Some great early season performances were evidenced this weekend at Ski Paradise just outside Mulberry, Florida. You always see some of the best officials in the country at this tournament--- many of which use the tournament as a warm-up for the US Masters. In fact, the Chief Judge, Donna Switzer, will be serving as CJ of the 2001 Masters. Some of the officials on hand were: Glenn Ramey, Larry Downes, Jean Downes, Dave Clark, Mary Gail Holcombe, Charlotte Melchers, Sherm Schraft, Jeff Clark, and Ruth Johnston (recently selected to serve as CJ of the 2001 World Championships). Eric Steiner, Lisa Steiner, Jim Grew, Cyndi Benzel, Jody Seal, Michelle Seal, Eddie Roberts, John Turner, Steve McDermeit, Bill Wenner, Joel Martin, Jane Turner, Larry Pelton, Linda Stata--- and others that I am sure I missed but should have mentioned. In addition to great officials, this annual event attracts some of the best trick and slalom skiers in the world. This year was no exception. Cory Pickos arrived on site with about a dozen young athletes in tow. After driving down from his ski school in Destin, Florida (about 7 1/2 hours) the Master was ready to make a statement. He unleashed a bevy of current and future international superstars, all having trained under his watchful eye. One of those proteges was 9 year old Adam Cory Pickos. Adam had his eye set on the US National Boys 1 trick record and came out with a flurry of one ski tricks--- all executed at about the same speed as his famous father. Although falling a bit shy of the record, he was able to establish a score of over 3,000pts in his first tournament of the year. Cory established the current World Record last year at this same tournament. He was on track for the early part of the season last year, winning the Masters and US Open titles, among other things. However, early in the summer he suffered a devastating knee injury after catching an edge during a practice toe pass. The injury kept him off the water for almost 8 months. He worked at rehabilitating the knee all winter and just in the past several weeks has been able to return to the water. Rumors were rampant that he would retire from competition due to the injury. I think he silenced the rumor mill with his performance on Sunday. Cory was the first Open Men skier to take to the water (somewhat unusual position for him to be at the top of the running order). He set a blistering pace for the rest of the field--- with a score of 11,060 the rest would have to play catch up. Cory proved he was back--- but one of his strongest rivals for the past several decades was on the platform and ready to prove his own point. Patrice Martin was on the road to recovery most of last year after a serious ankle injury. Would he be able to return to the same level of skiing? He settled that question a couple of week's ago at the McCormick International Cup, where among other things, he tricked 11,800pts, ran into 39 off, and jumped almost 200'---- on his first double cut of the year. This past weekend, he came out smoking again, running 1 @ 41' off and tricking an amazing 11,790 pts. All Patrice needed was a jump score, and the World Overall Record would be his again! If anyone deserves the title of most incredible skier of all time it would be Patrice. Eleven time World Overall Champion---- and he is not done counting. Look for him in Barcelona this September. Russell Gay put together and impressive run, although coming up a bit short to Cory and Patrice. Just missing the 11,000 mark, Russell finished with a respectable 10,940 pts. Put Nicholas LeForestier, Jimmy Siemers, and Jaret Llewellyn into the above group and watch the fireworks at the US Open in Shreveport in just a couple of weeks. Oh yeah, and add Michael McCormick to the mix. He was standing on the sidelines this weekend, still recovering from emergency appendix surgery a couple of weeks ago. The Open Women field was led by Regina Jaquess with a score of 6,830 pts. After missing the last two tricks in her toe pass (TWLB, TWLBB) she came up short of a personal best, but still a good score for early in the tournament season. Regina also tied her personal best in slalom with a score of 4 @ 38' off, which ties her own US National Girls 3 record. France's Brigette Lethem impressed the crowd with a super run of 6,640 pts. Jane Gay, in her first tournament after having daughter Anna, proved that she is going to again be a force in the OW division. Jane's score was just shy of the 6,000pt. mark. But she is in great physical shape and a few more weeks on the water while Russell babysits may spell trouble for the rest of the women. Some other notable scores from the weekend: Andy Mapple 2 @ 41' off Richard Ableson 8,940 Daniel Capelli "Fix" 8,480 Personal Best Mariaca Linares 5,930 Personal Best Carlos LaMadrid 5,770 Personal Best There were some pretty famous names from the water ski world in the junior divisions. The last names on the running order for the junior divisions looked like a who's who list from the Hall of Fame: Joy Todd Tarah Benzel Michael Mapple Adam Pickos Mats Roberge Logan Roberge J.D. McClintock The Florida Water Ski Federation junior development program is well underway!! report by Jim Jaquess ©1999-2001 Design Suite