5th August 2018

Ashleigh Stebbeings – Australia

A short day at the 2018 IWWF World Barefoot Water Ski Championships still supplied plenty of drama as the semi-final rounds began.

The Men’s Tricks competition went from 12 to the final five competitors who will face off on Saturday.  Veteran Keith St. Onge from the USA is leading the pack with New Zealand’s Ben Groen and Australia’s Keenan Derry right on his heels.

In Women’s Tricks, Australia’s Ashleigh Stebbeings separated herself from the field with a 9,450 point trick run.  New Zealand’s Georgia Groen and Lexi McCauley of the USA round out the top three going into Finals.

Stebbeings also dominated the semi-final round of jump… boosting a 21.9 meter jump to go into finals with a healthy overall lead.

First drama of the day happened during the semi-finals of Men’s Jump where smaller than average distances were recorded until Great Britain’s David Small went out and launched a 26.4 meter jump, closely followed by Australia’s Tee-Jay Russo and Keenan Derry.

But the real drama of the day came in the form of a jump off between the USA’s Keith St. Onge and Great Britain’s Tom Heaps for the final qualifying spot in the final.  St. Onge and Heaps each took an additional three jumps in the jump off and were tied as St. Onge headed to the wrap for his last attempt.  He jumped more than 26 meters to lock up a berth in the finals to the screams of the American Fans.

Semi Final rounds continue Thursday.  For complete results and a livestream of the IWWF Barefoot Worlds,  click here.

About the IWWF:  The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) is the world governing body for towed watersports and has 91 affiliated Federations worldwide. It was founded in 1946 in Geneva, Switzerland. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole authority for towed watersports. The IWWF is an affiliate member of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federation (ARISF) and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The IWWF’s sports disciplines include, amongst others, Tournament Waterskiing (slalom, tricks & jump), Wakeboard, Cable Wakeboard, Cable Waterskiing, Disabled Waterskiing, Show Skiing, Ski Racing and Barefoot Waterskiing