Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup » WORLD CUP STOP Doha Qatar 2008

WORLD CUP STAR KARINA GETS IWSF APPROVAL

des — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:32:30 +0000

CONGRATULATIONS TO KARINA NOWLAN

The IWSF Tournament Council has approved World Cup star Karina Nowlan’s performance at Diablo Shores USA as an official tie of the Ladies World Slalom Record

Karina with the World Cup stars in Dubna Russia

Karina Nowlan AUS showed at Junior level that she had all the stuff of champions. Her World Cup performances have shown clearly that she is one to watch very closely in the years ahead. Here you can see her enjoying the Finalists MasterCraft spectator boat pass opportunity at the World Cup Stop in Dubna Russia last July – with the most talented Ladies World Cup Slalom stars of the 2008 season. Karina’s score this Summer of 1 buoy on the very short 10.25m line tied with that of Kristi Overton‘s World Record which was set at Okeeheelee Park in Florida way back in 1996. For any World Record to last twelve years tells a lot about both the original achievement and the latest achievement. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH KRISTI AND KARINA.

USA, FRANCE AND NEW ZEALAND DOMINATE LAST 2008 WATERSKI AND WAKEBOARD WORLD CUP STOP IN DOHA QATAR

des — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:37:35 +0000

MAJOR SURPRISES AT LAST WORLD CUP STOP OF 2008 IN DOHA The venue for this last Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup Stop of the 2008 season was a man-made saltwater canal at the exclusive Doha Diplomatic Club in Qatar. Clear blue skies and a comfortable 29C air temperature made it perfect for this final World Cup Stop of the season. Doha Qatar in the Arabian Gulf has a skyline which says it all. Breathtaking skyscrapers seem to appear over night – and each tries to outdo the other for grandeur. The nearby Aspire Dome houses 30 sports arenas and is the largest of its kind in the world.

Claire Lise Welter FRA sensation

The hectic World Cup global tour of 2008 included Dubna Russia, Hacienda Bay Egypt, Marina Bay Singapore, Putrajaya Malaysia and finally the Diplomatic Club in Doha Qatar. Included at this Stop, the 26th in the series, were Slalom, Tricks and Wakeboard for both men and women. As most of the World Cup overall season places depended on the Doha outcome, this added an extra fascination to the results. The event was sponsored by Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), The Diplomatic Club, MasterCraft and the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF)

Aaron Larkin NZL beats the best in Doha

In Ladies Slalom, four places were available in the Final. Two of the four were taken by French athletes – Clementine Lucine and Claire Lise Welter. However the best Semi-Final scores came from Danyelle Bennett USA and Ageliki Andriopoulou GRE. Lucine took the previous title in Malaysia last week and so was the hot favorite here in Doha. Although Lucine and Andriopoulou performed very well in the Doha Finals, it was the young rising star Claire Lise Welter who took the Slalom title in a slight tail breeze with a score of I Buoy on the 11.25m line. This was the first World Cup title for Claire Lise Welter.

Raimi Merritt USA is just 15 years old !

With six Finalists, the Mens Slalom event was also a thriller. The World Record holder, Chris Parrish USA, had already taken first place last weekend in Putrajaya Malaysia. However, the season leader and two time World Cup season winner, Jodi Fisher GBR, had experience on his side, setting the stage for a great battle. The Final was full of upsets. World Slalom Champion Thomas Degasperi ITA set the pace with a great score of five Buoys on the 11.25m line in a tricky breeze. The star of the Semi-Finals, 20-year-old Jonathon Travers US, was not so fortunate in the Finals with a score of 1.5 buoys on the 12m line. The World Record holder Chris Parrish added two Buoys to Degasperi’s score to try to repeat his earlier Putrajaya Malaysia success. However, it was the giant Kiwi, Aaron Larkin NZL, who took the honors with just one Buoy better than Parrish. That winning score was two Buoys on the very short 10.75m line. Aaron Larkin has had an outstanding year and now adds his first World Cup Slalom title to his impressive victories list.

What a lineup - Larkin + Parrish + Degasperi

In Shortboard / Tricks, both the Men and Ladies events were wide open. New young rising stars – 19 year old Marion Aynaud FRA and 20 year old Herman Beliakou BLR – were serious contenders. Also, the World Record holder, Nicolas LeForestier FRA has now recovered from a serious July injury and is back on stage. This set up a great event for the Doha spectators in glorious Gulf sunshine.

