U.S. Water Ski Racing Teams Selected

The National Water Ski Racing Association has announced the selections to the 2009 U.S. Elite Water Ski Racing Team, the U.S. Formula 2 Water Ski Racing Team and the U.S. Junior Water Ski Racing Team. Athletes selected to the teams will compete in the 2009 Water Ski Racing World Championships, July 18-25, in Antwerp, Belgium. The teams were selected based upon performances from the 2008 season, up through the first three races of 2009. A five-person committee appointed by the NWSRA board of directors made the selections.

A maximum of 14 water ski racing athletes from nearly a dozen countries will compete in six divisions – Men's Open, Women's Open, Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Men's Formula 2 and Women's Formula 2 – for world titles at the biennial event, which will consist of four races. Men's Open and Men's Formula 2 competitors race for 1 hour, plus 1 lap; Women's Open and Women's Formula 2 competitors race for 45 minutes, plus 1 lap; and Junior Boys' and Junior Girls' competitors race for 30 minutes, plus 1 lap. Final overall placements were determined from the athletes' three best race placements.

Athletes selected to the 2009 U.S. Elite Water Ski Racing Team were: Lori Dunsmore (Boulder City, Nev.), Sam Frey (Santa Ana, Calif.), Carl Goldsmith (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Todd Haig (Redlands, Calif.), Mallory Nordblad (Claremont, Calif.) and Katelin Wendt (Huntington Beach, Calif.). Andy Anderson (Riverside, Calif.) was selected the alternate. The U.S. Elite Water Ski Racing Team earned the silver medal at the 2007 Water Ski Racing World Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand. The United States has won nine world team titles in the biennial event's 15 occurrences. Australia is the defending team champion and Australia's Jason Walmsley and Ann Procter are the defending men's and women's champions, respectively.

Athletes selected to the 2009 U.S. Formula 2 Water Ski Racing Team were: Greg Anderson (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Brady Hoggins (Rialto, Calif.), Kelly Ireland (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Cameron King (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Rose Kinslow (Oakley, Calif.) and Amy Threlfall (Palmdale, Calif.). Graham Cole (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Dawn Wallace (Belvedere Tiburon, Calif.) were selected as alternates. The U.S. Formula 2 Water Ski Racing Team won the gold medal at the 2007 Worlds. Australia’s Chris Stout and Tania Teelow won the men's and women's gold medals, respectively.

Athletes selected to the 2009 U.S. Junior Water Ski Racing Team were: A.J. Herrera (Los Alamitos, Calif.), Chelbe Kinslow (Oakley, Calif.) and Trevor Wendt (Huntington Beach, Calif.). The U.S. Junior Water Ski Team earned the silver medal at the 2007 Worlds, with Australia winning the gold medal. New Zealand's Jarron Fritz and Australia's Trudi Stout won the men's and women's gold medals, respectively.

Randy Jarrell (Chino, Calif.) is serving as the U.S. teams' manager.

For more information on the 2009 Water Ski Racing World Championships, click here.