 |
Chris Rossi (USA) takes 1st Pro win of career at Princes Club London following a hard fought battle with Radar team mate Aaron Larkin (NZL). |
?When you win at Princes you know you have made it? said Chris, ?the competition, the weather, and the home crowd advantage for all the British skiers!?
All of that was true in another epic final that saw battle after battle between the worlds best slalom skiers at the Princes Club Pro-Am fighting it out for a share of ?10,000 prize money and ?2,000 Breitling Watch
Rossi had it tough in the first round head to head when he drew pro rookie Freddie Winter. Freddie run a PB (twice) in the qualifying rounds and equaled this performance in the final. The crowd went wild for their local favorite and it took composure from Rossi to secure the win and advance to the semis.
The other battles for a semi final spot were between Aaron Larkin /Ty Oppenlander (USA), Jodi Fisher (GBR)/Carlo Allais (ITA) and Will Asher (GBR)/Jon Travers (USA) with Larkin, Fisher and Travers all progressing.
The first match up in the semis saw the two Princes Club sponsored professionals Aaron Larkin and Jodi Fisher up against each other. Larkin made it to 4@10.75m with Fisher coming up just shy with 3 after a promising start. The second semi united the two Americans Chris Rossi and Jon Travers. Rossi scored 5@10.75m and JT was only able to score 3.5@10.75m losing the grip on the handle after attempting to take one of his customary (neck brace required) big turns.
The final round brought Radar team skiers Larkin and Rossi together; Larkin chasing the win to back up his recent World Cup victory and Rossi chasing his first ever Pro win. Rossi having been in this position before knew to play his seed card, opting to go second and attempt to better the score posted by Larkin. Conditions were testing; a gusty cross wind and a drop in temperature had stiffened the title contenders up. Larkin busted through 11m, then got caught out on his gate at 10.75. After dropping a bomb on 3 ball he managed to finish with a score of 3 ? @ 10.75 landing his subsequent cartwheels where the jump usually sits. From his watery grandstand he had front row seats to watch his team mate nearly throw it all away at 2 ball but in the end comfortably turning 4 buoys at 10.75 to take the Princes Pro-Am 2009 King of Slalom title, the pay cheque and the fabulous Breitling Watch.
The final standings
1st Chris Rossi USA
2nd Aaron Larkin NZL
3rd Jonathan Travers USA
4th Jodi Fisher GBR
5th= Carlo Allais ITA
5th= Freddie Winter GBR
7th Ty Oppenlander USA
8th Will Asher GBR
The Team Challenge saw Team Princes take the victory for the first year after a personal best by Sarah Loughlin and an equal pb from Danny Hills put them just 0.9 of a buoy head of another Princes Team Odd One Out and defending champions from Gosfield Lake Slalom Vision.
The winning team won 3 days at Xtreme Gene in Spain plus apparel and eyewear from Oakley.
Team Standings
1st Team Princes
Sarah Loughlin GBR
Danny Hills GBR
Garth Milicich NZL
Matt Gibson NZL
Boris Laval FRA Professional
2nd Odd One Out
Chris Thompson GBR
Ben Thompson GBR
Charlie Thompson GBR
Jergen Schweigert GER
Jodi Fisher GBR Professional
3rd Slalom Vision
Graham Murphy GBR
Darren Murphy GBR
Simon Rose GBR
David Kinnane GBR
Aaron Larkin NZL Professional
Princes Club ? Europe?s largest and most prestigious waterskiing venue would like to thank all of the associated sponsors of the Princes Pro-Am 2009 King of Slalom.