Fifty top ranked athletes from seventeen countries qualified for this
World Cup Stop at the spectacular Foban-Emin Water Ski Club located just forty
minutes north of the Olympic City of Beijing in China. Constructed just four
years ago, the first class facilities delivered one of the highest standards yet
both on and off the water.
Within view of the Great Wall of China, the Preliminary
Rounds produced a few surprises. In Ladies Shortboard, 10 contestants fought for
4 Finals places. Ageliki Andriopoulou (GRE), positioned 6 in the IWSF Rankings,
failed to meet the 7050 points level required following an early fall on her
first pass. In Mens Shortboard, two of the 14 contestants, Jimmy Siemers (USA)
and Richard Abelson (CAN) also came up short. Both took podium places at the
earlier Qatar World Cup Stop and did not make it into the final six here in
Beijing.
In Wakeboard, almost all of the super stars made it through
although the 2005 World Cup winner Louise Moore (GBR) was one of the
exceptions.
Following a violent thunder and lightening storm on Saturday night,
blue skies and glorious sunshine awaited the enthusiastic audience and athletes
for the Sunday Finals. The Ladies Shortboard Final opened up the day. The two
youngest athletes, Danyelle Bennett (USA) and Maria Camila Linares (COL), put in
outstanding performances. Next came the World Record holder Mandy Nightingale
(USA) and as expected, her performance of 7240 points was flawless. Only
Clementine Lucine (FRA), the recent Masters winner in the USA and also the World
Cup Qatar winner, could prevent Nightingale from winning. Instead of playing
safe, Lucine went for broke and paid the price. An early fall gave the title to
Nightingale and also provided a place on the podium for both of the two youngest
athletes.
Mens Shortboard was less dramatic but equally exciting.
Javier Julio (ARG) who took second place at the World Cup Stop last year in
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, started the event with a great score of 9,990
points. By the time we got to the last two athletes, nobody had beaten this
performance. Second last was the talented Aliaksei Zharnosek (BLR). His
performance of 10,280 looked enough to take the title. Only Nicolas LeForestier
(FRA) remained. He had an untypical disaster at the earlier Qatar Stop and just
two weeks ago, broke his ski. Using last year’s equipment and with all the
pressure involved, he returned to his old winning ways with a dominant score of
11,380 to take the title.
The five Pro Women in the Wakeboard Finals included all the super
stars. Only Amber Wing (AUS) was unlucky. Hot favourite and the current series
leader, Maeghan Major (USA), won last weekend’s World Cup Stop in France and
came third in Qatar. Her score of 59.12 however looked low for this title
challenge. Next came the Gravity Games and X-Games Champion, Dallas Friday
(USA). In spite of an injured finger, she looked unbeatable all weekend. Her
score of 75.79 left a huge challenge for the last Rider, Emily Copeland Durham
(USA). This two time World Champion who took second place at the earlier Qatar
World Cup Stop gave it her all but her score of 63.24 could only capture the
silver medal position in Beijing.
The final stage of the Beijing World Cup Stop was the Pro Men
Head-to-Head challenge. Most favoured to win was Phillip Soven (USA) – having
already taken both the overall 2005 World Cup title and last weekend’s
Enghiens-les-Bains title in Paris. That was not to be. Canada’s Rusty Malinoski
pulled off the big surprise of the day by beating Soven for one of the final two
places. Danny Harf (USA) beat World Champion Jeff Weatherall (NZL) for the other
finals slot. In a Harf versus Malinoski duel, Harf had the edge with a win
already at the Qatar World Cup Stop plus a third place in France. However, today
was Malinoski’s day plus his biggest career win in taking the World Cup Beijing
Stop title.
The combined forces of the Foba-Emin Water Ski Club and the
Chinese Water Ski Association created a very high quality World Cup Stop. The
excellent hospitality and efficient organization will certainly encourage
waterski and wakeboard athletes to return to China again as soon as the
opportunity arises.
The next World Cup Stop will be in the City of Dubna in
Russia.
SHORTBOARD – WOMEN
1. Mandy Nightingale USA) - 7,240
2.
Danyelle Bennett (USA) - 6,780
3. Maria Camila Linares (COL) - 6,330
4.
Clementine Lucine (FRA) - 3,960
SHORTBOARD – MEN
1. Nicolas LeForestier (FRA) –
11,380
2. Aliaksei Zharnosek (BLR) – 10,280
3. Javier Julio (ARG) –
9,990
4. Jaret Llewellyn (CAN) – 9,810
WAKEBOARD – Pro Women
1. Dallas Friday (USA) – 75.79
2.
Emily Copeland (USA) – 63.24
3. Meaghan Major (USA) – 59.12
4. Amber Wing
(AUS) – 38.68
WAKEBOARD – Pro Men
1. Rusty Malinoski (CAN) – 80.46
2.
Danny Harf (USA) – 79.46
3. Jeff Weatherall (NZL) – 79.56
4. Phillip Soven
(USA) – 78.45
