Pine Mountain, GA (May 25, 2024) – The world’s most talented waterski and wakeboard athletes hit the waters of the renown Robin Lake for their semi-final rounds at the 64th Nautique Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament presented by GM Marine! Athletes delivered incredible performances behind the record-setting Ski Nautique and the award-winning Super Air Nautique G23 to secure their spots in tomorrow’s final rounds of the most prestigious tournament in watersports.
Nautique team athletes Anna Hunter (USA) and Neilly Ross (CAN) took the top two spots in the Pro Women’s Trick discipline with 10,500 and 9,580 points, respectively. Natalia Cuglievan (PER) took third, and Nautique team athlete Erika Lang (USA) secured the fourth spot to the Pro Women’s Trick’s final.
Behind the world-record setting Ski Nautique, the Pro Men’s Trick semi-final round was a crowd pleaser with Joel Poland (GBR) securing the top seed going into tomorrow’s final round with a score of 12,100 points. Matias Gonzalez (CHI), Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA), and Martin Labra (CHI) also advanced to the finals with impressive, high-scoring performances.
During the Pro Women’s Slalom semi-final round, the Ski Nautique pulled Nautique team athlete Regina Jaquess to the win with 1 @ 10.75 M. Jaimee Bull (CAN), Paige Rini (CAN) and Nautique team athlete Neilly Ross (CAN) also emerged as finalists for the Pro Women’s Slalom discipline.
The Pro Men’s Slalom athletes did not disappoint as they battled it out for their spots in the final round. Cole McCormick (CAN) proved victorious with Will Asher (GBR) taking second. A three-way tie for the remaining two spots led the crowds to witness a runoff with Adam Sedlmajer (CZE) and Stephen Neveu (CAN) prevailing.
The award-winning Super Air Nautique G23 pulled Eugenia de Armas (ARG) and Meagan Ethell (USA) to win their semi-final heats in Pro Women’s Wakeboard. Joining them in tomorrow’s final round will be Alice Virag (ITA) and Nautique team athlete Zahra Kell (AUS).
The Pro Men’s wakeboard athletes demonstrated unparalleled technique and style with the G23 setting up perfect wakes in the semi-final rounds. Guenther Oka (USA) and Nic Rapa (AUS) won their heats and will ride against Nautique team athlete Cory Teunissen (AUS) and Massi Piffaretti (ITA) in the Pro Men’s Wakeboard final.
During Pro Women’s Jump, Hanna Straltsova (USA) punched her ticket into the finals with a jump of 54.3 M (178 ft) behind the GM Marine powered Ski Nautique. She was followed by Brittany Wharton (USA), Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya (USA), and Lauren Morgan (USA) who all earned spots in tomorrow’s final.
The Pro Men’s Jump semi-finals wrapped up the day with defending Masters Champion and Nautique team athlete Ryan Dodd soaring to 70.6 M (232 ft). The Ski Nautique pulled Joel Poland (GBR), Florian Parth (ITA), and Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA) to the remaining spots in the Pro Men’s Jump final.
Congratulations to Junior Masters Slalom Champion Trinidad Espinal (CHI), who competed in the junior head-to-head exhibition earning a scholarship courtesy of O’Brien. We’d also like to congratulate Daniela Kretschmer (CHI) on runner-up during the exhibition, earning herself a scholarship from the Mapple family.
The Opening Ceremonies of the 64th Masters will begin tomorrow at 10:00AM with the Parade of Champions followed by the final rounds at 10:30AM. To watch live and for complete up-to-date scores of the 64th Masters, please visit masterswaterski.com.
An invitation to compete in the Masters is universally considered an acknowledgement of achievement for reaching the pinnacle in a given watersports discipline - only the world's most elite athletes compete at the Masters. This tournament is sanctioned by IWWF/USA Water Ski and WWA.
About Nautique Boat Company:
Nautique is celebrating its 99th anniversary of delivering excellence in the marine industry. A subsidiary of Correct Craft, Nautique has been on the waters of the world with a passion for innovation since 1925. Delivering the very best waterski, wakeboard and wakesurf boats on the market, Nautique continues to drive progression with their award-winning technology and dedication to building the highest-quality boats imaginable. New technology, performance innovations and attention to detail are the cornerstones of what makes the Nautique brand the industry leader. Through the Nautique Cares initiative, employees and athletes dedicate themselves to not only making a difference on the water, but to extend their support to people in need around the world. The world’s best ski boat, world’s best wake boat, and a company that cares. To learn more visit Nautique.com
About Correct Craft: Celebrating 99 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Ingenity boat companies, Pleasurecraft Engine Group, Indmar Marine Engines, Velvet Drive Transmissions, Mach Connections, Merritt Precision, Osmosis, Watershed Innovation, and Aktion Parks. For more information, please visit correctcraft.com
