Brian Samaniego won the 75 MPH division at the 2023 U.S. Open Water Ski Racing National Championships.
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.