From: LUDWIGT[SMTP:Tom.BigL@t-online.de] Sent: Sunday, June 29, 1997 7:17 PM To: bcorson@telesciences.com Subject: Results German World Cup 97 Report from Thomas Ludwig (Chief Judge) Swatch & O'Neill Wake Attack presents: 1. German Café de Colombia Waterski World Cup Saturday, 28.6.97 The lake the tournament took place is located in the center of Lübeck. It was used the first time for watersking, it usually is a recreation area. After heavy rain and wind during the week, the weather on Saturday turned out to be perfect. There was a slight head wind that was quite appreciated by the skiers. The cash price was 20.000$ (1.st 6000$ to ninth 850$). Because of big backwash from concrete walls the tournament format I decided was as follows: In the qualification (15 skiers) there were three seeds. Every skier had to take his first jump and drop the handle at the end of the jump. The boat had to go back to the starting jetty slowly and the skier had to walk on shore back to the starting jetty. (Almost a triathlon Skiing, Swimming,Walking) When the boat was back on the starting jetty the next skier took his first jump. After the skiers of one seed had made their first jump we continued with the 2nd jump and so on. Though using this format the performances where quite good with Andrea Alessi (ITA), Bruce Neville (AUS) and Steffen Wild (GER) going over 60 meters in the qualification. The cut was at 56.6m, so Jim Clunie (CAN) was quite disappointed that he did not make the SUPERFINAL. The most dramatic moments we had when Scot Ellis (USA) came over the ramp and went to the front and crashed. After some moments he was still shaky but fine. Even more breath-catching was when Carl Roberge (USA) took a fourth jump (rerun on 1st jump for speed). He was too early but kicked and went also out the front. He said that happend the last time seven years ago. He got a slight concussion and could not remember the whole jump event for about 1.5 hours. I myself was with him at the doctor's to let him check thoroughly. The doctor said he is fine but should rest. RESULTS after qualification round: Qualified for SUPERFINAL Place Name 1st 2nd 3rd MAX 1. ALESSI Andrea (ITA) 59.3m 60.6m 55.9m 60.6m 2. NEVILLE Bruce (AUS) 58.2m 60.5m 57.2m 60.5m 3. WILD Steffen (GER) 56.2m 60.4m 58.0m 60.4m 4. LEVINGSTON John (AUS) 55.2m 57.2m 58.8m 58.8m 5. ROBERGE Carl (USA) 53.3m 55.0m 58.6m 58.6m 6. SHEERS Curtis (AUS) 51.3m 55.7m 58.5m 58.5m 7. GAVEAU Patrick (FRA) 52.7m 57.9m PASS 57.9m LLEWELLYN Jaret (CAN) 57.9m 54.3m 55.2m 57.9m Qualified for B-FINAL Place 9. CLUNIE JIM (CAN) 49.8m 55.7m 56.6m 56.6m 10. DOBRINGER Daniel (AUT) 53.4m 56.4m 50.9m 56.4m 11. SMITH Scott (USA) 53.7m 51.1m 55.8m 55.8m 12. ELLIS Scot (USA) 55.1m 54.9m FALL 55.1m 13. LUERS Jochen (GER) 45.8m 51.0m 50.7m 51.0m 14. VOUK Markus (AUT) 42.7m 46.4m 48.3m 48.3m 15. GUMMELT Heiko (GER) 40.6m 37.7m FALL 40.6m Sunday, 29.July 1997 We started the B-Final for 9th place (850$) at 11.30 a.m. The weather was still hot, but there was quite a tail wind and rough water this time. It was very hard to get a good setup and then a good speed into the ramp because the wind conditions were changing. Finally Scott Smith (USA) managed to get a 56.1m after two missed jumps under 50m. Jim Clunie (CAN) didn't feel well this day, and stopped jumping after the 2nd jump round. The SUPERFINAL started at 2:30 p.m. and the wind and water conditions became even worse than for the B-Final. Very strong tail, changing with side wind into the ramp, made it even more difficult to get a good jump. So it was no surprise that the distances for the first jump round were not very promissing. Only Jaret Llewellyn (CAN) had a good opener that was also hist best jump in the end and Steffen Wild, with a strong confidence after his victory last weekend at the US Open, started with a 55.8m. The bad conditions found its victim early. In the first jump round Andrea ALESSI (ITA), leader after the qualification had a bad setup and came then early into the ramp, kicked went out the front. He had to stop the competition and was brought to hospital to check the lungs. His bones and knees were OK. After the first jump round everybody knew Steffen Wild (GER) was the one to beat. He seemed to cope best with the bad water and wind conditions. Even more when Steffen showed a wonderful 59.6m in worst conditions and Bruce Neville refused his 2nd jump. So it all came down to the 3rd jump round. Curtis Sheers kept his nerves and got his 3rd on the ramp (the first two jumps under 50m) and got 55.9m which was 2nd place at that time. But immediatly after that, Carl Roberge, still not feeling to well, managed to jump 56.1m to be in 2nd place. After Steffen Wild could not improve his distance, everybody was waiting for Bruce Neville's last jump. He got only 55.1 that was finally 5th place. Undoubtly Steffen Wild had the best confidence with these bad conditions and was a worthy winner of the German World Cup, what makes him, after winning the US Open last weekend the favourite for ARENA MASTERS next weekend in Milano. RESULTS SUPERFINAL Place Name 1st 2nd 3rd MAX 1. WILD Steffen (GER) 55.8m 59.6m 54.6m 59.6m 2. ROBERGE Carl (USA) 48.5m 54.2m 56.1m 56.1m 3. SHEERS Curtis (AUS) 49.4m 44.2m 55.9m 55.9m 4. LLEWELLYN Jaret (CAN) 55.5m 52.0m 48.2m 55.5m 5. NEVILLE Bruce (AUS) 54.5m PASS 55.1m 55.1m 6. LEVINGSTON John (AUS) 51.3m 53.7m 49.5m 53.7m 7. GAVEAU Patrick (FRA) PASS 52.1m 51.6m 52.1m 8. ALESSI Andrea (ITA) FALL ----- ---- ----- RESULTS B-FINAL Place 9. SMITH Scott (USA) 47.9m 49.9m 56.1m 56.1m 10. DOBRINGER Daniel (AUT) 51.7m 52.8m 54.6m 54.6m 11. ELLIS Scot (USA) 49.2m 54.4m 50.2m 54.4m 12. CLUNIE JIM (CAN) 51.7m 52.0m ----- 52.0m 13. VOUK Markus (AUT) 51.5m FALL 48.6m 51.5m 14. LUERS Jochen (GER) 45.5m 44.9m 45.5m 45.5m 15. GUMMELT Heiko (GER) ----- ----- ----- -----