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Furbish, Johnson named USA Water Ski's September athletes of the month
By Natalie Angley // USA Water Ski // October 3, 2005
USA Water Ski has selected Bill Furbish (Atlanta, Ga.) and Heather Johnson (Orlando, Fla.) as its Male and Female Athletes of the Month for September. The U.S. Wakeboard Team was selected as Team of the Month. Furbish, Johnson and the U.S. Wakeboard Team will now be eligible for the United States Olympic Committee's Athletes and Team of the Month honors.
"Congratulations to Bill Furbish and Heather Johnson for their excellence in representing the United States in international competition," said Steve McDermeit, USA Water Ski's executive director. "The U.S. Wakeboard Team proved it has staying power after clinching its second consecutive team title at the WWC Wakeboard World Championships."
Furbish won the gold medal in Men's MP1 slalom (2.00/58/18 inner) and the silver medal in tricks (580 points) at the 2005 Disabled Water Ski World Championships, Sept. 8-11, in Schoten, Belgium. Furbish's score in Men's MP1 slalom was ratified as a new world record by the International Water Ski Federation. In addition to his individual accomplishments, Furbish also helped the U.S. Disabled Water Ski Team earn the silver medal at the biennial event.
Johnson won the gold medal in Junior Women with 29.2 points at the World Wakeboard Council's sixth annual Wakeboard World Championships, Aug. 31 – Sept. 3, in Moscow, Russia. Her scores also helped the U.S. Wakeboard Team win its second consecutive world team title at the event.
At the inaugural Air Nautique Pan American Wakeboard Championships, Sept. 21-25, in Orlando, Fla., Johnson clinched the Open Women title with a score of 53.33 points. She also contributed points to help the U.S. Team clinch the team title at the event.
The U.S. Wakeboard Team won its second consecutive world team title and two team members won gold medals at the WWC Wakeboard World Championships. The four-day event featured 120 riders from 24 countries. Belgium won the silver medal and Australia earned the bronze medal.
In addition to Johnson winning a gold medal in Junior Women, Robert Soven (Longwood, Fla.) won the gold medal in the Boys division. Phillip Soven (Longwood, Fla.) and Jimmy LaRiche (Boca Raton, Fla.) earned silver medals in the Open Men and Boys' divisions, respectively.
Other members of the U.S. Wakeboard Team were: Raimi Merritt (Lantana, Fla.), Girls; Patty Hicks (Wheeling, Ill.), Girls; Adam Errington (Orlando, Fla.), Junior Men; and Cathy Williams (Murray, Ky.), Open Women.
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