Since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China on October 1st 1949, the first week of that month has become one of the world’s biggest national celebrations. The Shanghai Tourism Festival organisers expect over ten million visitors this time. Once again, the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF), using the Rixen Cable system, will bring its World Cup Series back to Shanghai’s Bihai Jinsha Water Park in the city’s Fengxian District.
With over 90 affiliated federations, the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) combined forces with the Chinese Water Ski Association and Shanghai Bihai Sands Investment Development to bring this 47th World Cup Stop to Shanghai.
Defending Shanghai World Cup Wakeboard champion returns to push for the 2017 title
This year, the 47th Stop of the IWWF World Cup Series will feature two Cable driven events – Waterski Jump and Wakeboard. The enormous growth of low cost and environment friendly Cable Parks around the world has already brought new income streams to the past Olympic Games sites in Beijing and Barcelona. With the Olympic Games heading to Paris in 2024, Cable Waterski and Wakeboard fans will see this Shanghai World Cup Stop as especially significant.
Sanne Meijer (NED) will challenge Julia Rick (GER) for the World Cup Wakeboard Title
With one of the biggest international entry lists for some years, IWWF Skiers and Riders from 29 countries will compete here for World Cup honors including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, Republic of South Africa, Spain, Thailand and USA.
The Shanghai Cable Wakeboard defending champions, Dominik Guhrs (GER) and Julia Rick (GER) will return again this year. However, in Open Men, Ariano Blanik (GER) and Lior Sofer (ISR) may prove too tough to beat and the World Cup is likely to see a new 2017 champion emerge. In the women’s event on the other hand, 24 year-old Julia Rick has had no less than seven major titles secured over the past two years, and on form looks almost unbeatable. However, Sanne Meijer (NED) is now fully recovered from injury and might just turn the tables here.
World Jump Record Holder Nikita Papakul (BLR) will be challenged by Alexander Vasko (SVK)
In Cable Jump, Nikita Papakul (BLR) will be the one to watch. World Championships gold medalist and current Europe Africa Jump champion, a business graduate who speaks five languages, set a new World Cable Jump record of 65.5m last year in Ukraine. He will be pushed hard by past World Jump champion Alexander Vasko (SVK). The women’s Jump event will be even tougher with the very strong Belarus contenders Irina Turets and Julia Gromyko. They took the silver and bronze medals here in 2015, and in 2016 repeated this in the Europe Africa Championships. A Shanghai World Cup Jump gold medal may be heading towards one of these international stars shortly.
The organizers of this World Cup Stop are the Shanghai Bihai Sands Investment Development Co.Ttd and the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation. The Sanctioning Body is the Chinese Water Ski Association.
IWWF World Cup site in Shanghai’s Bihai Jinsha Water Park
TV SHOWS
Immediately following this October 2/4 event, details of this Shanghai Cable Wakeboard & Jump World Cup Stop TV show will be announced on :
About the IWWF: The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) is the world governing body for towed watersports and has 91 affiliated Federations world-wide. It was founded in 1946 in Geneva, Switzerland. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole authority for Waterski and Wakeboard. The IWWF is an affiliate member of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federation (ARISF). The IWWF’s sports disciplines include, amongst others, Tournament Waterskiing (slalom, tricks & jump), Wakeboard, Cable Wakeboard, Cable Waterskiing, Disabled Waterskiing, Show Skiing, Ski Racing and Barefoot Waterskiing.
