Joe Knapp back barefoot slalom

Joe Knapp swept the slalom, tricks, jumping and overall titles in Senior Men. Photography by Brian Heeney.

Thirty-three athletes won titles at the 43rd Barefoot Water Ski National Championships, Aug. 5-7, at Stevenson’s Ski Ranch in Conroe, Texas. More than 50 barefoot water ski athletes competed in respective divisions for titles in wake slalom, tricks, jumping and overall during the three-day event.

The wake slalom event consisted of athletes crossing the boat wake as many times as possible in two 15-second passes (one pass in the forward position and one pass in the backward position). Tricks competitors performed as many tricks as possible in two 15-second passes. Jumpers, who were each allowed three attempts, went for distance while leaping off an 18-inch ramp.

In Open Pro Men, Broderick Meskers (Chetek, Wis.) swept the slalom (17.60 points), tricks (8,350 points), jumping (76 feet) and overall titles.

In Open Men, Zenon Bilas (West Palm Beach, Fla.) won slalom (15.20 points), Carter Boerman (Oswego, Ill.) won tricks (4,500 points), and Landen Ehlers (Austin, Texas) won jumping (52 feet) and overall.

In Open Women, Lauren Ehlers (Austin, Texas) won slalom (8.50 points), tricks (2,500) and overall, and Megan Adams (Center City, Minn.) won jumping (36 feet).

In the Men divisions: In Men A, Andrew Martin (San Francisco, Calif.) won tricks (2,450 points), Scott Jones (Orlando, Fla.) won slalom (13.50 points) and Eric Friedle (O’Fallon, Mo.) won jumping (34 feet) and overall. In Men B, Trey Edwards (Rio Vista, Texas) won slalom (10.00 points), and Austin Kolodejcak (Spring, Texas) won tricks (1,640 points) and jumping (41 feet), and David Wheeler (Lees Summit, Mo.) won overall. In Men C, Will Stevenson (Conroe, Texas) won tricks (350 points), and Philip Weikel (La Grange, Texas) won slalom (3.45 points) and overall. In Master Men, Mike Molepske (Manitowoc, Wis.) won tricks (1,110 points), Lee Stone (Spicewood, Texas) won jumping (25 feet) and overall, and Ted Klein (Redmond, Wash.) won slalom (6.10 points). In Senior Men, Joe Knapp (Rockford, Minn.) swept titles in slalom (12.40 points), tricks (1,280 points), jumping (23 feet) and overall. In Veteran Men, Mike Brisco (Sequim, Wash.) won slalom (1.30 points), tricks (410 points) and overall. In Super Veteran Men, Al Hager (Stuart, Fla.) won slalom (3.00 points), tricks (270 points) and overall.

In the Women divisions: In Women A, Elizabeth Davison (Eaton, Ohio) won tricks (970 points), and Betsy Gilman (Juno Beach, Ga.) won slalom (8.40 points), jumping (23 feet) and overall. In Women B, Vicki Klein (Redmond, Wash.) won tricks (700 points), and Deanna Dean (Apollo Beach, Fla.) won slalom (3.23 points) and overall. In Master Women, Carol Jackson (Ocklawaha, Fla.) won slalom (2.30 points), tricks (1,300 points) and overall. In Super Veteran Women, Sharon Carlson (Conover, Wis.) won slalom (2.20 points), tricks (270 points) and overall.

In Junior divisions: In Boys A, Martin Cyr (Chisago City, Minn.) won jumping (33 feet) and overall, Cameron Patton (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) won tricks (2,800 points), and Carter Boerman (Oswego, Ill.) won slalom (12.30 points). In Boys B, Van Jantzen (Tega Cay, S.C.) won slalom (4.40 points), tricks (1,500 points) and overall. In Girls B, Amara Bruns (Sioux Falls, S.D.) won slalom (3.70 points), tricks (1,350 points) and overall.

In International Men, New Zealand’s Ben Groen swept titles in slalom (18.50 points), tricks (10,580 points), jumping (83 feet) and overall. In International Women, Australia’s Ashleigh Stebbeings swept titles in slalom (18.20 points), tricks (8,150 points), jumping (66 feet) and overall.

Complete Results.

33 Athletes Win Titles At Barefoot Nationals

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