Dream comes true for Jimmy Siemers USA

In the Ladies Tricks Finals, past World Record holder Mandy Nightingale USA was first on the water. She set a cracking pace with 6870 points. The new World Record holder, Clementine Lucine FRA, fell just a little short with 6490 points. Only Ageliki Andriopoulou could rock the boat at that stage but she too fell short with 6670 points. An elated past World Record holder, Mandy Nightingale USA, succeeded in holding her lead right from the start and took the Doha title in style. This was one of her greatest triumphs of 2008.

Phillip Soven USA still unbeatable

In the Mens Shortboard / Tricks event, a dream came true for Jimmy Siemers USA today. It took a score of over 10,200 points to qualify for these Finals ! In a major upset, he beat the best in the World last week at the World Cup Stop in Putrajaya Malaysia. In Doha, neither the World Record holder Nicolas LeForestier FRA or the great talent of Aliaksei Zharnasek BLR could match the American’s score of 11,190 points. Two major World Cup victories back to back at the end of the season is the perfect conclusion to the 2008 World Cup campaign of the reigning US Masters Tricks Champion, Jimmy Siemers.

Claire takes her first World Cup Title

In Wakeboard, all the World Cup stars were there. Shelby Kantar USA, Raimi Merritt USA, Andrew Adkison USA and young Nick Davies GBR, have all had an outstanding World Cup season. However, two superstars were also in Doha to do what all expected ! Four time X-Games Champion Dallas Friday USA in ProWomen and World and X-Games Champion Phillip Soven USA in ProMen, are almost unbeatable at present. As in Shortboard / Tricks, the new rising World Cup stars got closer and closer over the season. The 15 year old USA sensation, Raimi Merritt, following her 3rd place in the Singapore World Cup Stop, stunned all in Doha by beating the Wakeboard legend, Dallas Friday USA on this occasion to take the Doha World Cup title. Phillip Soven, on the other hand, was in a league of his own yet again. Dean Smith AUS, Andrew Adkison USA and Trevor Hansen USA got a little closer – but still could not catch him. Soven took the Doha World Cup Wakeboard title as expected in impressive style. The Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup overall season winners will be announced shortly. Details will be available at www.waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com Here are the results of the Doha Qatar Stop of the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup series : SLALOM LADIES 1.Claire Lise Welter FRA 2.Clementine Lucine FRA 3.Ageliki Andriopoulou MEN 1.Aaron Larkin NZL 2.Chris Parrish USA 3.Thomas Degasperi ITA TRICKS LADIES 1.Mandy Nightingale USA 2.Ageliki Andriopoulou GRE 3.Clementine Lucine FRA MEN 1.Jimmy Siemers USA 2.Oleg Deviatovski BLR 3.Nicolas LeForestier FRA WAKEBOARD ProWomen 1.Raimi Merritt USA 2.Dallas Friday USA 3.Shelby Kantar USA ProMen 1.Phillip Soven USA 2.Dean Smith AUS 3.Andrew Adkison USA

DOHA WORLD CUP WAKEBOARD RESULTS

des — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:31:11 +0000

Pro Men – World Cup 2008 Prelims Heat 1 (top 2 advance to semi-finals) 1 Harley Clifford AUS 13 70.77 2 Jeff Weatherall NZL 4 62.99 3 Chad Sharpe CAN 5 58.01 4 Michael Timmers NED 12 49.47 Heat 2 (top 2 advance to semi-finals) 1 Andrew Adkison USA 3 58.22 2 Dan Nott GBR 6 47.34 3 Giulliano Molli ITA 11 43.58 4 Quentin Deleafortrie BEL 14 16.89 Heat 3 (top 2 advance to semi-finals) 1 Dean Smith AUS 7 60.67 2 Nick Davies GBR 2 48.56 3 Marc Rossiter GBR 15 45.13 4 Jarrod Askew AUS 10 42.99 Heat 4 (top 2 advance to semi-finals) 1 Phillip Soven USA 1 65.00 2 Trevor Hansen USA 8 49.11 3 Shaun Faccio RSA 9 35.46 4 Khalid Abdulla al-Shuaibi QAT 17 NS 5 Khalifu Musnad al-Msnad QAT 16 NS

