1998 PAN AMERICAN WATER SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

For Immediate Release
August 8, 1998
WINNIPEG, Manitoba

GOLD MEDALS FOR CANADA !!!

Jimmy Townsend (Belleville, ON) came from behind and took the GOLD 
MEDAL in the Junior Boys slalom event at the 1998 Pan Am Water Ski 
Championships. His score of 49.50 buoys (1.5 @ 12 metre line) put him 
ahead of US skiers Tom Newton 48.00 buoys (6 @ 13 metres) and Jimmy 
Siemers 46.50 buoys (4.50 @ 13 metres). Townsend was placed sixth 
after the preliminary round. Ryan Dobel (Winnipeg, MB) placed fifth 
with 39.50 buoys (3.5 @ 14.25 metre line).

Canadian Team coach Jeff McClintock (Cambridge, ON) also won gold in 
the slalom event. His score of 57.00 buoys (3 @ 11.25 metre line) was 
enough to edge out Larry Gisler (Chile) in the Veteran Men's 
division. Mark Stevens (Morrisburg, ON) took the bronze medal with a 
performance of 51.25 buoys (3.25 @ 12 metre line).

CANADIAN RECORDS - AGAIN !!
Karissa Wedd (Port Coquitlam, BC) broke her own Canadian Record with 
a GOLD MEDAL performance of 37.8 metres (XXX feet) in the Junior 
Girls jump event. She had previously set the record of 37.4 metres in 
the preliminary round. Jeff McClintock also broke his own Canadian 
Record in the Veteran Men's division for a SILVER MEDAL with a 
distance of 47.0 metres.

It was 2 SILVER MEDALS in the trick event for the Canadian Veteran 
Team today. Jeff McClintock placed 2nd behind Larry Gisler (Chile) 
with a score of 4780 points. Gisler took top spot with 5480 points. 
Third place went to Maurico Quintero of Colombia (4060 points). In 
the Women's division, Heather Mielzynski (Brampton, ON) won the 
silver with 3500 point performance. Leza Harrison (USA) placed first 
with 3920 points.

Tricia Anderson (Victoria, BC) also won SILVER in the 17-21 Women's 
jump event. Her distance of 38.4 metres (XXX feet) was just shy of 
first place which went to Maria Luisa Botero of Colombia. The gold 
medal performance was 38.6 metres. Other finalists were Dana Fitts 
(USA) with a distance of 38.2 metres and Dallas Harrop (CAN) with 
37.8 metres for fourth place.

Results can be found posted at : 	
http://www.waterski.mb.ca/panam_champ.htm

Sunday's FINALS :
9:00 AM	SLALOM - Open Men & Women
10:30 AM	TRICKS - Junior Girls & Boys; Open Men & Women
12:30 PM	JUMP - Junior Boys; Open Men & Women

Canadian skiers in Sunday's Finals:

 Open Women
Kim de Macedo  		Slalom, Tricks, Jump
Marie-Helene Lanthier 		Slalom, Tricks, Jump

Junior Boys
Jimmy Towsend (Junior Boys)		Jump
Ryan Dobel (Junior Boys)	 	Jump
Open Men
Clint Baikie 		Slalom, Tricks, Jump
Kreg Llewellyn 		Slalom, Tricks
Tom Muir 		Jump
Jim Clunie 		Jump

 
For more information please contact:
Nancy Irvin, Media Officer
(204) 224-5867
(613) 293-3015 (cell)



---------------------------------------
Nancy Irvin
Programs Manager
Water Ski Canada 
1600 James Naismith Drive
Gloucester ON
K1B 5N4

613 748 5683
613 748 5867 fax
wsc@magi.com