Matthew Klee (Harbor City, Calif.)won the Men’s Open, 17-35 Men and Men’s Outboard titles. File Photo by Daren Van Ryte.

Twelve water ski racing athletes won titles at the 17th annual U.S. Open Water Ski Racing National Championships, Oct. 8-9, at Buena Vista in Bakersfield, Calif. The National Water Ski Racing Association, a sport discipline organization of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, hosted the two-day competition.

More than 30 athletes competed in two rounds of circle-sprint races. The athletes drew for pole positions, made a deep-water start at the drop of a green flag and raced in lanes for a designated number of laps. Athletes competed for titles in 17 divisions. Overall placements were determined by total number of points. In the event of a tie, total race time broke the tie.

Among the highlights, Matthew Klee (Harbor City, Calif.) won the Men’s Open, 17-35 Men and Men’s Outboard titles, while Sophia Rivera (Westminster, Calif.) won the 16 & Under Girls and Women’s Open titles.

Other athletes earning U.S. Open titles in respective divisions were: Ty Cheshier (Valencia, Calif.), 16 and Under Boys; Jason Davison (Long Beach, Calif.), Social Open; Julia Williams (Long Beach, Calif.), 17-35 Women and Women’s Outboard; Brian Samaniego (Fullerton, Calif.), Stock Boat; Ryan Flores (San Diego, Calif.), Men’s Novice; Doug Eckhoff (Apple Valley, Calif.), GrassRoots; Levi Frederick (Mesa, Ariz.), 60 MPH Open and Hands Out Front; Cheryl Ruston (Cypress, Calif.), 36 & Over Women; Steve Davis (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), 36-54 Men; Dave Chandler (Henderson, Nev.), 55 & Over Men; and Ty Cheshier (Valencia, Calif,) and Jason Davison (Long Beach, Calif.), Double-Up (Exhibition Class).

Randy Davis (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Andy Klee (Harbor City, Calif.) earned the awards for top-scoring driver and observer, respectively.

Complete Results (PDF).