Ryan ChartrandThe Cal Poly Water Ski Club is sending a record number of students to the National Collegiate Water Ski Association All-Star Tournament after impressive performances at its own tournament two weeks ago in Arvin.
The Cal Poly Water Ski Club hosts the tournament, Paradise Found, every year on Cinco de Mayo weekend with UC Santa Barbara.
“Our tournament is known as the Western Region last chance qualifier because it’s the last tournament before all-stars. It’s the last opportunity for skiers to try to get a score in to qualify,” civil engineering junior and club vice president Spencer Mullaney said.
This year the tournament was a big success for both the team and individual skiers.
“This is most likely the largest tournament, as far as registered skiers, that the Western Region has ever hosted,” Mullaney said. “We had 30 to 40 more skiers than any other tournament.”
The men’s team earned second place overall in slalom and senior Jamie Hastings set a new school and tournament record when he got two balls and 35 off at 36 miles and hours.
Senior Erin Gainous, in her first year on the team, set a personal record when she jumped 49 feet and secured a spot at all-stars.
“I didn’t expect to do this well,” Gainous said. “I went into the tournament as first alternate and was hoping to make it into the top 10, but I didn’t know if I would. Then (I) jumped 49 feet and took out the two girls ahead of me. I was shocked.”
Gainous is one of three women going to all-stars, joined by senior slalom skier Caty Tsu and senior slalom and trick skier Amanda Willson. Willson is the only Cal Poly skier going to all-stars for more than one event.
Four members of the men’s team also qualified for all-stars – Hastings and junior Greg Olsen for slalom; junior Colin Gibbs for trick; and junior Patrick Wyatt for jump.
“Last year was the first time we ever sent anyone to all-stars, and we had four people,” Tsu said. “This year we have seven. This shows how much our club has improved.”
With seven skiers going to all-stars, the Cal Poly Water Ski Club is sending more skiers than any other team in the Western Region.
“Even though we’re not competing with the best skiers in the region, we’re coming in the top 10 more often,” Hastings said.