Matthew Klee water ski racing

Matthew Klee of Harbor City, Calif., won the Men’s Open and 17-35 Men titles. Photography by Daren Van Ryte.

Fourteen water ski racing athletes won titles at the 16th annual U.S. Open Water Ski Racing National Championships, Oct. 9-10, at Buena Vista in Bakersfield, Calif. The National Water Ski Racing Association, a sport discipline organization of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, hosted the two-day competition.

More than 20 athletes competed in two rounds of circle-sprint races. The athletes drew for pole positions, made a deep-water start at the drop of a green flag and raced in lanes for a designated number of laps. Athletes competed for titles in 17 divisions. Overall placements were determined by total number of points. In the event of a tie, total race time broke the tie.

Among the highlights, Matthew Klee (Harbor City, Calif.) won the Men’s Open and 17-35 Men titles, while Amy Threlfall (Palmdale, Calif.) won the Women’s Open, 36 and Over Women and Women’s Outboard titles.

Other athletes earning U.S. Open titles in respective divisions were: Jason Davison (Long Beach, Calif.), 16 and Under Boys and Social Open; Julia Williams (Long Beach, Calif.), 17-35 Women; Cameron King (Torrance, Calif.), Men’s Outboard; Brian Samaniego (Fullerton, Calif.), 36-54 Men, Stock Boat and Hands Out Front; Steve Davis (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Men’s Novice; Doug Eckhoft (Apple Valley, Calif.), GrassRoots; Tim Turley (Parker, Ariz.), 60 MPH Open; Craig Ferguson III (San Pedro, Calif.) and Kyle Lancon (San Marcos, Calif.), Double-Up (Exhibition Class); and Mark Honsowetz (El Segundo, Calif.), 55 & Over Men.

Steve Davis (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Andy Klee (Harbor City, Calif.) earned the awards for top-scoring driver and observer, respectively.

Complete Results.

14 Water Ski Racing Athletes Win Titles At U.S. Open Water Ski Racing Nationals

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