For the second time in his career, Olds' Ryan Dodd is at the top of the water-skiing world.Dodd won gold at the 2014 Masters Canada, held from May 23 to 25 at Lake Robin in Pine Mountain, Ga.Since 1959, it has been the event of the year for water-skiing. It is the pinnacle competition for the sport, Dodd said.The first time he won gold was in 2012.The masters is an invite-only competition that brings the top seven water skiers in the world.Dodd went through two rounds in the distance-jumping category.During competition, he was tugged by a 400 horesepower boat at about 113 kilometres an hour toward a two-metre high ramp.“It's quite a rush. We're at the end of this long rope, getting whipped at the ramp so it's just an extreme acceleration. We basically go from zero to 70 miles an hour in two seconds,” Dodd said. “It's huge acceleration and slingshot off the ramp. There's nothing like it in the world.Off the ramp, Dodd soared for 68 metres, capturing gold.“It feels awesome,” he said about winning his second championship. “Just kind of affirming all the hard work I've been doing.”The 29-year-old was hurt earlier in February, suffering bruised ribs and damaged cartilage in a crash while preparing for events the next month.Dodd grew up east of Olds and attended Olds High School. He now lives in Florida but skis professionally and for the Canadian National [email protected]
