Freddy Krueger, Nate Smith Win Titles At 24th Morilee U.S. Open Of Water Skiing

U.S. athletes triumph in men’s jumping and men’s slalom, respectively

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – U.S. water ski athletes Freddy Krueger (Winter Garden, Fla.) and Nate Smith (McCordsville, Ind.) won titles at the 24th Morilee U.S. Open of Water Skiing, presented by OJ Props, Aug. 12-13, at Waters Edge in Wilmington, Ill.

 

Held in conjunction with the 79th GOODE Water

Ski National Championships, the U.S. Open boasted the second-largest cash prize purse of the 2021 season and was one of only two pro events to feature all three water ski disciplines for both genders, including the only overall cash-prize event of the season.

 

Krueger, who earned the top seed for the finals with a 232-foot jump in the elimination round, soared 229 feet in winning the title in the finals. He clinched the victory on his first attempt with a 228-foot effort and followed that up with the 229-footer. He declined to take his third attempt. Fellow U.S. athlete Taylor Garcia (Winter Garden, Fla.) finished second (223 feet) and Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn was third (221 feet). Great Britain’s Jack Critchley and U.S. athlete Scot Ellis (Auburndale, Fla.) rounded out the top-five placements with distances of 219 feet and 185 feet, respectively.

 

Smith, who earned the top seed for the finals of men’s slalom with a score of 4-1/2 buoys at 41 feet off in the elimination round, also scored 4-1/2 buoys at 41 feet off in the finals to clinch the victory. Great Britain’s Freddie Winter finished second with 1 buoy at 41 feet off and Italy’s Thomas Degasperi was third with 5-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off. U.S. athletes Adam Caldwell (Johns Island, S.C.) and Cale Burdick (Brighton, Mich.) rounded out the top-five placements with scores of 2-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off and ½ buoy at 39-1/2 feet off, respectively.

 

In other events, Canada’s Whitney McClintock won women’s slalom (3 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off); Germany’s Giannina Bonnemann won women’s tricks (10,180 points) and overall (2,861.5 points); Mexico’s Patricio Font won men’s tricks (11,740 points); Belarus’ Hanna Straltsova won women’s jumping (171 feet); and the Czech Republic’s Martin Kolman won men’s overall (2,872.44 points).

 

Among the other highlights from U.S. athletes: Jake Abelson (Holderness, N.H.), 13, finished runner-up in men’s tricks (11,110 points). Brooke Baldwin (Winter Garden, Fla.) placed second in women’s overall (2,587.70 points), third in tricks (7,430 points), fourth in slalom (1/2 buoy at 38 feet off) and fifth in jumping (156 feet). Lauren Morgan (St. Louis, Mo.) placed second in women’s jumping (167 feet). Allie Nicholson (Gallatin, Tenn.) finished third in women’s slalom (1-1/2 buoys at 38 feet off). Anna Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.) finished fifth in women’s tricks (6,510 points).

 

Complete results can be found here: http://www.iwwfed-ea.org/classic/21USA146/.

 

It marked the first time since 2016 that the U.S. Open was held and the first time since 2003 (Santa Fe, Texas) that it was held in conjunction with the GOODE Nationals. The American Water Ski Association, a sport discipline organization of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, and Waters Edge Ski Club hosted the tournament.

 

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is affiliated with the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (world governing body) and is recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and Pan-American Sports Organization as the national governing body of organized water skiing and wakeboarding in the United States.