Thanksgiving on the water

We've had a fantastic group for this Thanksgiving week in Orlando. It was great to have the Johnson's and the Pachelli's from New Mexico, the Nugent's from Ireland, Joyce Latham from the UK and Gerad Kolthof from Holland. We all had a great week on the water, Steve Nugent celebrated his 50th Birthday this week and Nicola cooked a very special Thanksgiving dinner for 24 guests.

Princes Pro-Am Booby Prize

Joyce Latham from Thorpe Park Ski Club London, after only competing for a few seasons, was part of the Team that came in last place in the 2008 event. Do to her circumstances she could not take her booby prize of 3 days free training at our Skool until this Autumn. Joyce also arrived in Orlando after having taken a fall at the Seaton Classic in early October where she has sustained an injury to her shoulder. Not having skied for six weeks Joyce was pretty low on confidence and endurance as you can imagine, but she got out on the water the first day and pushed through 3 sets. We worked on new technique totally aimed at safer skiing with the intent to improve performance over time. The fundamentals were in need of work and an explanation to re-assure her this was the first phase of her training at our Skool. Joyce really started to get to grips with here new stance on her ski and by the third day, even though she was very tired and low on endurance she started to put together her best skiing with great control and a major improvement in her performance, which I believe will all play out for her in next season tournament calendar. Great skiing Joyce with your new stance following your ski in both directions!

Thanksgiving in Orlando

What a great week on the water with friends. Thanksgiving is not a tradition in the UK, but after spending a few with family and friends over the past few years, I think we should introduce this as a holiday everywhere. We have had our friends from New Mexico, Ireland, Holland, Michigan and the UK with us this week and for some it's an annual trip now.

All together having a great thanksgiving dinner for 24 friends!


The Hohnson's & The Pachelli's


Sam Finn & Alix stuffing the Turkey!

Birthday Celebrations

I met Steve Nugent and his wife Muriel at the World Cup Championships in Enniskillen Northern Ireland 3 years ago, after they watched that event they told me they were going to start water skiing and that they would one day soon make it out to our Skool in Orlando Florida for some lessons. He also told me that when they were ready, it would be a trip of a lifetime as they had not traveled far from Ireland in the past.

I got a call from Steve at the beginning of this season, saying that they would be coming out this November and Steve had chosen this particular time because it would be their trip of a lifetime to celebrate Steve's 50th Birthday. We all had a great day celebrating Steve's Birthday.

Steve and Muriel Nugent, Ireland


Steve getting ready to cut the Butter!


Happy 50th Birthday Steve

MasterCraft Factory Tour

How many guy's does it take to roll out the fiberglass in a MasterCraft boat in layup construction?
MasterCraft have least 8 trained personnel roll out the first layup of chopped glass that goes straight onto the back of the Gel coat. The only chop strand coat used in MasterCraft construction process, it is done that way to ensure all gelcoat is covered completely and no air pockets are left.




Each layer of pre-cut Fiberglas mate laid into the mold is also rolled out by at least 8 personnel. An Expensive process but worth the results, as MasterCraft build the best finished product in the business.

MasterCraft Factory Tour

'Norm' talking about the superior pumps and components that MasterCraft use in their boats compared to their competitors


Norm talking about how MasterCraft use a steel yoke in the construction of their walk-through open bow boats and backing plates on everything that is bolted on the boat, nothing is screwed, it's all bolted.

MasterCraft Factory Tour

MasterCraft Assembly lines, where the best built tow boats in the world are made!
MasterCraft are totally open to their customers, dealers and competitors on their factory tours. Nothing to hide and everything to show off, this is the sign of a company who is proud of what they build and believe it is the best built product in the market.


MasterCraft molds only build 20-30 pieces before they are taken out of the production line and renovated, unlike their competitors that only renovate their molds after 50-70 pieces.



MasterCraft carry more tooling than their competitors so they are able to pull the tooling from production after making less pieces, this ensures the highest quality in their finish.

