SHORTBOARD PRELIMS

The 36 athletes from 12 countries on site today for this leg of the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup series enjoyed an exciting start from the moment they arrived at the Dubna City Volga River site.

With Practice successfully completed, the Shortboard Preliminary Round kicked off with 9 Women and 12 Men. They began the battle today for 4 Women’s and 6 Men’s Finals places. Tatiana Churakova (RUS) was first on the water. With a Personal Best 7020 points, she probably felt that a place in the Finals was an unlikely outcome. All of the others had higher PB’s. As the wind strength increased, her actual score of 6460 points did not raise her hopes – in her mind ! In fact, only three others could outscore her today. That was enough to earn her a Finals place. The Russian audience approved and showed it.  The other sensation was the performance of the youngest contestant of all – Marion Aynaud (FRA). This was her first World Cup appearance and she had to contend with the World Champion and World Record holder plus many other very experienced World Cup athletes. In fact, her score of 7110 points was only 90 points short of her own Personal Best – was the highest score of the day – and was also 590 points ahead of World Record holder Mandy Nightingale (USA). Tomorrow’s Finals will be fascinating.

The Mens Shortboard Preliminary Round was also a thriller. The Junior World Shortboard Champion, Herman Beliakou (BLR), was first off the dock. This was his very first major Open international competition fighting against the big guns. His score of 8710 points was an excellent start. Jimmy Siemers (USA) was sixth off the dock and first to break 9,000 points with a score of 9730. Now the warm wind was now gusting up to 15mph / 25kmph. The remaining six athletes all had to break this to capture his Finals place. In fact, four of the remaining Shortboarders broke the 10,000 mark and Ryan Green(AUS) and Olivier Fortamps also exceeded 9,900. The score of the day was not that of the World Record Holder, Nicolas LeForestier (FRA) 10,500. That honour went to the popular Oleg Deviatovski (BLR).

JUMP PRELIMS

By 16.00 hrs, the gusty wind was becoming a real concern to all. While the Jumpers love a good headwind, this one today was now in the dangerous category. Bob Corson (IWSF /World Cup) called the Jumpers together to consider the situation. The conclusion was to transfer the Jump Prelims to tomorrow morning. All will be ready to go at 08.30. The forecast is for the wind to drop to 8 mph / 12Kmph but rain is also on the chart ! Wet or dry, tomorrow will be another great day at the World Cup Stop in Dubna.