This third season for the Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup series is completely booked out ! Well that is the situation for the athletes striving for a place in this US$780,000 cash prize global event. As the details of each Stop are released by the International Waterski Federation, every slot on the starting list is quickly snapped up. So far this year, the acceptance rate has been 100% by the World’s top ranked athletes.

As with Formula 1, Football, Golf and Tennis, the logistics involved in managing a truly global series like the Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup are enormous. Today, 28 top athletes from more than a dozen countries are on their way to Enghiens-les-Bains on the outskirts of Paris for the June 16/18 event. The following weekend, they will compete in Beijing !

This will be the third visit of the World Cup series to Enghiens-les-Bains. This superb natural Spa venue delivers enormous crowds of spectators year after year. With the City of Enghiens-les-Bains, supporting this World Cup Stop are Groupe Lucien Barriere, Caisse D’Epargne / Ile de France Norde, Federation Francaise de Ski Nautique, MasterCraft and the International Waterski Federation.

Fresh from his stunning performance in Qatar in the Arabian Gulf some weeks ago, past X Games gold medalist Danny Harf (USA) will fight hard to hold his leading World Cup spot in Wakeboard. His head-to-head battle with Daniel Watkins (AUS) in Doha could be repeated although Watkins took this title in France two years ago and this will be Harf’s first visit to this venue. Harf heads the 2006 World Cup points table at this stage. Also in hot contention will be the 2005 World Cup season champion Phillip Soven (USA).

The Women’s event in Enghiens-les-Bains will be just as thrilling. Considered one of the best Riders of all time, Dallas Friday (USA) took the World Cup Stop title in Doha in Qatar a few weeks ago in spite of suffering from a severe cold. She is now the points leader. This X Games Wakeboard Champion will also be a first time visitor to this venue. She will be under great pressure from Louise Moore (GBR), the 2005 World Cup overall series winner, and the other two USA super stars Meaghan Major and Emily Copeland.

As at all World Cup Stops, MasterCraft will provide the purpose designed X-Star boats in France at the weekend. They too have a logistics challenge as they will also be waiting on the dock with the X-Stars lined up when we arrive in Beijing just one week later.

DVD’s of the TV show produced at each World Cup Stop are available throughout the season at www.pro-active.co.uk/shop

Full details of the 2006 World Cup series can be followed at www.iwsftournament.com/wordpress