Following the spectacular televised Opening Ceremony on the enormous floodlit floating stage at Beijing’s Foban Emin Water Ski Club last night, thunder and lightening created some worries for all involved. By morning this proved to be a false alarm as we were greeted by perfect water, blue skies, fresh air and a nice warm southerly breeze.
Ladies Shortboard came first - with only four places available for the 10 high ranking contestants. Sadly, disappointments came for China’s Song Yufei, Marion Mathieu from France and Ageliki Andriopoulou from Greece. Their normal performances were not achieved. However, World U21 champion, Danyelle Bennett (USA) and Maria Camila Linares (COL) stuck with the big guns and made it through to Sunday’s Finals. World Record holder, Mandy Nightingale (USA) clocked up 7500 points and only Clementine Lucine (FRA) could inprove on this. Since the start of the World Cup series, the Ladies standard has shown significant improvements.
1. Clementine Lucine (FRA) 7540
2. Mandy Nightingale (USA) 7500
3. Maria Camila Linares (COL) 7150
4. Danyelle Bennett (USA) 7050
Mens Shortboard was even more brutal with only 6 Finals places available for the 14 contenders. There were some real surprises. Joel Wing (AUS), who we have not seen very much in the past year, made it through. Both Jimmy Siemers (USA) and Richard Abelson (CAN) were both just unlucky today following their first and second places at our recent World Cup Stop in Qatar. Both athletes from Belarus earned their places in the Finals.
1. Nicolas LeForestier (FRA) 11860
2. Aliaksei Zharnasek (BLR) 10670
3. Oleg Deviatovski (BLR) 10290
4. Joel Wing (AUS) 10,250
5. Jaret Llewellyn (CAN) 10110
6. Javier Julio (ARG) 9820
It was Wakeboard all the way this afternoon with Pro Women first.There were two Heats, 10 Riders and 4 Finals places available.This morning,we saw Joel Wing (AUS) surprise many with his Shortboard performance - and now his young sister Amber delighted their mother who is on site with a score of 52.23 to also take a coveted Finals place.There were no surprises with the other place as the best of the best showed us why they are super stars !
1. Dallas Friday (USA) 64.24
2. Emily Copeland Durham (USA) 61.00
3. Maeghan Major (USA) 52.55
4. Amber Wing (AUS) 52.23
At this point, thanks to the superb organisation of the Foban Emin Club and the Chinese Water Ski Association, we were running 20 minutes ahead of schedule. There were four Pro Men Heats, 16 contestants and just 8 Finals places. Again, all the favourites made it through. The only surprises to miss out were Keith Lidberg (USA) and Clayton Krause (RSA) who both got very close.
1. Phillip Soven (USA) 80.34
2. Rusty Malinosky (CAN) 75.67
3. Danny Harf (USA) 74.68
4. Chad Sharpe (CAN) 69.45
5. Dan Knott (GBR) 69.00
6. Jeff Weatherall (NZL) 68.12
7. Brett Eisenhaur (AUS) 67.79
8. Morgan Krause (RSA) 64.01
The Finals kick off at 13.00hrs tomorrow, Sunday.