This was the 27th Stop of the Waterski and Wakeboard World Cup Series and the sixth to be staged in the spectacular Volga River site in Dubna City in the Region of Moscow. To date the World Cup series has awarded over $2.5 million to the winners. MasterCraft has been the official boat sponsors in all 27 World Cup Stops to date. This Dubna Stop included Shortboard /Tricks and Jump for both Men and Women.

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In the Tricks Finals, 19 year old Marion Aynaud FRA impressed all with a 6950 points score to take the silver medal. The 2005  World Trick champion, Mandy Nightingale USA, who had a lean spell in 2006 / 2007 till she won the 2008 World Cup title in Doha Qatar, really came in well today in Russia. Her 7320 points returned her to glory in taking the first World Cup Shortboard title of the 2009 season. Maria Camilla Linares COL made it to the World Cup podium once again to take the bronze medal.

As the sun began to drop in the clear blue sky above, the six Mens Finalists arrived in the very impressive Volga River Stadium. This was one of the toughest World Cup battles seen for some time. It ended with serious drama ! Only three meters divided all the scores. Any Finalist could have won. Canada's Ryan Dodd was in spectacular form in spite of heavy cold over the previous four days.. His 67.1m distance proved impossible to beat even for Freddy Krueger USA, the World Record Holder. In the end, there was a tie between Jaret Llewellyn CAN, who has broken eleven World Records in his career to date -  and fellow Canadian Ryan Dodd with that score of 67.1m.  Dodd was first back on the water and secured a distance of 66.4m. Llewellyn decided to go for the big one on his first attempt.  With a slight tail breeze, all looked good till he hit the jump ramp at over 100 kph. As he came off the surface, he started to cartwheel in the air. The 10,000 spectators gasped ! Landing on his right shoulder, it looked like a serious injury. In the water, it also looked serious. As he struggled to climb aboard the MasterCraft, the crowd gave him a well deserved standing ovation. Ice packs and medical attention then worked wonders. Fortunately, although sore, he has recovered. Ryan Dodd CAN is the Dubna World Cup Jump Champion - with Llewellyn taking silver and Krueger bronze.

The next World Cup Stop will be in Liuzhou, China - a spectacular new World Cup location.

 

CONTACT : Des Burke-Kennedy, Media Chairman, International Waterski Federation

 

For Sponsorship opportunities, contact marketing@iwsf.com

 

Web Site : www.waterskiandwakeboardworldcup.com