Athletes competed in 11 age divisions, ranging from Junior to Open. In the slalom event, competitors attempted to ski around each buoy in a six-buoy course, with the towline being shortened each time a complete pass was achieved. In tricks, the rider performed as many maneuvers as possible in two 20-second passes. Tricks scores were based on a predetermined point-value system. The subjectively-scored freestyle event included a variety of flips and aerial maneuvers. In flipout, competitors competed for a maximum of 25 seconds, completing as many flips as possible in the shortest amount of time.

In the junior divisions, Eric Schmelzer (St. Bonifacius, Minn.) clinched the overall title in Junior Boys with 1,917 points and the slalom title with 1 buoy. Patrick Dicus (Alpharetta, Ga.) won the tricks title with 710 points. In Junior Girls, Lyssa Ritchhart (Orlando, Fla.) won the overall title with 1,696 points and the slalom title with 24 buoys. Amanda Davis (Naples, Fla.) captured the title in tricks with 1,680 points.

In Boys, Patrick Kimrey (Lake Placid, Fla.) won overall with 1,767 points and slalom with 16 buoys. Kenny Matherne (Prairieville, La.) won tricks with 1,670 points. In Girls, Leah Ritchhart (Orlando, Fla.) won the overall title with 2,000 points, slalom with 21 buoys and tricks with 2,070 points.

In the Men’s divisions, Mark Ritchhart (Orlando, Fla.) swept the slalom (50 buoys), tricks (4,570 points) and overall (2,000 points) titles in Open Men. In Men 1, Ken Stuart (Copperhill, Tenn.) won titles in overall with 2,000 points, slalom with 45 buoys and flipout with 7 flips in 19.5 seconds, while Chris Dinse (Green Bay, Wis.) won tricks with 2,790 points. In Men 2, Kevin Felver (Cincinnati, Ohio) won the overall title with 1,578 points and slalom with 52 buoys, while Michael Marchand (Plaquemine, La.) won tricks with 3,910 points and Men’s freestyle with 12,710 points. In Men 3, Robert McGraw (Waleska, Ga.) won the tricks title with 1,080 points. In Men 4, Kenny Stuart (Copperhill, Tenn.) swept titles in overall with 2,000 points, slalom with 31 buoys and tricks with 1,660 points.

In the Women’s divisions, Denys Anderson (Lakeland, Fla.) swept titles in Women 3, earning 2,000 points in overall, 1 buoy in slalom and 420 points in tricks. In Open Women, A’lisa Piper (Lake Placid, Fla.) swept titles in slalom (35-1/4 buoys), tricks (1,850 points) and overall (2,000 points), and she won Women’s freestyle, scoring 4,750 points.

For complete results, visit www.USAWATERSKI.org.

The American Kneeboard Association is one of nine sport divisions of USA Water Ski. USA Water Ski was formed in 1939 as a non-profit organization promoting water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is affiliated with the International Water Ski Federation (world governing body) and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and Pan-American Sports Organization as the national governing body of organized water skiing in the United States. With more than 30,000 members, USA Water Ski is the largest water ski federation in the world.