BallOfSpray

The 2010 Malibu Open is scheduled to go off at Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee, WI this August.

(Milwaukee, WI) – Malibu Boats and Milwaukee County Parks have teamed up to bring the 2010 Malibu Open to Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee, WI on August 6-7. World records can expect to be broken with Malibu as the official towboat. The world’s top slalom and jump skiers will be competing for $50,000 in prize money on the smooth waters of Veteran’s Park. At this high-profile location, spectators will witness a weekend of history-making performances amidst the fun and excitement that a Malibu Boats-supported tournament is known for.

The site of Harley-Davidson’s 105th Anniversary Celebration, Veteran’s Park is home to the 2010 Malibu Open. This Milwaukee County Park has hosted numerous large events. The Harley event welcomed crowds in excess of 100,000.

"We are so excited to have the International Water-ski Federation (IWSF) on Milwaukee County Park's lakefront for competitive water-ski competition this summer. This international event, combined with the Air Show, AVP Volleyball tournaments and the Kite Festivals, are reasons for Southeastern Wisconsin residents to come out and enjoy over 14 miles of pristine Lake Michigan shores on public park property. It's events such as this that truly make the Milwaukee County Park System a Gold Medal System," said Sue Black, Milwaukee County Parks Director.

Sixty of the finest skiers from around the globe will descend on Milwaukee to vie for $50,000 in prize money. In addition to the Record Capability Slalom and Jump event, the Show Ski, Free Style Jumping, and Barefoot Skiing will also hold the crowd’s attention.

“We are very excited to have the event come to Milwaukee,” said Kelly Peiffer, Sports Marketing Director for the Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The event will take place over 2 days with qualifying rounds both Friday and Saturday. The finale is scheduled on Saturday night under lights, where jumpers like world record holder, Freddy Krueger will hurl himself over a 6-foot ramp in excess of 220 ft. Slalom skiing is a very technical and exact sport. Add night skiing to this event and the excitement escalates by leaps and bounds. Will Asher, current world champion, and Chris Parrish, current world record holder, will be among the favorites to take home the coveted Malibu Open title.

“This is the best possible venue for our sport,” comments Dana Reed, President of Pro Slalom Events, LLC the Malibu Open Tournament Organizer. “Never before have we had the opportunity to showcase our sport at a site with so much potential for viewership.”

The World’s No. 1 selling water sports boat manufacturer, Malibu Boats, was chosen as the title sponsor and the official tow boat for the 2010 Malibu Open. Malibu’s world record-breaking competition ski boat, the Response LXi, will do the pulling honors. 14 world records, a long list of national and event records, as well as countless personal bests speak to the performance of this Malibu boat. As Malibu Boats declares, “The truth is on the water.”

When asked about her expectations for the 2010 Malibu Open, Lani Farmer, the National Event and Team Director for Malibu Boats answered, “The Malibu Open is the perfect blend of promotion, performance and venue.” Farmer explained, “Danna Reed is the best at promoting water skiing. If he builds the event the crowds come. Our participation [Malibu Boats] guarantees heated competition and the possibility of new world records. Add in the perfect water conditions, superior accommodations and crowd-friendly shorelines of Veteran’s Park and this could be the best Malibu Open yet!”

When Reed was asked why Veteran’s Park was the best location for the Malibu Open, he replied, “In these tough economic times, we wanted a site that would create excitement. Wisconsin is the center of the show ski world and we would like to tap into the excitement that has been created over many years.”

Crowds will enjoy the wide variety of activities planned for the Malibu Open. Great food and drinks will be available courtesy of Milwaukee Parks along with many water sports vendors. The Malibu Open will be a free event for family, friends and all to enjoy.

About Pro Slalom Events, LLC: Our goal is to bring water skiing back to the national spotlight giving our spectacular athletes a stage to perform on. Founded by Dana Reed, Pro Slalom Events, recreated the Pro Water Ski Tour for the 2008 season which became an immediate success. In 2009 Pro Slalom Events will continue its 2008 momentum supporting events in North Carolina, Michigan and the Abbotsford, BC stop. Through its passion and enthusiasm for water skiing Pro Slalom Events will continue to bring the amazing talent of these athletes to fans across the country and around the world for many years to come. http://www.theproskitour.com

About Milwaukee County Parks: As an operating unit of Milwaukee County Government, we provide quality of life experiences to Milwaukee County residents. This is accomplished through environmental and community stewardship and through the operation and maintenance of parks and facilities by a reliable, diverse and well-trained workforce/management team. Efficient, effective, and affordable recreational opportunities are provided by the department, often in collaboration with the community and designed to meet the diverse needs of its residents.

About Malibu Boats: Build the best boat possible, give boat owners the best value and enjoy the workplace. Since Malibu Boats' inception in 1982 the mission has been this simple. On the journey from building 100 custom ski boats a year in a small shop, to 19 Boat of the Year Awards and their standing as the world's number one selling wakeboard and water ski boats, Malibu has become an exemplary American boat company.

To stay current on all Malibu happenings visit the Malibu Boats web site and the Malibu Boats blog. You can also keep in touch with Malibu Boats on Twitter and Facebook.

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