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Article by Ian Lauder and Bill Kinnison
Photos by Ian Lauder
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It
was the most anticipated hydrofoiling event of the year... The
Mastercraft 1998 Flight World Championships. Riders from around
the world had their foils tuned and skills honed to show why they
get more frequent flyer miles as a group than any others. The
competitors came from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and
the United States to the water ski city of Lake Elsinore, California.
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This watersport
gets the biggest air and these competitors were here to claim it.
Four events were held to prove who was "the man" (or woman),
McDonald's Free Ride, Sky Ski Tricks, Air Boom Big Air and the Chaparral
SeeDoo Challenge.
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Prior to this weekend
Mike Murphy and Tony Klarich have dominated this sport. By the end of
the weekend, Damon Moore took his place in the winners' circle alongside
Tony and Mike by winning the Free Ride. Damon had a perfect run, sticking
grab gainers, combo rolls, and huge front flips. Klarich continued his
winning ways with incredible poise, nailing tricks like helicopter (both
wrapped and handle passed), and FS Combo Roll to claim double victories
in Pro Tricks and PWC Free Ride.
Fifty year
old Murphy scored his first World Title, winning the big air with
an incredible leap of 18 feet (measured from the lowest point).
The women have made giant leaps forward as it took an invert to
win. Teresa Wilborn won Free Ride with a smooth run and perfect
gainer dismount. Cheryl Roberts took Tricks and made history as
the first woman to ride out an invert in competition.
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The half time show
was an eclectic collection of water-ski tricks. Eighty year old Mary
Murphy showed off her jumps to the tune of "Little Old Lady from
Pasadena" and son Nick Murphy rode around on an old pair of combo
waterskis converted to a hydrofoil. Roger Crocker impressed the crowd
with body slides and front flips on a slalom ski while Charlie Saunders
risked life and limb on a 100 mph speed run. Geno Yauchler showed his
stuff with some backwards barefooting and Cameron Kephart, the event's
youngest rider at eleven years old, showed off some nice wake jumps.
A nice addition to the show was the Hyperlite Wakeboards Southern California
Invitational, what they lack in height they more than make up for in
style and difficulty.
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It
was amazing to see such diversity in the pilots. Everyone had their
own style and favorite tricks. Ron Stack added an impressive number
of tweaks and pokes to his tricks taking them to a whole new level.
Damon seemed to hang in midair forever on his long stalled fronts. |
One of the highlights
of the competition was the Air Boom Big Air contest. The five riders
who soared the highest were picked to see who could go the biggest.
"Old Yeller", the Air Boom boat, was specially outfitted with
a twenty foot pylon with markings every two feet. In three attempts
pilots were to throw the biggest trick near the pylon so the three judges
could eyeball the height. Flyin' Brian Vesely threw the highest roll
of all but the air was thin up there and when he reentered the atmosphere
he crashed and burned (resulting in the most watched piece of video
of the entire event). The old pro, Mike Murphy, rode away with the Air
Boom Big Air Trophy, showing all the kids how a precision pilot flies
his new hydrofoil, the Sky Ski.
The competition
also gave a glimpse into what to look for in the future. Air Chair
showed up with a new foil design piloted by Geno Yauchler and
Toxic Foils showed off their radical manta ray inspired wings.
Numerous new tricks were shown off including the method floater,
frontside combo roll, and quad combo. The future is looking way
up!
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Special
Awards
Most
Improved Rider
Ron
Stack
Hall
of Fame Inductees
Mary
Murphy
Bob Welsh
First
Female to Land an Invert in Competition
Cheryl
Roberts
Best
Rig
Adrian
Villarreal - Mexico
Best
New Design
Farmer
Brothers
Sky
Ski Ambassador of the Year
Tony
Klarich
Sky
Ski Dealer of the Year
Tommy
Phillips
Linda
Posey Challenge
Linda
Posey
Youngest
Competitor - Age 11
Cameron
Kephart
Best
Crash
Kody
Moore
Brian Vesely
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Amateur
- Kody Moore
- Eric Bockmuel
- Trevor Sudweeks
Men's
- Scott McLean
- Jake Kinnison
- Scott Honkala
Master's
- Monty Mongold
- David Myers
- Bob Rowland
Veteran's
- Mike Mack
- Ken Boyd
- Phil Dixon
Open Women's
- Cheryl Roberts
- Laurie Peterson
- Ingrid Buxton
Pro Men's
- Tony Klarich
- Ron Stack
- Mike Murphy
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Amateur
- Kody Moore
- Eric Bockmuel
- Rob Plamondon
Men's
- Jake Kinnison
- Jon Walker
- Scott Honkala
Master's
- David Myers
- Monty Mongold
- Bob Welsh
Veteran's
- Mike Mack
- Ken Boyd
- Phil Dixon
Open Women's
- Teresa Wilborn
- Ingrid Buxton
- Marilyn Capel
Pro Men's
- Damon Moore
- Mike Murphy
- Ron Stack
(tie)
- Tony Klarich
(tie)
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Chaparral
SeeDoo Free Ride
- Tony Klarich
- Mike Murphy
- Geno Yauchler
Air
Boom Big Air
- Mike Murphy
- Geno Yauchler
- Tony Klarich
Hyperlite
Wakeboards SoCal Invitational
- Damien Klaas
- Jeff Barton
- Ryan Augustine
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Reprinted with
permission from Flight Magazine (Winter 98)
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Information
