Malibu Open Raises The Bar In Milwaukee

(photo: billdoster.com)

Energy was running high as the world's best water skiers stormed into Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Malibu Open on Aug. 3-4. The RESPONSE TXi would serve as the official towboat, and confidence was running high, as this boat already debuted at last year's Malibu Open and went on to tow several world records. Fans packed the shore and also tuned around the world on the live webcast produced by Eagle Wetsuits.

Mens Slalom saw the most heated battle of the weekend, possibly the highest cut lines in tour history. Skiers had to make 2 @ 41 off just to make it to the quarterfinal round of 16, then 3 @ 41 to make the semi final round of 6 skiers. Several skiers ran into 41 and didn't make the cut. Nate Smith took the win, with Chris Rossi in second and Will Asher in third. Another fun fact: 39 off was run 32 times at the Malibu Open this year.

Regina Jaquess, hot off setting the new world record of 3 buoys at 41 off, edged out April Coble in the Womens Slalom final, shredding through a full pass at 38 off. Regina also won "Female Skier Of The Year" at the 1st Annual Waterski Awards presented by WATERSKI Magazine on Friday evening. Read the full story and see the video of Regina's 3 @ 41 world record here.

Freddy Krueger ended the night going big as usual, launching 222 feet for the win in Mens Jump. Check out some of these amazing photos taken by BillDoster.com

Freddy Krueger

Chris Parish

Will Asher

Will Asher

Will Asher

Thomas Degasperi 

Thomas Degasperi

A New Pair Of World Records For Regina

 

After Malibu's launch of the all-new Response TXi last August, Regina Jaquess made a statement in October, 2011 by setting a new women's slalom record of 2 buoys at 41' off. Regina reflected, "When I tied the record two years ago with 1 @ 41 I was living on a cloud that I had tied a world record, then I ran 1 1/4 and then 1 1/2, and I owned the world record all by myself. When I ran 2 @ 41, I thought it was amazing, and that 3 would be nearly impossible."

On June 17, Regina found herself behind the TXi again, this time in Cedar Ridge, Mississippi with perfect conditions to see how far she could push into 41 off. After two powerful turns around the 1 and 2 ball, Regina stretched out to get around 3, dealt with her slack, and crossed back over the wakes, successfully scoring a pending world record of 3 buoys at 41 off.

Just the day before, she beat her own record, improving on 2 @ 41 to 2 1/4 @ 41. "These records are different," Regina said. "Because now I have the confidence to get deep down the course at 41 off."

A number of factors played into this new pending world record. "It was definitely a combination of my training with Cory Pickos, at the Pickos World Ski Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, my Goode ski that I have been able to help develop with Dave Goode, and the new Malibu Response TXi.  The TXI has small narrow wakes that allow you to change your edge earlier going into the buoy, resulting in running the lines easier and making my skiing enjoyable. The TXI is a great looking boat, that drives incredible.  When I ski behind it, I feel confident that I will get the best pull ever, every time!"