Thirty Two Athletes Win Titles At 2023 Barefoot Nationals

Thirty two athletes won titles at the 45th Barefoot Water Ski National Championships, Aug. 25-27, at Water Ski Mania in Helena, Montana. More than 50 barefoot water ski athletes competed in respective divisions for titles in wake slalom, tricks, jump 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.) won slalom (18.70 points), tricks (7,910 points), jump (73 feet) and overall. In Open Men, Orval Cyr (Chisago City, Minn.) won slalom (14.80 points), jump (62 feet) and overall, and Jerry Kanawyer (Byron, Calif.) won tricks (2,700 points). In Open Women, Megan Adams (Center City, Minn.) won slalom (11.50 points), tricks (2,400 points), jump (35 feet) and overall.

In the Men divisions: In Men A, Brad Ripp (Pearl River, La.) won slalom (13.00 points), Eric Coryer (Alpharetta, Ga.) won tricks (2,680 points) and overall, and David Wheeler (Lees Summit, Mo.) won jump (41 feet). In Men B, Lance Smith (Indianapolis, Ind.) won tricks (1,410 points), Ken Reynolds (Elkhorn, Wis.) won slalom (9.90 points), John Garrity (Byram Township, N.J.) won jump (33 feet), and Mike Schoenke (Salem, Wis.) won overall. In Men C, Kevin Rauscher (Cottage Grove, Wis.) won slalom (8.20 points) and overall, and Paul Klutz (Fall City, Wash.) won tricks (750 points). In Masters Men, Mike Molepske (Manitowoc, Wis.) won tricks (1,400 points), Ted Klein (Redmond, Wash.) won slalom (9.50 points), and Lee Stone (Spicewood, Texas) won jump (24 feet) and overall. In Senior Men, Glenn Kinnear (Groton, Mass.) won tricks (1,110 points), and James Rollins (Austin, Texas) won slalom (11.00 points) and overall. In Veteran Men, John Cornish (Lexington, S.C.) won slalom (10.00 points), tricks (980 points) and overall. In Super Veteran Men, Mike Brisco (Sequim, Wash.) won slalom (3.43 points), tricks (610 points) and overall.

In the Women divisions: In Women A, Betsy Gilman (Juno Beach, Fla.) won slalom (8.40 points), tricks (960 points), jump (21 feet) and overall. In Women B, Deanna Dean (Apollo Beach, Fla.) won slalom (3.20 points), tricks (460 points) and overall. In Masters Women, Vicki Klein (Redmond, Wash.) won slalom (0.13 points), tricks (650 points) and overall. In Super Veteran Women, Sharon Carlson (Conover, Wis.) won slalom (1.90 points), tricks (400 points) and overall. In Senior Women, Carol Jackson (Ocklawaha, Fla.) won slalom (1.30 points), tricks (1,150 points) and overall.

In the Junior divisions: In Boys A, Martin Cyr (Chisago City, Minn.) won slalom (10.20 points), jump (36 feet) and overall, and James Bruns (Sioux Falls, S.D.) won tricks (1,510 points). In Boys B, Logan Harrington (Davidson, N.C.) won slalom (3.83 points), tricks (640 points) and overall. In Girls A, Amara Bruns (Sioux Falls, S.D.) won slalom (9.10 points), jump (31 feet) and overall. In Girls B, Mackenzy Koehn (Woodbury, Minn.) won slalom (1.63 points), tricks (150 points) and overall.

In International Men, New Zealand’s William Leigh swept titles in slalom (15.80 points), tricks (5,600 points), jump (62 feet) and overall. In International Women, Australia’s Kelly Blank swept titles in slalom (13.40 points), tricks (2,100 points), jump (32 feet) and overall.

Complete Results.