WaterSki Magazine

See the second installment of WATERSKI contributor Thomas Gustafson's best water ski photos of 2011, including Aaron Larkin, Carlo Allais, Natalia Berdnikova and Thomas Degasperi.

We asked Thomas Gustafson for his favorite photos from the past 12 months. Check out the first installment of a dozen stellar shots, including Alex Laurentano, Billy Susi, Jon Travers and the action shot of Thomas Degasperi that scored the May issue cover.

Scroll through all six WATERSKI covers from 2011, vote for your favorite and let us know in the comments below what you look for in a great cover shot.

Check out pictures from the 2011 Katy Ski Jam in Katy, Texas, on October 14-15. On the podium were Nate Smith, Chris Rossi and Thomas Degasperi for slalom, and Freddy Krueger, Tom Asher and Mark Lane for jump...

Get up close with Thomas Degasperi and Carlo Allais during a recent photo/video shoot by Julie Parker and David Perry.

We've gathered together all six Leading Edge features from 2011 for your reading pleasure. From Jon Travers' Cinderella story at this year's Masters to Thomas Degasperi's zen-like confidence prior to a winning run...

words: Todd Ristorcelli || photo: Bill Doster There are few skiers on the planet who have the confidence to perform their best when it really matters. Thomas Degasperi is one of those skiers. This season, he took first place in slalom at Global Championships and Worlds, not to mention third at Moomba, fourth at Masters and fourth at the Malibu Open...

We caught up with Thomas Degasperi to find out a little more about how his special edition Goode Skis slalom water ski came to be. Learn a little more about the world champ and his ride, then check out some awesome action shots below...

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Watch your favorite pros in action during Militia's Sac-Town Gold Rush event, where the top skiers from around the globe battled for a shot at $55,000 in cash at Shortline Lake in Sacramento, CA, June 21-22...

Every year, the American Water Ski Association (AWSA) evaluates a handful of ski boats to determine which models have what it takes to tow the upcoming tournament season. To be considered tournament-worthy, each boat must pass a series of 11 tests and subtests, focusing on factors like power and acceleration, drivability, handling and maneuverability, sound level, and engineering...

WATERSKI staff photographer Bill Doster recently captured a handful of the pros at Ryan Dodd's new place in Palm Bay, Florida, during an Eagle Sports photo shoot.

Two-time world champion Thomas Degasperi tells Channel 9 news his beginnings in skiing, his daily routine and reasons why nearly every professional water skier and wakeboarder lives in central Florida...

Let's take a look behind some of the athletes' thought processes as they prepare for the 52nd Masters Water Ski Tournament this upcoming weekend in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Mandy Nightingale really focuses on quality over quantity since her training time is limited...