completely different

true-self. Trust your nervous system,

way,

it knows best what’s good for you.

result conflicting between his own

is right for you or not. As I often tell

with

a

“somewhat

funny”

nature and a model he tries to stick

my skiers, if it doesn’t feel natural

An

is

to. That’s the reason why when you

and

be

watching skiers while they repeat

watch yourself on a video, you are

efficient. Consequently, it will cost

their moves on the shore with the

like: “No sh$t, this is not me !!!”

you too much energy and probably

handle in their hands. Most of the

know imitation inhibits the intrinsic

won’t be appropriate for you. That’s

time,

capacities

when you need to step back and

difference between what they think

emergence, the expression of the

look

up.

they are doing on the water and

potential.

ally

what

comfortable,

for

what

Common

is

sense

it

not

is

won’t

adding

your

best

here. Trust it!

interesting

there

they

thing

is

to

a

actually

do

significant

do

when

and

do

not

allow

We

the

they

ski.

Ambre Franc

Neurosciences

have

neuroplasticity

(learning,

connections

creating

Marcus Brown and I had that discussion at Masters a couple years

as

he

told

me

he

was

impressed

how

Sacha

limited, but here is something to remember:

after the huge injuries he suffered from. I explained to him I

changes

takes

told Sacha to change his mass center a couple of inches

time to learn new habits and stabilize them.

further back on the ski in order to discharge his injured front

Additionally, in a paradoxal way, to get the

leg

fastest

time.

phases. MB told me it was impossible as it was going against

There is a duality between the short term vs

the physics laws. Well, obviously it did work for Sacha whose

long term that you must face in order to

natural body position has a center of gravity further back than

perform. Long term is the target; short term

a majority. The only thing I asked him was to get a bit more

is

results,

you

must

we

also

had

to

change

his

visual

those famous laws, would that dude would have been able to

habit,

on

be the great skier he is? Probably not. I am absolutely not

is

saying that biomechanics and physic laws aren’t important

what will make you perform. Break down

and shouldn’t be considered, it is actually one of my major

the beliefs. It is not because it is different

tool but there is room to play around with it in order to adapt

that it is not good.

it to one’s singularity.

default.

the

consequently

saying otherwise? I don’t think it is, and if we had to stick to

and

to

and

to erase what someone told you is a bad huge

get

your

into his natural stance. Is it bad because physic laws are

qualities

to

take

it

target.

a

step

overnight,

Furthermore, do not waste your time trying

your

first

happen

is

ago

Descuns could come back to such a level, scoring into 43 off,

don’t

neurons)

that new not

the

between

proven

Instead,

develop

focus

them,

this

It’s like “does size matters?” Well in certain cases, in slalom, it does actually help, or not, if you haven’t been taught how to use your height

to

your

advantage.

On

the

contrary,

take

Regina,

she

is

probably the shortest pro skier out there, and yet the best female slalom skier ever. Why is she that good? Probably because she is a really meticulous worker who trains hard. Fully committed to what she does, she has developed what works best for her. There is no luck in this kind of success, only work! Have you ever heard of Jacinta Carroll’s daily routine? I remember once being in Florida before Worlds, she was doing 4 sets back to back in the morning, then she was hitting the gym in the afternoon. And as if it wasn’t enough, she was also studying for her master degree. No wonder why she has been undefeated for so many years.

Now take Smith, Winter, Pigozzi, Descuns. We have here 4 top skiers with the same performances with 4 completely different ways to achieve them. Is there one better than the other? Absolutely not. It just proves that there are different ways of reaching goals. As this stands for those pros, it does stand for you as well; whatever your level is. Do not let anyone let you think otherwise. Some might want to make you ski like them, whether it is conscious or not because it is easier, that’s what they know. They might believe that because it works for them, it will work for you but it is far from being a universal truth.

