The Big Dawg Series

The O'Brien Big Dawg Slalom Series, presented by Nautique, consists of two U.S. qualifying events and a series championship. The series expanded internationally this year and kicked off the season in Peru this past January and recently had the first European qualifier. Also new for 2011, this year's Elite 8 will receive an invite to the 2012 Moomba Masters in Melbourne, Australia.

The series, now in its sixth season, is open to slalom skiers 35 years of age or older who have not placed in the top 10 in a professional water ski tournament in the past three years.

Each qualifying event, as well as the series championship, includes two rounds of 34 mph record-capability slalom action, followed by a bracketed 16-skier head-to-head finale. In the head-to-head format, the top seed has the option of skiing first or second, but whoever goes out second has to beat the first skier's score (ties go to the skier who opts to ski first). The top-16 placements from each qualifying event automatically qualify for the series championship. Don't miss this year's Sweet 16 finals under the lights at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach, FL.