Twelve Athletes Win Titles At 2023 U.S. Open Water Ski Racing National Championships
by USA Water Ski & Wake Sports
Twelve water ski racing athletes won titles at the 18th annual U.S. Open Water Ski Racing National Championships, Oct. 14-15, 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 30 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 16 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, Ty Cheshier (Valencia, Calif.) won the Men’s Open title and placed runner-up in 17-35 Men and 75 MPH. He also teamed up with Jason Davison (Long Beach, Calif.) to win the Double-Up division. Davison also won the Hands Out Front division. Sophia Rivera (Westminster, Calif.) won the 17-35 Women and Women’s Open titles, and placed runner-up in Women’s Outboard. Brent Griffin (Long Beach, Calif.) won titles in Social Men, 60 MPH Open and 55 & Over Men;
Other athletes earning U.S. Open titles in respective divisions were: Ryder Tovatt (Huntington Beach, Calif.), 16 and Under Boys; Jonathan Cinquegrani (Whittier, Calif.), Men’s Novice; Rayson Normandin (Huntington Beach, Calif.), 17-35 Men; Brian Samaniego (Fullerton, Calif.), 75 MPH; Sean Davison (Long Beach, Calif.), Men’s Outboard; Craig Selby (Long Beach, Calif.), 36-54 Men; Julia Williams (Long Beach, Calif.), Women’s Outboard; and Cheryl Ruston (Cypress, Calif.), 36 & Over Women;
Kyle Lancon (Fallbrook, Calif.) and Ken Kramer (Fontana, Calif.) earned the awards for top-scoring driver and observer, respectively.