Patrice Martin, France, has been invited to the US Masters Water Ski Tournament since 1978.

He won numerous tricks and overall US Masters titles.

He declared

"For many years, I was waiting anxiously for the invitation to the Masters. And then I was thrilled to be part of a great moment of water skiing history. I remember those time with Mr Northrop, and we felt being part of a family, the Masters family. Today, and I don’t feel at home, like it used to be…"

The Masters tried to be ahead of its time, and changed the format, most of the time, in a good spirit to evolve. In recent years, it has dramatically changed, including Ski flying, and dropping Overall Tournament, that was the most important and prestigious title to be won at Callaway.

Patrice Martin announces today that he declines the invitation for the US Masters, for the following reasons:

• Rejecting Overall is killing the spirit of Water skiing.
• Soon tricks and slalom will follow the fate of Overall at the US Masters.
• To be part of an event looking more of a ski show, each skier should be rewarded equally regarding its final placements and regardless of the event.
• He supports the action of the group slalom skiers that first declined the invitation.

At age 37, Patrice Martin, broke last week end at the Sunset Cup, Okahumpka, Fl, the Overall World Record, and holds currently the 2 world best performances of the year in tricks with 11850 and 11790 points.