EMOTIONAL THRILLER AT LONDON’S WATERSKI WORLD CUP STOP
It was certain to be emotional. Turning it into a thriller was
the real bonus. The fans had traveled far and wide to share in history.
None went home disappointed.
Following the success of the 2004
Waterski World Cup Stops in France and Russia, the London Stop was for Slalom
devotees. Being also the very last appearance of one of the sport’s greatest
athletes, many expected a tear-jerker of the very best kind. In glorious
sunshine and with the full support of sponsors Sunsail and MasterCraft, Thorpe
Lakes, located beside Heathrow Airport, offered the perfect stage for this Stop
and the season’s $650,000 total cash prize.
PRELIMINARY ROUND -
LADIES
Ladies first. The Preliminary Round
was as hot as any Final. Four Ladies tied for the last two places – a very
unusual outcome. In fact, ten of the 12 athletes secured scores on the 11.25m
Slalom line. This was close competition at it’s very best. With Chief Judge
Steffen Rauchenwald (AUT) keen not to alter the tight timetable, the run-off
commenced. Making it through were Geraldine Jamin (FRA), Britain’s Sarah Gatty
Saunt, Jill Knutson, Natalie Hamrick and Karen Truelove from the USA – and the
top scorer was the World Champion, Emma Sheers (AUS). She would therefore be
last off the dock in the Finals.
PRELIMINARY ROUND -
MEN
Time to turn on both the emotion and history taps. Andy Mapple OBE
(GBR) was listed to be the last of the 18 World’s best Slalom athletes into the
Thorpe Lakes arena. Clear blue skies, very hot unexpected sunshine and a
totally concentrated audience added to the electric atmosphere. Mapple would
retire today, no matter what the outcome. With 164 professional victories to his
credit, 10 World records set since 1984 and still a co-holder of the current
World record, here was an athlete of giant achievement by any standards.
However, this was definitely his final appearance. Could the Lancashire lad and
Florida resident once again gain a place in the Finals. What a prospect
?
Of the 18 athletes in the
Preliminary Round, 12 secured scores on the very short 10.75m line. For those
not so familiar with this discipline, the pulling load factor directly behind
the MasterCraft tow boat has been clocked at over 800 lbs ! To “lift” that
load six times on each pass through the Slalom Course is almost beyond what any
body can endure. Most did this 24 times !
Before Mapple entered the water, the
last to attempt to qualify for one of the 8 Finals places, Chris Parrish (USA)
continued his outstanding season by leading the pack with a score of 1.25 buoys
on the almost impossible 10.25m line. Having lost weight over the winter and
refocused his efforts, Parrish looks like a total winner these days. Also
through were Jeremy Newby-Ricci (GBR), Wade Cox (USA) and Chris Rossi (USA).
Only four places now remained. Beyond that we had the biggest log jam ever seen
– with no less than SIX athletes tied at 3 Buoys on that 10.75m line. Now, what
could Mapple do ? Would he join the log jam ? Was this just expecting just
too much from his 42 year old frame ?
As Mapple threw the handle with a
score of 3.5 Buoys, the roar from the crowd could be heard up in Lancashire in
the north of England ! He would be seen in the Finals yet again. It
took a score of 3 Buoys on the 10.75m line to qualify. He beat this by a half
Buoy. However, the Chief Judge was now a case for valium. A run-off of SIX
athletes is unprecedented. It was almost a separate competition. Losing out
eventually were Steve Cockeram (NZL) plus Mateo Ianni and Fabio Ianni
(ITA).
FINALS - LADIES
The Ladies Final was riveting. Briton Sarah Gatty Saunt’s opening score
of 4 Buoys on the 11.25m Slalom line left no room for an easy Podium journey for
others. Defending Stop leader and Yellow Bib wearer, Natalie Hamrick (USA),
clocked up an identical score. Next came the current IWSF Ranking Table leader.
