The World University Championships (WUC) are part of a series of events organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). First launched in 1963, the 2016 WUC Programme now includes 33 different sports, including Waterskiing, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing and others. Waterski athletes have previously taken part in the FISU Championships in Balakova, Russia, Tianjin, China and Santiago, Chile.
The specially constructed world-class Waterski site in Ogata Village in Akita, Japan, was previously used for the World Games in 2001 and since then for both National and Collegiate Waterski Championships in Japan. The competition boats and technical support will be provided by Nautique, the official Waterski and Wakeboard boat supplier of the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF).
University athletes will compete from the following fifteen countries : Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovakia and USA. The Championships Timetable includes the Opening Ceremony and Official Practice on September 7th , Preliminary Rounds on September 8/9, Slalom and Tricks Finals on September 10th and Jump Finals on September 11th.
In all three Disciplines, Slalom, Tricks and Jump, the level of competition in both Men and Women events will be fierce! Future potential World Open Champions abound. In Slalom, Matteo Luzzeri (ITA), Benjamin Stadlbaur (AUT) and Dane Mechler (USA), all have achieved scores on the short 10.25m line, with Luzzeri looking the hot favourite. In Tricks, two athletes have Personal Best scores of over 11,000 points, Josh Briant (AUS) and Martin Kolman (CZE). Ranked 5th and 6th in the world, they are both likely to dominate this discipline. In Jump the battle will be very close with Martin Kolman (CZE), Alex King (NZL) and Samuel Greenwood (USA), all capable of breaking the challenging 60.0m barrier.
Competition in the Women’s events will be equally tough. Canada’s young rising star Taryn Grant is certainly one to watch. In Slalom she will take on the talented Ambre Franc (FRA). Both are capable of achieving scores on the short 10.75m line. Grant is also capable of exceeding 50.0m in Jump and that will put pressure on World Cup Star, Lauren Morgan (USA), who is the hot favourite here.  In Tricks, Giannina Bonnemann (GER) who scored 9,230 in the Mexico World Championships last November is in a league of her own right now and could win in Akita.
This event is sanctioned by Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU), Japan University Sports Board (JUSB), International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF), Japan Water Ski Association (JWSA) and Japan Collegiate Waterski Federation (JCWF).
 
 
IWWF CONTACT : Des Burke-Kennedy, Media Chairman, International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation