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Hickman
Andy Mapple
Training Grounds: Lake Hancock, Orlando, Fla.
Weapon of Choice: O'Brien Mapple
Expert Analysis: Andy is the total skiing package. He always has his ski dialed, his leverage position is exceptional, and he accelerates faster and slows down better than anyone. The one thing that really stands out about his skiing is how the leverage he creates through the wakes ejects him into an amazing edge change. You can't practice this edge change. You create it with angle and a hard and balanced lean through the wakes as demonstrated in the photo above. He uses the second wake to suck up his knees and transition the ski from his leaning to turning edge, which puts him earlier into the buoy than anyone in the world. –Gordon Rathbun
April Coble
Training Grounds: Coble Ski School, Lillington, N.C.
Weapon of Choice: O'Brien Mapple
Expert Analysis: April is the perfect student. She's not afraid to try something new on the water. When you tell her to do something, she goes for it with no fear. She's also one of the few skiers who actually have a stronger offside turn than onside turn. April gets herself into position quickly at the finish of the turn and she's very powerful. She's extremely strong for her weight, and she uses it to her advantage at the finish of the turn by getting full acceleration after the ball to the first wake. If you look at the photo above you can tell she's in full attack mode. This is where she attains all of her speed by getting the pull on her back arm after the turn. — Andy Mapple
Marcus Brown
Training Grounds: The Ridge, Oroville, Calif.
Weapon of Choice: KD 7000
Expert Analysis: Marcus has many positive suites that are associated with his skiing. One of his greatest assets is the way he crosses the wakes. He takes weight off the ski during his wake crossings by dropping his body mass by sinking down with his lower body. This allows the ski to come off edge and release into his edge change while maintaining outward direction, which gives him an early line to the buoy. Marcus is also an exceptional turner, as illustrated in these photos. He does an incredible job of counter-rotating in the turn while keeping his head in an upright position and looking down course. He doesn't force the ski to finish the turn. Instead, the ski carves naturally. — Mike Suyderhound
