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RistoThe Diablo Shores Pro Am held in Brentwood, California, on Sept. 17-19, proved once again to be the ultimate battleground for pros looking to end the season with a strong performance. For starters, Will Asher, the most dominate slalom skier of the summer, practically set the course ablaze in the opening round by running 1 at 43 off and securing a bye in the first round of the final head-to-head match-ups.
Chris Parrish, Thomas Degasperi, and Jamie Beaushense were not too far behind all weekend, posting scores in the mid-to-deep-41-off range. But it was Asher who was the last skier standing. On his way to the final head-to-head bracket where he defeated Beauchense by running yet another 39½ off, he took out Parrish in the highest-scoring head-to-head match up in the history of the sport, scoring 5 at 41 off to Parrish’s 4 at 41 off.
In the pro women’s race to claim valuable end of the season elite ranking points, Whitney McClintock, Nicole Arthur, April Coble Eller and Regina Jaquess all skied exceptionally strong with runs into mid-39½ off. But it was Jaquess who stole the show in the final match up against Arthur by equaling the women’s world-record of 1 at 41 off.
This year’s Legends event, starring Kris and Bob LaPoint, and Carl Roberge was another highlight reel from the event. With an experimental boat speed of 35 mph, the trio of former world and pro tour champions were towed behind the brand-new Centurion Carbon Pro ski boat. Although Roberge was rusty with only a few sets under his belt in several years, it was good to see him making tracks in the Diablo Shores emerald-colored water, posting 3 at 38 off in his best round. It was the close competition between the LaPoint brothers, however, that really got the crowd going. Bob skied just before older brother Kris (57) in the final and ran his best performance of the weekend with a score of 4½ at 39½ off. Kris, backed up his bro’s score with a truly legendary performance, running 1 at 41 off.
Photos: Todd Ristorcelli
Will Asher
