IWWF Asia Oceania

Jakarta, Wednesday, 6th Oct 2010

Unfortunately technical problems, putting the wakeboard boat out of commission, disrupted the wakeboard familiarization programme first thing in the morning, after just five of the forty riders had taken their turns. It was obviously hoped to catch-up later but it was not to be.
The traditional gong was sounded for the opening ceremony by Paul Fong, President of IWWF AAO,

accompanied by Danny Boestami, representing the Indonesian Water Ski Association and coincidentally celebrating his 46th birthday and a representative from the organizing body.

 Although the sun broke through briefly mid-morning, it was not to last when threatening grey clouds moved increasingly closer to Lake Sunter and the heavens opened. The women’s trick competition had already begun when proceedings were interrupted during the tropical downpour, accompanied by ear shattering crashes of thunder. It, at least, gave time to reflect on some of the women trick runs that had gone before with  7-year old Yoong Hanifah Aaliya (MAS) receiving the loudest  applause scoring 720 points beating several more senior competitors.

 After the rain abated it was left to China’s Yu Fei Song with 5,380 points to split the two Australian competitors Chelsea Scott with 4,970 and Cathryn Humphrey who leads the field of seventeen with 5,480 points.
The men trickers were to be no luckier with the weather when another passing storm darkened the sky and                                                      unleashed another deluge. Scores remain preliminary at this stage but

     Ryan Green(AUS) leads the field after an impressive run of flips on his return pass. The Kiwis Lance Green and Cole Atkinson lie 2nd and 3rd followed by Shi Long Fei (CHN) and local hero Akbar Imasyah Nur in 5th.
Neil Harris Chairman of the AAO and IWWF Wakeboard Council took the opportunity to conduct a beginners judging course which was well attended by delegates from the AAO Confederation.

A full day’s programme follows tomorrow with preliminary slalom rounds followed by jump and women’s wakeboard. Meanwhile there will no doubt be a few prayers offered to the weather gods overnight.

The stage is set for the start of the Asian Australasian & Oceanian Confederation Championships involving tournament (3-event), barefoot and wakeboard .  

The recent expansion of the confederation to incorporate the West Asian countries sees 111 athletes entering  the competition representing 17 member federations and involving 50 tournament skiers, 18 barefooters and 43 wakeboard riders. The officials likewise represent many of the member federations with Chief Judge Ron   Fergusson coordinating activities. A tournament judging clinic conducted by Fergusson was organised today attended by some 24 enthusiastic delegates with a view to training up more Asian officials.

The venue at Lake Sunter, Jakarta, Indonesia provides an ideal setting to stage this event representing the return of Indonesia to the international waterski family after an absence of many years after the Asian economic crisis.

Familiarisation for the wakeboarders begins on the morning of Wednesday 6^th October 2010 to be followed by the preliminary rounds of the AAO and Asian trick skiing event.

111 athletes from 17 countries will compete in the 2010 AAO Waterski, Wakeboard & Barefoot Championships (incorporating the Asian Championships) this coming week at Lake Sunter in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Countries competing include Australia, Chinese Taipei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

Watch this space for further event updates.

The AAO Confederarion is well repesented at the 35+World championships . Teams participating include Australia, New Zealand and Japan. We wish them every success

After 15 years on the NZWSA exec, Ed Donald recently resigned to allow John Weller to take on the role of NZWSA President.

We extend a warm welcome to John and fond temporary farewell to Ed. 

At the recent AGM Mr Thomas Lin stood down from the position of President together with his hard working Secretary General Christine Hui after four years in office.
In the subsequent elections Joe Jean-Nan CHOU was elected President whilst Dr. James C.I. CHIEN, who currently teaches at National Taipei University, was appointed General Secretary. Their terms commence 1^st July 2010.
The IWWF AAO extends its sincere thanks to both Thomas and Christine for their past efforts in rejuvenating waterskiing in Chinese Taipei and in particular in making the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung such an outstanding success.
The IWWF AAO extends a warm welcome to Joe and James.  

A)   MWWF PUTRAJAYA WATERSKI & WAKEBOARD OPEN (ROUND 4 OF MALAYSIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS) in November 2010 new date and new format announcement:

Originally scheduled for the first weekend in November the dates are now changed to 11-14 Nov 2010 for Round 4. The event will run over 4 days from Thursday to Sunday.
Round 4 will feature once again Slalom, Tricks (Shortboard),Jump and Wakeboard for Open and age group categories.
Invitations will be extended to more Asian countries including China, Korea and Japan as well as all other Asian Federations / Associations. Each country’s national Association/Federation can nominate up to a total of 3 open skiers and open riders for Round 4 of which at least 1 must be female.
Other categories will be on a first come first served basis till the maximum of 6 entries has been reached for the non-Open event categories.
Applications from prospective participants from non IWWF affiliated Associations/Federation will be wait-listed and considered for
acceptance after entries are closed…where after they will be informed of acceptance or not. 
Entries forms and Bulletin No.1 will be emailed or available at
www.waterski.com.my from the 15th of September 2010 (or before) on which date entries will open. Entries close on the 15th October 2010.

We are pleased to advise that the Lebanese Waterski Federation has recently changed it’s name to the Lebanese Waterski and Wakeboard Federation. We wish them well.

The AAO Confederation congratulates the newly affiliated Australian WWF  Cable Wakeboard Team who did themselves proud with a solid Bronze medal at the World Cable Championships in Germany last weekend. A great event with Aussie Team Manager Lauren Ormsby finishing a strong second in the Open Women’s event only being pipped by 6 points from Kirsteen Mitchell from Great Britain with another Aussie Angelika Schriber finishing third. The Team performed well with James Windsor and Nathan Tucker a strong finish in  Boys,  Jaimie Oxlade third in Girls, and the mini kids went to Ezmerelda Warnecke and Quinlee McAlister in the girls with  Callum Seymour in the boys. This year they held the  Wakeskate Worlds in conjunction with the Worlds with the Aussies finishing second  with strong performances from Deon Nagy, Mayce Dipple and Ben Jackson.