Water-Skiers Hold Record-Breaking Challenge on Chain of Lakes

Last week was a big week for record-breaking in Winter Haven. The event was held April 19-23 with over 300 participants gathered at the Chain of Lakes to attempt the breaking or setting of water-skiing world records for the National Show Ski Association, the United States Hydrofoil Association and Guinness World Records.

This was their second run at the record books.

During their first attempt in 2015, skiers from as far away as Australia and Germany took to the Chain of Lakes to set 26 records in the sport.

After taking the year off in 2016, participants from all over the world gathered again last week to attempt to break over 40 records, 11 of which will qualify for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records.

During my visit on Saturday, skiers were gathered on the shores of Lake Ariana at the Ariana Beach Yacht Club to attempt the Ballet Record for Most Ballet Water-Skiers Pulled by One Boat.

Fifty ladies lined up side-by-side along the pier behind the Ariana Beach Yacht Club as assistants helped line the pull ropes up that were attached to a speedboat with three Mercury 300xs engines.

The boat pulled forward until the lines were stretched out and then with a roar of the engines, fifty water-skiers sailed off the pier onto the water about five feet below. Only two skiers fell during the attempt.

When the skiers returned to the pier, there was excitement as they learned they had broken the record with 48 skiers. The previous record was 40.

“Were looking forward to getting all the records certified although it will take many months for that to happen.  We won’t have all of the certifications done until December but that’s the way the system works” says Team Captain Eric Gran.

Event organizer Geno Yauchler was on the water breaking records as well.

“One of the records I was personally the only one in the record for was the most inverts or rolls on a hydrofoil” ….”I did 30 rolls in one minute”.
The event was a success with 36 total records broken (pending certification) that included 23 National Show Ski Association records, 7 United States Hydrofoil Association records and 6 Guinness World Records.

Here is a list of the attempts that were included in the event:

Jump Records

Regulation Jump |

1. Most 2 ski Flips off a water ski ramp
2. Most 1 ski Flips off a water ski ramp
3. Most 1 Ski Gainers in 1 min
4. Most 1 Ski Flips in 1 min
5. Most 2 ski front flips in 1 min
6. Most 2 ski Gainers in 1 min

Unlimited 50’ Jump |

7. Most 2 ski helicopter spins off a water ski ramp
8. Most 2 ski front flips off of a water ski ramp
9. Most 2 ski gainers off a water ski ramp
10. Most water skiers off a jump
11. Most 1 ski front flips off a water ski ramp
12. Most 1 ski gainers off a water ski ramp
13. Most 1 ski helicopter spins off a water ski ramp
14. Largest Water Ski Ramp built

Ballet Record

15. Most ballet water-skiers pulled by one boat.

Barefoot Records

16. Most barefoot water-skiers towed behind a single boat (weight limit 175 lbs per footer)
17. Most barefooters doing a front deep behind one boat
18. Most 2 ski Jump out starts
19. Most back step off barefoot waterskiers
20. Most barefoot water ski tumble turns one min.
21. Most barefoot water ski tumble turns in 30 seconds
22. Most back deeps

Shoe Ski

23. Most shoe skiers behind one boat completing a 360 hand turn

Strap Doubles and Trios Records

24. Largest number of strap doubles couples
25. Largest number of trios sets
26. Most torch flips in a strap doubles line

Hydrofoil Records

27. Tallest sit down hydrofoil
28. Most combo flips in a row on a sit down hydrofoil
29. Most hydrofoil mobes in a row on a sit down hydrofoil
30. Most hydrofoil inverts @ 1 time behind 1 boat
31. Most hydrofoil riders towed behind a boat
32. Most hydrofoil rolls in 1 minute
33. Most hydrofoil front flips in 1 minute
34. Most hydrofoil front flips @ 1 time behind 1 boat
35. Most hydrofoil mobes @ 1 time behind 1 boat

Swivel Records

36. Most girls in a swivel line (must do two different skills).
37. Most girls behind one boat to do a 360 at the same time.
38. Most girls behind one boat to do a 720 at the same time.
39. Most girls behind one boat to do a 1080 at the same time.
40. Most 720s in a minute.

Adaptive Skiing Record

41. Most adaptive water-skiers pulled at one time

Wakeboard

42. Most Wakeboard inverts in 1 minute
43. Wakeboarding behind the longest rope

Event

44. Most water ski world records at one event

Staff Reporter

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