It

takes

a

lot

effort

to

cut

from

your

own

beliefs

and

experiences to open your mind to something different, and it ain’t easy. Remember what we had said earlier: we are a social specie that needs love and attention, and even though we know or feel that

If you guys are interested to know more, contact

something is not right, consciously or unconsciously, we might end up

me and I will be pleased to share with you some of

doing it anyways because we think people will like us better.

the latest sciences based work to help you find out what should work better for you, and why. After a

I hope this article showed you that performances and success is

couple of test, you’ll have a better idea on which

accessible to everyone. You should not feel sad nor bad, when your

direction you should take and the right questions

coach is making you practice exercises that are different from your

we should seek for to find those solutions that fits

training

your unique identity

partners.

Those

exercises

are

made

for

you

for

some

specific reasons that are different from your buddy’s. Once more: don’t forget to work on your qualities first!

Vincent Soubiron

Slalom skier of the month

Nate Smith WJ - How old were you when you started skiing?

WJ - Best waterski memory?

NS -I started skiing for the first time when I was 2 years old and I was 8 years old when I skied in my first tournament.

NS - Traveling the world and seeing new places and meeting new people all around the world has been my favorite part of skiing so far. Winning the worlds twice and setting the world record are pretty high up on the list also.

WJ - Where do you ski now?

NS - I spend my winters in Florida at my house in the Orlando area and then back to Indiana where I grew up during the summer time. Summers are too nice to pass up in the Midwest.

WJ - How many set per week?

NS - during the summer I pretty much ski once per day on average. Sometimes more if I’m at the lake all day I will ski twice a day. In the winter I try to ski as much as I can when the weather is nice.

WJ - Do you have a favorite course?

NS - there are several favorites I have! Not sure I can really pick just one. Sawmill Lake in Indiana is at the top of the list. Ski Ranch in Louisiana, Shortline Lake in California, and Little Mountain in North Carolina are all really great as well.

WJ - Favorite tournament?

NS - Moomba masters has always been one of my favorite.

You can either have a really good or really bad day on the river but the crowd and skiing in the middle of the city is a lot of fun! One or the most exciting and memorable tournaments to ski in.

WJ - Worse memory? You can choose, funny or serious hah!

NS - I would say that Worlds in France when I missed the handle on my 12m pass was one of the more disappointing times in skiing.

WJ - Favorite training partner?

NS - I grew up skiing with my Dad and then started to ski with Scott Tynan about 12 years ago and just before skiing in my first Pro event in 2010. He helped me get to that next level and be as competitive as I am today.

WJ - Your ultimate goal?

NS - Ski, compete, travel, see new places, meet new people, and try my best to share my knowledge and success in skiing with others. I always stand by the saying “never take the fun out of it” and I think it is very important to have fun with the sport just as much as you take it seriously. Always have a smile on your face and enjoy every second of it!

WJ - Best set up? (lake, time of the day, boat, pilote, ski) NS - Summer time in Indiana at Sawmill Lake skiing with friends! Late morning to afternoon is my favorite time to ski.

Of course D3 skis has always provided me with a great ski over the last decade!

@natesmith43

Jumper of the month

Ryan Dodd WJ - How old were you when you started skiing?

RD - I started skiing at 9 years old in Canada. I wanted to ride the kneeboard and tube, but my competitive spirit got ahold of me and I started trying to get ready to compete!

WJ - Where do you ski now?

RD - Palm Bay Florida, In our back yard. We have been down here for 10 years and have an amazing setup with two ramps and a Ski Nautique

WJ - Worse memory? You can choose, funny or serious hah!

RD - I don't know about that. . . Crashes aren't the most fun.... Being prepared to perform well, and then having a shocking failure isn't either. I've got quite a few to be honest...Possibly as a kid passing on the inside and being disqualified when I was pushing super hard to jump 100 ft was the most devastating. I cried the whole day as I just wanted to jump sooooo bad.

WJ - Favorite training partner?

WJ - How many set per week?

RD - Breanne. She is the boss behind the wheel.

RD - It depends. In competitive season anywhere from 2-10 sets a week. When I was a kid and doing 3 event skiing I was doing 4-6 sets a day every single day all summer. Now just jumping and at the intensity I train with it's far less. I also always take off 2-4 months off the water in the off season.

WJ - Do you have a favorite course?

