32 Athletes Win Titles At 46th Barefoot Water Ski National Championships
by Scott N. Atkinson
Thirty two athletes won titles at the 46th Barefoot Water Ski National Championships, Aug. 22-25, 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 four-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 tricks (10,790 points) and overall (2,935.99 points), Joseph Lovato (Tigard, Ore.) won slalom (16.20 points), and Mikey Caruso (Bloomington, Ind.) won jump (76 feet). In Open Men, Martin Cyr (Chisago City, Minn.) won tricks (2,750 points) and overall (2,699.65 points), Andrew Martin (Larkspur, Calif.) won slalom (14.20 points), and Doug Jordan (Renton, Wash.) won jump (39 feet). In Open Women, Megan Adams (Center City, Minn.) won tricks (3,100 points), jump (37 feet) and overall (2,878.57 points), and Faith Dix (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) won slalom (13.60 points).
In the Men divisions: In Men A, Trey Edwards (Rio Vista, Texas) won slalom (12.10 points) and overall (2,453.24 points), Todd Fipps (Greenback, Tenn.) won tricks (2,500 points), and Trey Morse (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) won jump (47 feet). In Men B, Kellen Birch (Rigby, Idaho) won slalom (8.70 points), jump (31 feet) and overall (2,784.62 points), and Ken Reynolds (Elkhorn, Wis.) won tricks (1,300 points). In Men C, Nicholas Schonhardt (Ostego, Minn.) won slalom (4.03 points) and overall (1,967.21 points), and Darrin Yoder (Dover, Ohio) won tricks (610 points). In Masters Men, Blake Ehlers (Austin, Texas) won slalom (12.70 points), tricks (1,750 points) jump (31 feet) and overall (3,000.0 points). In Senior Men, Joe Knapp (Rockford, Minn.) won tricks (1,100 points) and overall (2,717.26 points), Rod Sheppard (Beaumont, Texas) won jump (25 feet), and James Rollins (Austin, Texas) won slalom (10.90 points). In Veteran Men, Gene Burrish (Sioux Falls, S.D.) won slalom (7.60 points), tricks (780 points) and overall (2,000.0 points). In Super Veteran Men, Mike Brisco (Sequim, Wash.) won slalom (3.27 points), tricks (560 points) and overall (2,000.0 points).
In the Women divisions: In Women A, Betsy Gilman (Juno Beach, Fla.) won slalom (5.70 points), tricks (960 points), jump (24 feet) and overall (3,000.0 points). In Women B, Deanna Dean (Apollo Beach, Fla.) won slalom (3.23 points), tricks (380 points) and overall (2,000.0 points). In Masters Women, Vicki Klein (Redmond, Wash.) won slalom (0.40 points), tricks (700 points) and overall (2,000.0 points). In Super Veteran Women, Sharon Carlson (Conover, Wis.) won tricks (300 points). In Senior Women, Carol Jackson (Ocklawaha, Fla.) won slalom (4.10 points), tricks (750 points) and overall (2,000.0 points).
In the Junior divisions: In Boys A, Owen Schattschneider (Janesville, Wis.) swept titles in slalom (10.60 points), tricks (1,500 points), jump (37 feet) and overall (3,000.0 points). In Boys B, Logan Harrington (Davidson, N.C.) won slalom (7.10 points), tricks (1,430 points) and overall (2,000.0 points). In Girls A, Mackenzy Koehn (Woodbury, Minn.) won slalom (3.25 points), tricks (250 points) and overall (2,000.0 points). In Girls B, Brooke Gunderson (Winter Haven, Fla.) won slalom (4.50 points), tricks (980 points) and overall (2,000.0 points).
In International Men, New Zealand’s Ben Groen swept titles in slalom (17.60 points), tricks (4,450 points), jump (80 feet) and overall (3,000.0 points). In International Women, Australia’s Ashleigh Stebbeings swept titles in slalom (18.20 points), tricks (6,000 points), jump (62 feet) and overall (3,000.0 points).