True to form, the talented Karen Truelove (USA) pushed the lead to 2 Buoys on
the very short 10.75m line. Two athletes remained. Mother of two Jill Knutson
from Washington D.C. came next and had to settle for four Buoys on the 11.25m
line. Now we had three athletes with this identical score ! The World Slalom
champion was last to go.
Emma Sheers is a powerful athlete
and does not like to lose. In perfect conditions, she brought the cheering
spectators to their feet. By clearing the 11.25m pass plus the queue of three
athletes with identical scores - she was now just moments away from taking the
title from Karen Truelove. At Buoy two, the near impossible happened. Emma could
get no further today producing yet another tie – and this time it forced a
run-off for the title. Sheers versus Truelove. First off was Truelove. With
amazing consistency, she again reached the 10.75m Slalom line securing a score
of one Buoy. Now Sheers had the advantage. She knew what was required.
Silence from the sun baked crowd. However, as the MasterCraft tow boat passed
Buoy five, World Champion, Emma Sheers (AUS) had to settle for second today
behind Karin Truelove. What a battle ! Karen Truelove was the London
Stop World Cup Slalom Champion.
FINALS - MEN
Nobody warned the large contingent from Sunsail that Slalom skiing
could be this nerve testing. This time, Mapple would be in the middle of the
pack. All eyes were glued to the perfect water. Jodi Fisher (GBR), Drew
Ross (CAN) and Glen Campbell (GBR) scored on the 10.75m line – with Campbell in
the lead with 3.5 Buoys. He was also the holder of the Yellow Bib from the
previous Stop in Dubna, Russia. Mapple had to do better for one last chance of
victory. His 10.75m pass was stunning. We counted each Buoy all the way through
to six. Then the incredible happened. With well over 800lbs pressure about to
shoot down a slack rope, he was forced to let that handle go to avoid injury at
the exit gates. His leading score of 6 Buoys on the 10.75m line could advance no
further.
Jeremy Newby-Ricci (GBR) came next
but had to settle for 2 Buoys on the same 10.75m rope. Mapple was still
the leader. Wade Cox (USA), 6ft 3ins tall and Arkansas born, can get within two
Buoys of the World Record on a good day. Once he cleared the 10.75m pass, it was
obvious that Andy Mapple would not take the World Cup title today. Cox pushed
the bar up to one buoy on the 10.25m line. Then, fellow American Chris Rossi
from Vermont put in a great effort - resulting in yet another tie with the score
of Wade Cox for second place. Now Andy Mapple was in third place. One
athlete remained. Slalom specialist Chris Parrish (USA) is 6ft 5ins tall
with a giant talent. Winner of the French Masters this year, he has been
on the podium at over five major events recently. That suggests greatness. Once
he cleared that 10.75m pass, all sensed that this could be his day. His final
score of 2 Buoys on the 10.25m Slalom line was enough to earn the World Cup
London Stop Slalom Champion title.
In a touching gesture at the Prize
Ceremony attended by Alison Goulding, Marketing Manager of Sunsail and Ian
Birdsall, Managing Director of MasterCraft, the top place on the Podium was
taken by Chris Parrish (USA) but the joint second place athletes from the USA,
Wade Cox and Chris Rossi, chose to share the second Podium step. This made
way for Andy Maple OBE to stand on the Podium one last time. What followed was
one of the longest applause experiences ever heard – and a tear or two was shed
by quite a few. This was definitely one for the history
books.
The next Stop of the International
Waterski Federation’s 2004 Waterski World Cup will take place in Changshu, China
on October 1st and 2nd. Details of all Stops can be found on www.iwsfworldcup.com
WATERSKI ACTION GUIDE :
EUROPE AFRICA MIDDLE EAST TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONSHIPS
September 15th / 19th 2004
Recetto,
Italy
IWSF WATERSKI WORLD CUP STOP
September 30th – October 2nd 2004
Changshu, China
IWSF WAKEBOARD WORLD CUP STOP
October 30th /31st 2004
Singapore