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U.S. athletes will have an opportunity to earn bonus funding

POLK CITY, Fla. – USA Water Ski and Nautique are proud to announce the United States
Olympic Committee (USOC) has selected the 2014 Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament,
presented by Nautique, as an Operation Gold event for slalom, tricks, jumping and wakeboarding. The
55th Masters will be held May 24-25 at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.

Operation Gold is a USOC program that rewards athletes for earning medals at one elite level
tournament annually. It allows U.S. water ski and wakeboard athletes to earn money by placing in the topfour
in their respective event. This marks the second time in the past three years that the prestigious
Masters has been selected an Operation Gold event by USA Water Ski and the USOC, but the first time
that wakeboard athletes will be included in the funding. USA Water Ski and the World Wakeboard
Association created a Statement of Cooperation to allow wakeboarding athletes access to the Operation
Gold funds this year. In addition to the cash-prize purse offered by Nautique, U.S. athletes competing in
slalom, tricks, jumping and wakeboarding will be awarded an additional $2,500 for first place, $2,000 for
second place, $1,500 for third place and $1,000 for fourth place via the Operation Gold program.

“We are very pleased to work with Nautique and the World Wakeboard Association to provide this
USOC Operation Gold funding opportunity to these incredibly talented water ski and wakeboard athletes,”
said Bob Crowley, executive director of USA Water Ski. “This is a testament to the quality of athletes that
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.”

“We are extremely honored for the Masters to be selected by the USOC once again as the
Operation Gold event,” said 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.”

“The WWA is happy to assist in any way it can to provide additional funding to the riders,” said
WWA’s President/CEO Shannon Starling. “The Masters is the highest quality event and has earned this
recognition and funding from the USOC.”

From now through May 15, advance tickets can be purchased at a discounted price at
www.masterswaterski.com. Tickets for the awards banquet on Sunday evening (May 25) honoring the
Masters champions also are available for purchase. For more information on the 55th Masters Water Ski
& Wakeboard Tournament, please visit www.masterswaterski.com.