Nautique is proud to announce the 55th Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament held May 23-25, 2014 at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, has been selected by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as an Operation Gold event for Slalom, Trick, and Jump. In addition, Wakeboarding has been added this year to Operation Gold.
The Masters was first chosen by USA Water Ski as an Operation Gold Event for water ski athletes in 2012. It is truly an honor for the Masters to once again be designated as an Operation Gold event. USA Water Ski and the World Wakeboard Association (WWA) created a Statement of Cooperation to allow the Wakeboard athletes access to these Operation Gold funds for 2014. Operation Gold is a USOC program that rewards athletes for earning medals at one elite level event annually. Operation Gold allows U.S. water ski and wakeboard athletes to earn money by placing in the top-four in their division. U.S. athletes in these disciplines will be awarded an additional $2,500 for first, $2,000 for second, $1,500 for third and $1,000 for fourth place.
“The WWA is happy to assist in any way it can to provide additional funding to the riders. The Masters is the highest quality event and has earned this recognition and funding from the USOC,” stated WWA’s President/CEO Shannon Starling.
“We are very pleased to work with the WWA to provide this USOC Operation Gold funding opportunity to these incredibly talented water ski and wakeboard athletes. This is a testament to the quality of athletes who compete in the Masters each year and to the prestige of the event that Nautique produces. It is always an honor to work with the USOC on this program,” commented Bob Crowley, executive director of USA Water Ski, the national governing body of organized water skiing in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee.
“We are extremely honored for Masters to be selected by the USOC once again as the Operation Gold event!” stated Nautique’s President/CEO Bill Yeargin. “The Masters is the world’s most distinguished water ski and wakeboard tournament with only the top athletes in the world invited,” Yeargin added.
From now through May 15th purchase advance tickets via on-line for the Masters and save. Join us for the awards banquet on Sunday evening honoring the Masters champions. Banquet tickets are also available for purchase including new convenient packages.
An invitation to compete in the Masters is universally considered an acknowledgement of achievement for reaching the pinnacle in a given watersports discipline – only the world’s most elite athletes compete at the Masters. To view the 2014 criteria please visit the Masters website. This tournament is sanctioned by IWWF/USA Water Ski and WWA. For more information on the most prestigious event in the world or to order tickets please visit masterswaterski.com.
