The U.S. Elite Water Ski Team won the overall team gold medal and four U.S. water ski athletes combined to win five individual gold medals in respective events at the 33rd Water Ski World Championships, Nov. 26-Dec. 1, at Lago Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile. The United States tallied 8,248.66 points in winning the gold medal for the 26th time in the history of the biennial event. Canada scored 7,762.91 points to earn the silver medal and France earned the bronze medal with 7,759.43 points. Athletes from 32 countries participated in the tournament. It is the first time since the 2007 Worlds that the United States has won the world team gold medal. Canada won the gold medal in 2009 and Belarus won the gold medal in 2011.

Representing the Midwest was Nate Smith taking the Gold in slalom and setting a World Championship Record with 5 at 41 off in the elimination round. It is Smith’s first career world slalom title, and he became the first U.S. athlete since Jeff Rodgers in 2003 to win the men’s world slalom title. Freddy Krueger, formerly of the Midwest won the jump event with a jump of 226 feet. This was Freddy’s 4th consecutive World jumping title. Jeff Surdej served as the coach for Team USA. Cale Burdick skied as an Independent and tied for 7th with 2 buoys at 41 off. Good to www.usawaterski.org or www.iwwfed-ea.org to get the rest of the results.