Day 1 Recap – 2025 IWWF World Open Waterski Championships

The curtain rose yesterday on the 2025 IWWF World Open Waterski Championships at Parco Nautico del Sesia in Recetto, Italy, marking the start of a week of world-class waterskiing action. Under warm skies and with enthusiastic local support, the first rounds of competition featured Open Men’s Slalom preliminaries on Lake 2.

Highlights from Day 1 – Open Men’s Slalom (after Series 7)
The opening series delivered plenty of excitement and tight scores, with early-seeded skiers showing both consistency and determination to secure a spot in the next round, all towed exclusively by the World Record-setting Ski Nautique.

• Jakob Bogne (SWE) set the early benchmark with an impressive 3.5 @ 10.75m, a score that will be tough to beat as the higher seeds take to the water.

• Freek School (NED) followed closely with 3 @ 11.25m, positioning himself well in the provisional standings.

• Albert Gross (GER) and Luca Rauchenwald (AUT) each delivered strong runs of 2.5 @ 11.25m.

• A competitive group including Jack Critchley (GBR), Matías González (CHI), and Minkyu Kim (KOR) rounded out the day with 2 @ 11.25m, keeping the pressure high for the remaining skiers.

The leaderboard remains tight, with several athletes separated by only half a buoy—a clear sign of the fierce competition still to come.

What’s Next – Wednesday, 27 August
Day 2 promises even more action, as higher-seeded skiers enter the water and new divisions begin:

• Continuation of Open Men’s Slalom prelims (Series 6–4)

• Kickoff of Open Women’s Slalom prelims (Series 6–4)

• Open Men’s Jump prelims starting at 10:00 on Lake 1

• Official Opening Ceremony scheduled for 19:00

👉 Watch the Day 1 Replay & follow live results and start lists here: IWWF Worlds 2025

Stay tuned all week for daily updates, results, and highlights as the world’s best waterskiers compete for the coveted World Championship titles here in Recetto, Italy!