MasterCraft Factory Tour

Just arrived back at the Knoxville Airport in Tennessee, for my return flight back to Orlando after two fantastic days with the entire Management Board, participating in future product development and production meetings. It's been an amazing experience to have the opportunity to go through engineering, research & development, production and the assembly lines on all the new products. It has been a few years since I have been to the factory and I could not believe how the production processes and assembly lines had changed, MasterCraft have introduced so many different and state of the art processes it was like relearning and understanding a whole new way to build boats. MasterCraft have always been cutting edge and the innovators in the inboard industry, but this is taking boat manufacturing to a whole new level and separating them even further from the competition.

The Management Board Production met to discuss future development and production models coming to market within the next 12-24 months! Headed up by CEO John Dorton, VP of Sales and Marketing Scott Crutchfield and the entire Management Team from Design, Research & Development, Engineering, Production and Assembly line integration, Financial controller and costing analyst to mention a few.



This was an amazing process to be involved in from an Athletes point of view and with a few very key and exclusive MasterCraft signature models up for a total redesign and face lift, it was an extremely exciting opportunity and privilege to be involved in the process of what MasterCraft will eventually bring to market to cement their position once again as the industries leading innovator in inboard tow boats, pleasure boats and sport cruisers.

MasterCraft's revolusionary new 300 Sports Cruiser, a 30' boat equipped with all and much more of what you would expect to find on a considerably more expensive 50-60' Sport Cruiser.

2009 World Cup Malaysia

With crowds in excess 20,000 in the World Cup's 2nd year at Puntrajaya in Malaysia, the purpose built water sports stadium along the banks of Lake Puntrajaya hosted a excited crowd. The water skiing was broadcast to over 100'000.000 viewers across Asia and then shortly it will go to 300'000.000 veiwers worldwide.

2009 World Cup Championship Puntrajaya, Malaysia

Men's Slalom Final Results in Puntrajaya, Malaysia played out like this

1st Nick Parsons 2.5@10.75m
2nd Jodi Fisher 1@10.75m
3rd Jean Baptiste Faisy 4@11.25m
4th Aaron Larkin 2.5@11.2
5th Javier Julio 2.25@11.2
6th Chris Parrish 1.5@11.25m

The conditions were tough and the skiers were ready to take to the water!


Great Malaysian crowd support

2009 World Cup Putrajaya Malaysia

The first round of Men's slalom results played out like this-

1. Parsons 5@11.25
2. Julio 4.511.25
3. Fisher 3.5@11.25
3. Faisy 3.5@11.25
5. Larkin 2.5@11.25
6. Parrish 1.5@11.25

2009 World Cup Malaysia

The first round of competition today in Puntrajaya started with the 4th round of the Junior Malaysian water ski series. Since last years event, Hanifah Yoong the organizer of the event has done an amazing job of putting together a squad of 24 young Malaysian skiers and a training program that has taken them from total beginners to all running the course and working up through the speeds.



The Malaysian water ski team of the future

2009 World Cup, Malaysia

Its Friday morning and I am starting to adjust to the 13 hour time difference to Orlando with my body clock, staying awake as late as possible to hopefully be able to stay asleep until day light. I managed 6 hours sleep last and feeling good.
I have had an amazing time catching up with Mark Simmons an old ski buddy from the Junior British Team days, Mark has been living in Malaysia with his wife Claudine and their two young children Sean & Sebastian for six years now and started skiing again after the World Cup came to Malaysia last year. It's fantastic to catch up after more than fifteen years have gone by.

2009 World Cup Tour Championships Puntrajaya, MalaysiaMalaysia

The IWWF official panal and organizers are getting ready for the second event held here at Puntrajaya, Malaysia.




Philipa Yoong handed me a bag of the local brew! Very interesting, not quite Typhoo but very nice!

2009 World Cup Tour Championships Malaysia

Arrived in Puntrajaya, Malaysia for the Finals of the 2009 World Cup Championships. The site is close to being ready for the worlds best waterskiers to battle it out for this Tour Championship Titles in Men's & Women's Slalom, Tricks & Jumping.

The Puntrajaya hotel & business center over looking this amazing lake and venue is spectacular.

The amazing perminant stadium over looking the championship course


The Pullman hotel over looking the Championship site



A view of the site looking pretty good for skiing right now!

Traveling to Tournament

Having lunch in Amstadam with Borris Lavel, Clementine Lucine and Will Asher on the way to Malaysia. Staying out of the Coffee shops though!