PINE MOUNTAIN, GA (May 23, 2008) — The 49th Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament™ presented by Nautiques by Correct Craft begin Friday at Callaway Gardens, in Pine Mountain, Georgia, with the 16th Junior Masters water ski and wakeboard elimination rounds. Today, Zack Worden set a new course record at 188 feet, six feet longer than the previous record held by Ryan Dodd since 2002.

The top spot in female trick competition went to Olivia McDonald with 5950 points. Manon Costard placed second and Caroline Hensley claimed third for a chance to advance to the finals. Danielle Shipe and Manon Costard both tied for first place in slalom with a run of 4@35-off and Ambre Franc claimed third respectively. Danielle Shipe rocketed 138 feet for first place while Manon Costard claimed second and Haley Runion placed third, advancing to the finals.

Adam Pickos, claimed the number one spot going into tomorrow’s finals with a score of 9080 points. Alexandre Poteau and Thibaut Dailland placed second and third respectively to advance to the finals. Zack Worden placed first in junior men slalom with a run of 2@38-off and Michael Mann took second while Brooks Wilson claimed third to advance to the finals. An exciting day for junior men’s jump, Zack Worden’s course record setting jump of a 188 feet qualified him for the finals and Canadian Alex Paradis took second. Sandro Ambrosi finished third with a jump of a 167 feet setting a pending jump record for Mexico.

Late junior women’s wakeboard qualifier, Anna Hajek, finished in first place with a score of 57.56 followed by Corrie Dyer and Meagan Ethell. In junior men’s wakeboarding, last year’s defending champion Jimmy LaRiche went big with a pro level run which was followed by Australian Harley Clifford and Robert Soven; all three are advancing to the finals.
The 49th Masters is produced by Nautiques by Correct Craft and officially sponsored by Acme Propellers, Callaway Gardens, Clarion, Mona Vie, PCM Marine Engines, Polk Audio, Trailer Boats and Zero Off. An invitation to compete in the annual Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament is universally considered an acknowledgement of achievement for reaching the pinnacle in a given watersports discipline – only the world’s most elite athletes compete at the Masters. This tournament is IWSF/USA Water Ski and WWA sanctioned. Prize monies, trophies, rings and special event awards total well over $135,000. To watch all of the live action at the 49th Masters, visit www.masterswaterski.com.

Jr. Women Slalom
1. Danielle Shipe USA 4@35(12.00m)
2. Manon Costard FRA 4@35(12.00m)
3. Ambre Franc FRA 3.5@32(13.00m)
4. Caroline Hensley USA 3@32(13.00m)
5. Marie Robineau FRA 3@32(13.00m)
6. Olivia McDonald USA 2@32 (13.00m)

Jr. Women Jump
1. Danielle Shipe USA 138’(41.5m)
2. Manon Costard FRA 135’(41.2m)
3. Haley Runion USA 132’(40.1m)
4. Caroline Hensley USA 130’(39.7m)
5. Lisa Francke SWE 119’(36.2m)
6. Olivia McDonald USA 107’(32.6m)

Jr. Women Wakeboard

1. Anna Hajek USA 57.56
2. Corrie Dyer USA 50.56
3. Meagan Ethell USA 42.22
4. Gina Faccio RSA 24.44
5. Victoria Ivy Kulp USA 19.44

Jr. Men Tricks

1. Adam Pickos USA 9080
2. Alexandre Poteau FRA 8650
3. Thibaut Dailland FRA 8000
4. Martin Kolman CZE 7880
5. Zack Worden USA 6720
6. John Lex Kenerly USA 6560

Jr. Men Slalom

1. Zack Worden USA 2@38(11.25m)
2. Michael Mann CAN 4.5@35(12.00m)
3. Brooks Wilson USA 4@35(12.00m)
4. Martin Kolman CZE 2.5@35(12.00m)
5. Thibaut Dailland FRA 2@32(13.00m)
6. Nate Smith USA 1.5@32(13.00m)
7. Adam Pickos USA 3.5@28(14.25m)

Jr. Men Jump

1. Zack Worden USA 188’(57.2m)*
2. Alex Paradis CAN 170’(51.8m)
3. Sandro Ambrosi MEX 167’(51.0m)
4. Martin Kolman CZE 166’(50.7m)
5. Thibaut Dailland FRA 166’(50.7m)
6. Scott McFadden NZL 164’(50.1m)
7. Leif Abel USA 160’(48.8m)
8. Adam Pickos USA 145’(44.3m)
9. Daniel Efverstrom SWE 141’(43.0m)

Jr. Men Wakeboard

1. Jimmy Lariche USA 73.67
2. Harley Clifford AUS 65.00
3. Robert Soven USA 51.67
4. Nicholas Davis GBR 40.56
5. Jacob Valdez USA 34.00
6. Daniel Powers USA 27.22

*Course Record