June 22, 1997
Greenville, North Carolina

GRAHAM TAKES U.S. OPEN SLALOM TITLE

Canadian slalom skier Susi Graham (Kitchner, Ontario) claimed the U.S. Open
Slalom title today in Greenville, North Carolina.  Graham won the event with
a run of 3.5 buoys at an 11.25 metre line (51.5 buoys).  Placing second in
the slalom was Emma Sheers (AUT) rounding 2.5 buoys at an 11.25 metre line
(50.5 buoys). 

The men's jump event saw exciting action with jumpers passing the 200 ft.
mark over 20 times.
Jim Clunie (Tisdale, SK) soared to a second place finish with a jump of 63.5
metres (208 feet).  Steffen Wild (Germany) won the jump event, narrowly
beating Clunie with a jump of 63.6 metres (209 feet).

Drew Ross (Belleville, ON) placed 5th in the men's slalom finals with a run
of 3 buoys at a 10.75 metre line (57 buoys).  Andy Mapple (USA) won the
slalom event with 1 buoy at a 10.25 metre line (61 buoys).

World record holder Jeremy Kovak (Millgrove, ON) placed 3rd in the wakeboard
event with a score of 20,421.  Dean Lavelle  (USA) won the event with a
score of 20, 908.  

Also competing at the U.S. Masters were Canadian skiers Kreg and Jaret
Llewellyn (Innisfail, AB).  Kreg competed in the jump and trick events with
10th and 11th place finishes respectively.  Jaret competed in jump, trick
and slalom events with 11th, 12th and 14th place finishes respectively.

The next stop on the 1997 Cafe de Colombia Water Ski Tour will be in Lubeck,
Germany, on June 28-29, 1997.

For further information please contact:
Water Ski Canada	
(613) 748-5683
(613) 748-5867 (fax)
email : wsc@magi.com