RD - I love aspects of tons of places and have so many memories it's hard to say a favorite. I love jumping at home in Palm Bay. I love where I grew up in Canada on our farm.

I love Jack Travers....The Masters is always fun!

WJ - Favorite tournament?

RD - The Masters. Hopefully I will also put one on some day that will be fun...

WJ - Best waterski memory?

RD - Winning my first World Championship in Mexico... I spent my whole life convincing myself it was possible...

WJ - Your ultimate goal?

RD - Hard to know, i'm sort of working on that. I have this feeling in my head I want to experience as I fly off the ramp into the air. I had a dream as a kid and no jump that I have done is anywhere close to what I think is possible.

WJ - Best set up? (lake, time of the day, boat, pilote, ski) RD - Early Morning. When the headwind is building.

Like it's glass as the sun begins to rise in Florida. The wind starts to flutter as I warmup. The Nautique pulls out of my little boathouse. I can hear it roar as Breanne warms it up. It's silent otherwise. I can feel the wind building on my face, and this sense of peace overwhelms me. When all the work has been done and the stars align, and you get to experience the beauty of jumping in it's finest and most complete form with perfect conditions it's an out of body experience. Nothing in this world compares the the freedom of flying...

@rdodd260

Tricker of the month

Pato Font WJ - How old were you when you started skiing?

WJ - Worse memory? You can choose, funny or serious hah!

PF - I first started when I was like a year and a half with my dad. Next to the boat maybe when I was almost 2.

PF - Don’t have a worse memory, I skied bad at some tournaments.

WJ - Favorite training partner?

WJ - Where do you ski now?

PF - My dad and the Giorgis brothers.

PF - I ski in isles of lake Hancock now.

WJ - How many set per week?

PF - Around 5 or 6 times a week.

WJ - Do you have a favorite course?

PF - Home.

WJ - Best waterski memory?

PF - Best memory was in 2019 when I won open worlds and I was with my brother and my dad.

WJ - Favorite tournament?

PF- Favorite tournament is Moomba masters.

WJ - Your ultimate goal?

PF - Break the world trick record.

WJ - Best set up? (lake, time of the day, boat, pilote, ski) PF - Best set up prob isles of lake Hancock, with the new ski nautique, pilot prob not my mom cause she can get distracted, KD trick ski and right after school I always ski good

@patofont

SLALOM RANKINGS

source: www.worldwaterskier.com

TRICK RANKINGS

source: www.worldwaterskier.com

JUMP RANKINGS

source: www.worldwaterskier.com

OVERALL RANKINGS

source: www.worldwaterskier.com

CONTACT subscription available on www.waterskination.com greg@waterskination.com IG: @waterski_nation

Thanks to everybody that took part one way or another to make this Waterski Journal #3 edition.

To name a few Brooks Wilson and Radar Aide crew Edge Todd Schafer Schacres lake Matt Rini Alexandre Raton & Inter Urbis Vincent Stadlbaur and the whole Stadlbaur family TWBC Marcus Brown Ambre Franc Freddie Winter Krista Schipner and Black Oak Creative Eric Franc Matteo Luzzeri les coureurs Valentin Lucas Vincent Soubiron Tiare Miranda Olivia Merieux Pato Font Chriss Rossi Jamie Beauchesne Will Asher Thomas Degasperi Jon Travers Natalia Berdnikava Joel Poland Robert Hazelwood Ryan Dodd Nate Smith Font Family & ToYou Eude Metivier Jay Humphreys Keusseoglou family Paige Rini Igor Morozov Whitney McClintock Rini Robert Pigozzi & Pigoski Marion Mathieu Ellis Scot Ellis Jenny LaBaw Flowpoint Method Goode D3 Denali Nicholas Parsons MC Skis & Boris Laval Justin Campfield Goode D3 FFSNW IWWF John Horton & BallofSpray Watergear.shop Swiss Waterski Resort Jack Travers sunset lakes and the whole Travers family Monaco ski nautique my beloved parents and brothers

@waterski_nation

Ph. JosĂŠ Gonzalez