Phillip Soven USA at Doha World Cup Stop 2008

SEMI-FINALS DAY AT DOHA QATAR WORLD CUP STOP

des — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:36:25 +0000

The Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup series is now celebrating its 26th Stop. The Doha Stop was one of the very first when this World Cup Series began. This time, it is the last Stop of the 2008 season. Finishing in perfect weather with just a slight tail breeze in the Slalom / Shortboard / Wakeboard courses has added a little extra challenge to all the Skiers and Riders. This made today, Semi-Finals day, a really fascinating one with all kinds of surprises from 09.00hrs this morning. It is now 3.45pm on Friday as we begin this report. Here is an update after Shortboard / Tricks. Watch out for the Wakeboard details later as they will continue till sunset tonight. In Ladies Tricks, the star of the show today was Maria Camila Linares. She scored a new Personal Best of 8060 points. Ageliki Andriopoulou GRE and Clementine Lucine FRA were also in a league of their own. Ageliki scored 7730 points in a great stand-up performance on both passes and pending World Record holder Clementine was close behind with 7670 points. Mandy Nightingale USA, our past World Record holder, came in with 6870.They will progress to the Finals. 1. Maria Camila Linares 8060 2. Ageliki Andriopoulou 7730 3. Clementine Lucine 7670 4. Mandy Nightingale 6870

Doha spectators turn out to support the World Cup

In Mens Shortboard / Tricks, the World Cup performances were truly outstanding. The crystal clear emerald green waters of this Gulf Canal at the Diplomatic Club in Doha brought the best out in almost all. It took a score of over 10,200 to win a place in the Finals ! Top of the pile was Aliaksei Zharnasek BLR with 11,390 points. He came fourth in Putrajaya last week and responded here in Doha with a vengeance. Nicolas LeForestier FRA has beaten all the odds in his extraordinary recovery from his serious arm injury of last July. His 11,120 score told all that he is back in fighting form. In Putrajaya he scored 10, 570 to take second place in that World Cup Stop. The others to make it to tomorrow’s Finals are : Jimmy Siemers USA, Oleg Deviatovski BLR, Jaret Llewellyn CAN and Javier Julio ARG. 1. Aliaksei Zharnasek 11,390 2. Nicolas LeForestier 11,120 3. Jimmy Siemers 10,710 4. Oleg Deviatovski 10,670 5. Jaret llewellyn 10,360 6. Javier Julio 10,240

Chris Parrish USA takes Putrajaya title to Doha

In Slalom, the performances were equally interesting. There were eleven contenders for the six Finals places. Chris Parrish USA took the Putrajaya World Cup Slalom title last weekend in Malaysia with a score of 2 buoys on the 10.75m / 39 off line . Today, he joined a four way tie to win a Finals place with Jonathan Travers USA, Aaron Larkin NZL, and Jodi Fisher GBR. All scored 2 buoys on the 11.25m 38 off line. The one who impressed all the enthusiastic Doha spectators was 20 year old Jonathan Travers USA. At this time there was a tricky tail wind. Jonathan kicked off on the 14m 28 off line – and then skipped the 13m line to return on the 12m line and finish with 2 on the 11.25m line. That strategy was repeated later by Degasperi, Fisher and Parrish and all are in the Finals. Congratulations Jonathon. Having the World Recodr breaker Chris Parrish on the dock tomorrow certainly adds to the glamour of the Finals. Tomorrow will be a cracker her in Doha ! 1. Chris Parrish 2 x 11 2. Jodi Fisher 2x 11 3. Aaron Larkin 2 x 11 4. Jonathan Travers 1 x 12 5. Thomas Degasperi 1 x 11 6. Glen Campbell 1 x 11

MasterCraft X2 arrives for this evening's Wakeboard Round

The Ladies Slalom Semi-Finals were also a thriller. As in Tricks / Shortboard, Ageliki Andriopoulou GRE put in another great performance. Her 2 buoys on the 12m 28 off line set the pace. It was very, very close at the top with just four places available in the finals – and the scores were about as tight as possible. Danyelle Bennett USA equalled the lead score, Claire Lise Welter FRA was just a half buoy lower and Clementine Lucine FRA squeeked in a quarter bouy less at 1.25 on the 12m 35 off line. This is a great Finals line-up for Saturday. 1. Danyelle Bennett 2 x 12 2. Ageliki Andriopoulou 2x 12 3. Claire Lise Welter 1.5 x 12 4. Clementine Lucine 1.25 x 12 It is now 16.25 hrs and there are about 60 minutes of daylight left as the Riders battle it out for places. Jeff Weatherall NZL, Phillip Soven USA, Dallas Friday USA, and all the great World Cup stars are chasing those Finals slots right now. More later.

