Be on top, stay on top

Anna Gay World trick champion

Pros have brought their performance level so high, it requires everything you have to imagine that one day you will be able to take part in their game. Women’s trick is one such event: the level has never been so high.

Women’s trick always delivers emotions on the shoreline. Either the competitors land all of their tricks and we have to wait for the judges to know the winner, or they fall and we are still anxious to learn who will win. The World Championships in October at Jack Travers Sunset Lakes was just such an event, and an incredible moment for the waterski family. Now it is time to focus on this tremendous trick event. From my point of view, it is really difficult to determine (prior to the event) who will prevail. Three names repeatedly come up: Anna Gay, Neilly Ross and Erika Lang. I would add Giannina Bonnemann in this trio. She proved that she could win facing the Big Three at the US Open this summer. They are all talented, hard workers, and consistently score above the 10,000-point mark. Unfortunately, Giannina had a bad crash during jump training prior to the event, so she was not in her best shape approaching the trick event. She managed to reach the finals, but could not complete her best run to take part in the battle for the win.

The big 3

Erika Lang neilly ross anna gay

The Big Three did not disappoint in the prelims. Anna took a slight 10-point advantage over Neilly with 10220 points. Erika was right behind her with 10180 points. The pressure must be unbearable on the finals dock!

Erika went first and did not meet her expectations, but still ran a solid 9580-point run. Neilly, as graceful as usual on the water, received more uncredited tricks than usual, which put her on the lead, but below the 10,000-point mark. Anna did not know the score to beat when she went out, but from experience, she knew that she did not have a lot of room for mistakes. Putting all her skills together on that run, she outright won the title with a fantastic trick performance of 10,440 points. It was a strong advance and an indisputable win for the most wanted victory of the year.

Good to see you legend natallia berdnikava

Natallia Berdnikava might be one of the most decorated skiers on water. She has many world titles, records and European titles. Her performance at Worlds was strong, elegant, and filled with emotions. Coming back from an injury, she gave the crowd what it expected: finishing with a great top five. She told me this might be her last World Championship appearance… But who knows, a champion like her never stays far from her ski.

Gregoire Desfond Retrospectively, Anna not only dominated at Worlds, but also achieved the highest score at every major tournament - US Masters, King of Darkness, US Nationals, US Open and Worlds. She won every round of those tournaments, except the finals of the US Open, where she lost against Giannina. Anna also won three of the Masters Last Chance Qualifiers (MLCQ). It was a solid year, displaying Anna’s toughness when the pressure is on! Winning at Worlds for the third time was indeed a great achievement, and confirmed her dominance in the discipline for the past year.