Wednesday, March 3, 2010

World Class Skiers Heading to Malibu Open in Milwaukee

MalibuOpenOutlinesMalibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) and Milwaukee County Parks and Recreation have teamed up to bring the 2010 Malibu Open to Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin August 6-7. Records are ready to be rewritten with Malibu as the official towboat. The world’s top slalom and jump skiers will be competing for $50,000 in prize money on the smooth waters of the National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal-winning Veteran’s Park. Spectators are poised to witness a weekend of history-making performances amidst the fun and excitement that a Malibu Boats-supported tournament is known for, at a venue reserved for high-profile events.

Check out this set of Malibu Open photos and logos on Flickr.

The site of Harley-Davidson’s 105th Anniversary Celebration, Veteran’s Park is home to the 2010 Malibu Open. This Milwaukee County Park has hosted numerous large events. The Harley event welcomed crowds in excess of 100,000. The perfect body of water that has never been available to water ski events before is now the site of the Malibu Open.

"We are so excited to have the International Water-ski Federation (IWSF) on Milwaukee County Park's lakefront for competitive water-ski competition this summer. This international event, combined with the Air Show, AVP Volleyball tournaments and the Kite Festivals, are just another reason for the residents of Southeastern Wisconsin to come out and enjoy over 14 miles of pristine park setting lakefront property on Lake Michigan. It's events such as this that truly make the Milwaukee County Park System a Gold Medal System." Sue Black, Milwaukee County Parks Director stated.

Sixty of the finest skiers from around the globe will ascend on Milwaukee to vie for $50,000 in prize money. In addition to the Record Capable Slalom and Jump events, Show Ski, Free Style Jumping and Barefoot Skiing will also hold the crowd’s attention during the show at Veteran’s Park.

“We are very excited to have the event come to Milwaukee,” commented Kelly Peiffer, Sports Marketing Director for Milwaukee convention and Visitors Bureau.

The event will take place over 2 excitement-filled days with qualifying both Friday and Saturday. The qualifying rounds will narrow the field to the finale on Saturday night under lights, where jumpers like World Record Holder, Freddy Krueger will hurl themselves over a 6-foot ramp to distances in excess of 220 ft. Slalom skiing is a very technical and exact sport. Add night skiing to this event and the excitement escalates by leaps and bounds. Will Asher, current world champion, and Chris Parrish, current world record holder, will be among the favorites to take home the coveted Malibu Open title.

“This is the best possible venue for our sport,” comments Dana Reed, President of Pro Slalom Events LLC, the Malibu Open Tournament Organizer. “Never before have we had the opportunity to showcase our sport at a site with so much potential for viewership.”

The World’s No. 1 selling water sports boat manufacturer, Malibu Boats was chosen as the title sponsor and the official tow boat for the 2010 Malibu Open. Malibu’s World Record-breaking competition ski boat, the Response LXi, will do the pulling honors. 14 World Records, a long list of national and event records as well as countless personal bests speak to the performance of this Malibu boat. As Malibu Boats suggests, “The truth is on the water.”

When asked about her expectations for the 2010 Malibu Open, Lani Farmer, the National Event and Team Director for Malibu Boats answered, “The Malibu Open is the perfect blend of promotion, performance and venue.” Farmer explained, “Dana Reed is passionate about the sport and willing to do whatever it takes to provide the athletes with a first class venue in which to compete. Our participation [Malibu Boats] guarantees heated competition and the possibility of new World records. Add in the perfect water conditions, superior accommodations and crowd-friendly shorelines of Veteran’s Park and this could be the best Malibu Open yet!”

When Reed was asked why Veteran’s Park was the best location for the Malibu Open, he replied, “In these tough economic times, we wanted a site that would create excitement. Wisconsin is the center of the show ski world and we would like to tap into the excitement that has been created over the many years.”

Crowds will enjoy the wide variety of activities planned for the Malibu Open. Great food and drinks will be available on site courtesy of Milwaukee Parks and Recreation along with many water sports related vendors. The Malibu Open will be a free event for all to enjoy with family and friends.

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