Doha World Cup welcomes Jeff Weatherall NZL

WATERSKI AND WAKEBOARD WORLD CUP SERIES HEADS TO DOHA QATAR FOR FINAL STOP OF 2008 SEASON

des — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:09:02 +0000

Following the highly successful World Cup Stop in Putrajaya, Malaysia, last weekend, the worlds top professional Waterski and Wakeboard athletes are now heading for Doha on the sun-drenched coast of Qatar. The final Stop of the 2008 World Cup season will take place this Friday and Saturday, November 14th and 15th, at the famous Diplomatic Club against the dramatic backdrop of palm trees, gleaming Skyscrapers, Hotels and the paved Corniche which circles the bay on the Gulf. It will be the 26th Stop of this global series of the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF).

Diplomatic Club Doha

Doha hosted the Asian Games in 2006 in the very impressive Aspire Dome complex which is close to the World Cup competition site. It houses over 30 arenas for a wide variety of sports with some of the most modern sporting facilities seen anywhere in the world today. Doha has also hosted the IWSF World Wakeboard Championships in 2007 and has been involved in the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup series since 2004. The sponsors of this final World Cup Stop of 2008 will include Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), the Diplomatic Club, MasterCraft, who will supply all the competition boats and support services, and the IWSF.

Dallas Friday, Paul Fong and Phillip Soven

Entry to the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup series is restricted to the highest ranked athletes in the world. Considering the estimated total number of active participants in the sport of 30 million, those who qualify are certainly the best of the best today. This Doha Stop will include Wakeboard, Slalom and Shortboard / Tricks. Being the last World Cup Stop of the year means that the season champions will also be declared at the completion of this Doha Stop. The last of the Waterki Jump Stops took place three days ago in Putrajaya Malaysia. The special 2008 World Cup Crystal Awards for the season victories will be presented this Saturday in Doha.

Jimmy Siemers returns to Qatar

At this last stage of the World Cup’s 2008 global journey, a select group of Riders have dominated all year in Wakeboard. In the Pro Ladies division, Dallas Friday USA, Raimi Merritt (USA) and Shelby Kantar (USA), will all push hard to take the season titles. In the Pro Men’s division, Philip Soven (USA), Nick Davies (GBR) and Andrew Adkison (USA) have also all taken podium places. It was Raimi Merritt and Nick Davies who dominated at the Stop at the Palm Hills Development in Hacienda Bay, Egypt. Philip Soven and Dallas Friday dominated in Marina Bay at the world’s largest floating platform in Singapore.

Jimmy Siemers returns to Qatar

For the Waterskiers, the top Slalom scorers in Dubna in Russia and Putrajaya in Malaysia, were Clementine Lucine (FRA), Sarah Green (GBR), Jodi Fisher (GBR) and Chris Parrish (USA). Several others will not compete in Doha due to injury, etc., narrowing the season title contenders and this will further increase the level of competition. In Shortboard / Tricks, Marion Aynaud (FRA), Clementine Lucine (FRA), Jimmy Siemers (USA) and Jaret Llewellyn (CAN) will all be very strong contenders for the season title. All are capable of wining on the day. Great interest will also be focused on Nicolas LeForestier (FRA). As the World Record holder, his spectacular recover from a serious arm injury last July and his return to form in Putrajaya, tells all that he is back in contention once again. As in World Cup Stops this season in Russia, Egypt, Singapore and Malaysia, it will be no surprise if some of the very young rising stars upset the final predictions for Doha in Qatar. All divisions have seen enormous talent with those as young as 16 earning World Cup qualification to date. This very healthy development gives great confidence for the future of the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup series for 2009 and beyond. The reports and details of this 26th World Cup Stop in Doha, Qatar, can be accessed at www.waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com