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Risto
Andy Mapple raises the winning trophy of the opening stop of the Nautique Big Dawg World Tour in San Bernardo, Chile. second place: Todd Ristorcelli; third place: Rodolfo Guzman
The first stop of the 2013 Ski Nautique Big Dawg World Tour (presented by O’Brien) in San Bernardo, Chile on February 1-2 is in the books, and Great Britain’s Andy Mapple claimed the season opening title. Mapple, who turned 50 last November, took down WATERSKI editor Todd Ristorcelli in the head-to-head finale, upping Ristorcelli’s mark by 1/2 buoy with a score of 2 at 41 off. As the most dominant slalom skier of all time, Mapple hopes to continue his winning ways when he matches up against the world’s best 36 mph skiers in mid-February at Ski Paradise’s Dream Week in Acapulco, Mexico, and then again in Melbourne, Australia when he skis in the Moomba Masters in early March. “I just love to compete,” says Mapple. “The head-to-head Big Dawg format is really exciting, and the current group of competitors make it a lot of fun.”
This year’s Nautique Big Dawg World Tour consists of six events in three different countries, and the series championship will be held at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach, Florida on August 15-16.
February 1-2: San Bernardo, Chile
March 6-11: Melbourne Australia
June 29-30: Canton, Mississipi
July 6-7: Baruech, France
July 13-14: Fenton, Michigan
August 15-16: West Palm Beach, Florida
Mapple’s signature onside turns deliver him his second Big Dawg title in two years.
Big Dawg newbie and Chilean ripper Rod Guzman has several rounds deep into 39 1/2 off, and finished his first Big Dawg tourney in 3rd place.
Peru’s Juan Carlos Cuglievan enjoys the stellar conditions of Lago Los Morros, site of the 2013 World Water Ski Championships this November.
Italy’s Fabrizio Merlo qualified for the Big Dawg finals in West Palm Beach, Florida held in August by scoring 2 at 39 1/2 off in the opening round.
Lakeland, Florida’s Tim Huston finished in fourth place with a score of 4 at 39 1/2 off.
Representing his home country of Chile, Ruben Rosenberg finished the tournament in seventh place.
Competitors took advantage of the site’s close proximity to downtown Santiago to experience the Chilean culture.
After this tourney and his tenacious skiing, John Shealy is now known by many as “Juan Chile”.
