STAR MONDAY – WILL ASHER ON CAMERA TODAY Will Asher - an insight to a World Champion Having an uncle by the name of Mike Hazelwood must be very special – but without enormous skill and determination, it does not guarantee success in our sport. At just 27 years of age, Will Asher from Lincolnshire in the north of England, has already done both his uncle and family proud. Having taken World Champion titles in Slalom in both China in 2005 and Canada in 2009, he has already reached the pinnacle of success in our sport. At the age of 20 he took the EAME Slalom title and at 18 the EAME U21 title. As an outstanding Slalom World Champion, many may be surprised to know that this World Cup Star is also a very talented three eventer and took the EAME Overall title in 2002. Will has a unique Slalom...

World Cup Stars Shine Brightly At the 50th Moomba Masters In Melbourne The Moomba Monday Holiday in Melbourne, Australia, is always a major family day of celebration. In spite of the extraordinary weather patterns of the past week, thousands showed up for today’s special 50th Anniversary Moomba Masters on the Yarra River. Moomba Monday Crowds Historically, the gold medals at this event usually go to the more experienced skiers and regular Moomba visitors – such as Nicolas LeForestier FRA, Chris Parrish USA, Freddy Krueger USA, Anais Amade FRA and Clementine Lucine FRA. This year it was a totally new story with major upsets – and in many cases it was the World Cup stars who triumphed. More heavy overnight rain brought a new supply of debris to the Yarra River – and this upset some...

MIRACULOUS MOOMBA RECOVERY PRODUCES GREAT PERFORMANCES ON SEMI-FINAL SUNDAY Will Asher GBR almost catches Chris Parrish in Semi's Just 24 hours ago, many thought that the 50th Anniversary Moomba Masters here in Melbourne would be canceled. With sudden 120 kph winds, a frightening and unprecedented hailstone storm, shredded trees, flooded roads and ice accumulations all over the place, it had the air of a calamity Movie. This morning, on arrival at daybreak at the Yarra River site, the floating debris posed a real challenge for the organizers. However, this is Australia and the “can do” attitude will always win. Within 30 minutes or so, a team of volunteers went up river in tiny flat-topped boats to trap the debris before it arrived on site. It worked. What followed was an action packed...

WORLD CUP STARS LASHED BY DANGEROUS ICY GOLF BALLS ! Many of our top World Cup Stars are now in Melbourne to compete in this unique 50th anniversary event and prepare for the World Cup challenges ahead in 2010. The 50th Moomba Masters competition was always going to create history – and that is exactly what happened today.  In glorious 25C sunny conditions we kicked off at 08.00hrs with a packed Saturday programme. This included  Womens and Mens Tricks, Series 2 and 1 Mens Jump, and Round 2 of Womens Slalom. So far, so good. WORLD CUP STAR CLEMENTINE LUCINE FIGHTS GRAVITY The Womens Round 1Tricks event included 13 athletes fighting for 8 places in Round 2. The mixture of very young rising stars and the best in the World, created its own special appeal. Ten year old Anna Gay USA, daughter...

JUNE FLADBORG, CHRIS PARRISH, WILL ASHER AND KAREN TRUELOVE SET THE PACE Today we were treated to a first glimpse of which Waterski athletes show real potential to dominate this season in both Slalom and Jump – and our World Cup Stars again played a major role in the results so far..  With several surprises and some outstanding performances, there were times when it felt like Finals day instead of just Round One here in Melbourne! Regina Jaquess USA in action today Channel 7 TV broadcast their Sunrise Show live from the Moomba HQ on the Yarra River bank and then the day began with Womens Slalom. Under overcast skies and warm air, the slight tail river current caught a few skiers by surprise.  With 22 athletes chasing 12 places in the next round, the pressure on the Series 2 skiers was...

ALL SET FOR THE 50th MOOMBA MASTERS ON MELBOURNE’S DOWNTOWN YARRA RIVER Jonathan Travers USA, Natalia Berdnikava BLR and Ryan Dodd CAN In making the final arrangements for the historical  50th Moomba Masters today, the team went home tonight with everything ready for an 08.00hrs start here on Friday morning. With the last Skiers and Riders arriving at the Airport from all over the world, the Junior Moomba completed and the Running Order sheets posted, the Open categories had an early night tonight before the battle for titles begins in earnest tomorrow. Sergio Font and Gustavo Monroy MEX and Javier Julio ARG There were some late announcements today. World Cup star Jaret Llewellyn CAN will not be with us to defend his Moomba Jump title due to a recurring arm injury. World Tricks Champion,...

STAR MONDAY – NATALIA BERDNIKAVA ON CAMERA TODAY World Record Holder in Shortboard / Tricks, Natalia Berdnikava, is the second in our regular World Cup interview series here in this Star Monday edition. This World Cup star was born in Novopolotsk in Belarus, the city which  also produced World Cup stars Aliaksei Zharnasek and Herman Beliakou. As with World Cup Wakeboard Champion Dallas Friday, Natalia also started her athletic career as a Gymnast. For the perfectionists out there, her family name is Berdnikava in Belarus and Berdnikova in Russia ! Natalia Berdnikava in Star Monday Video Natalia set the extraordinary World Record record of 9080 points just last season and spends much of her time these days training at the famous Jack Travers Sunset Lakes Ski School in Okahumpka in Central...

FIRST REPORT DIRECTLY FROM KYLE EADE IN NEW ZEALAND It seems just a few days since we received the shocking news from Murray Eade, Kyle’s father, of his accident while training for this week’s 50th Moomba Masters on the Jump Ramp. Since then, almost SIX THOUSAND fans have sent goodwill messages to Kiwi on the CaringBridge site and this just shows how much he is respected and admired around the World. KIWI SENDS FIRST REPORT We have tonight received a report actualy written by Kiwi himself – and as you read the details below, you will see that he is already well on the road to recovery, even if it may be a long road. All in our World Cup team wish Kyle continuing steady progress and we will all certainly be thinking of him at the 50th Moomba Masters in Melbourne next weekend. REPORT...

STAR MONDAY  – UP CLOSE WITH A DIFFERENT WORLD CUP STAR EVERY MONDAY O.K., so today is Tuesday, but from this week on we will bring you an exclusive interview with some of our greatest World Cup Stars here on our World Cup Home Page – EVERY Monday. This will be a unique opportunity to get some fascinating insights from the very best Athletes in the World in our sport. We selected Monday as this is the day when the greatest number of our World Cup fans check out our latest updates. The World Cup Stars selected include almost all those mega stars we see in the headlines. Some you may never have seen on camera before. All will bring you closer to their great talents and interests. To find out who they are, just bookmark our Home Page here and remember to visit us EVERY Star Monday...

WORLD CUP STARS PREPARE FOR 50th MOOMBA MASTERS AS INJURY HALTS WORLD RECORD HOLDER Melbourne, Australia is about to roll out the red carpet for the 50th Moomba Masters Waterski and Wakeboard  Championships – and what a celebration it promises to be. Launched in 1960 on the downtown Yarra River, this is always a spectacular event against the backdrop of the city Skyscrapers. The action will kick off on Wednesday March 3rd for the Juniors and the Big Guns will start their battle for the prestigious 50th medals on Friday, March 5th.  As ever, the Finals will be on the holiday Monday. We will have a full on-site report and photos for you right here on our Website. Our World Cup Stars will be in Melbourne in real strength this year, in one of the strongest fields seen for a long time. A total...