WaterSki Magazine

WATERSKI Magazine
2001-06-14 15:00:00 | 61 views | 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2001



MALIBU ONE-UPS ITSELF WITH THE MALIBU OPEN

Malibu Boats is taking a great competition and making it even better with the 2001 Malibu Open.



Over the past two years Malibu Boats has raised the ceiling for water sports tournaments, but in 2001 they plan to punch right through, with the Malibu Open. The 2001 Malibu Open will invade Water's Edge, just outside Chicago, in Joilet, Illinois June 8, 9 and 10.



In 1999 and 2000 Malibu illustrated the potential of a truly successful water sports competition with the U.S. Open Water Ski and Wakeboard Championships. The records kept coming. During Malibu's stint as the exclusive tow boat and the event organizer, the U.S. Open was host to more record-breaking performances than ever before. Even with those successes, Malibu knew it could be better.



Bob Alkema, President and CEO of Malibu Boats, summed up the Malibu attitude toward success with one statement, Nothing is ever as good as it can be. This explains the inception of the Malibu Open.



This year's event will be jammed with world-class water sports athletes who will get their chance to soar behind Malibu's elite performance-class boats.



Spectators will have a neck-stiffening view of the Malibu Open from between two record-capable tournament lakes. Running simultaneously, these two lakes will surround the crowd with in-your-face water sports. This means no breaks in the action. Fans won't have a chance to catch their breath between the big-air stylin' of wakeboarding and the sharp cuts of slalom skiing. Finally, attentions will be directed overhead to behold ski fly without a delay for ramp setup.



Thanks to this new dual format, the action will commence in the late morning between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. each day, and things will wrap up as early as 4:00 p.m. This means fans won't be stumbling into the event still wiping the sleep from their eyes and then sneaking out early when the day gets too long. There will even be time for the fans to demo Malibu's fleet of world class boats and/or participate in clinics with the pros when the action wraps up at the end of each day.



I've been to my fair share of water ski and wakeboard events, and it's hard to stick around all day to see everything, said Lani Farmer, Marketing Manager for Malibu Boats. This is an exciting format for everyone. What a great location, too. We're right in the middle of the country, which will ensure that all the top athletes will be there, and the fans will get to see them. Who knows? Maybe we'll set a trend in the way water sports events are staged. Setting trends is nothing new for Malibu.



Determined to spread the wealth, Malibu is not holding out on the prize money. Athletes will be competing for their share of a whopping $100,000. The purse will be divided among the three disciplines of men's and women's slalom, ski fly and wakeboard.



Date City Venue

June 8-10 Joilet, IL Water's Edge

Malibu Open Series Link