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WATERSKI MagazineRookie of the Year In her first full season on the U.S. Pro Tour, 15-year-old Emily Copeland proved that silence can be deadly. Copeland is one of the most respectful and unassuming athletes in the Pro Wakeboard Series, but she didn't allow any veterans to leave her under a wake. She knocked off two-time defending tour champion Tara Hamilton for the season title.
Mess of the Year Ryan Fitts built a reputation for being a fierce competitor at the French Masters, where on one jump he cut dangerously late and had to let go of the rope near the base of the ramp. His momentum carried him off the side of the ramp and airborne toward shore. Fitts hit the water about five feet from land, then bounced and rolled 15 feet up the beach with his skis taking out all of the Cafi de Colombia banners. He walked away without assistance.
Skier of the Year No one thought it was possible for Andy Mapple to improve on 1998, when he had perhaps the most dominating slalom season in Pro Tour history. Then again, few thought he'd be able to top 1997 when he waltzed to the tour and World Cup championships. Somehow Mapple pushed the bar even higher this season. He won the tour championship with a Grand Canyon-esque gap of 678 points, which dwarfed last season's margin of 476 points, and won his third straight Cafi de Colombia World Cup title in the process.
Comeback of the Year After contracting a staph infection in 1997, losing more than 30 pounds and missing almost the entire 1998 season, some thought Carl Roberge might be finished. He defied the pessimists by not only competing, but climbing his way to fifth place on the final U.S. Pro Tour standings.
Newcomer of the Year Before the season started, we thought Copeland might crack the top five in women's wakeboarding. But the third-place finisher, Maeghan Major, astounded everyone. Having never even competed in a pro event until 1999, the 14-year-old made a Major impact in her first season.
Worst End of the Year Before the jump finals at the French Masters, Karen Truelove told a few of her jump competitors that she had a feeling something bad might happen. Minutes later Truelove's fears were realized when she landed awkwardly and tore the ACL in her right knee, cutting her season short one week before the final World Cup stop in England.
Best Slalom Skier Not Named Andy or Wade Steve Cockeram of New Zealand not only finished second on the U.S. Pro Tour and third in the Cafi de Colombia World Cup race, but he also won his first-ever professional title at the French Masters (1.5 at 41 off) after knocking on doors for the past six seasons.
Most Unexpected Win of the Year After 1997 world wakeboard champion Jeremy Kovak sat out the entire 1998 season and most of 1999 due to a knee injury, he was all but forgotten. But he surprised everyone in Abbotsford when he appeared, competed and not only won, but ripped through the men's wakeboarding event for his first win in two years.
