The two-week stint at the Cory Pickos ski site in Florida has certainly paid off after waterski siblings Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah, Aiden Yoong Hanifah and Adam Yoong Hanifah produced vastly improved results at the Florida Inboards Record tournament.
In total the trio combined for two new Asian Under-17 records, three Malaysian records while also setting six new personal bests for one of the best outings this year.
The 14-year-old Aaliyah, a triple KL SEA Games gold medallist, led the way after finishing second in the girls’ Under-17 jump with a distance of 34.9m in the two-day meet which ended on Sunday.
It is a new national record for Aaliyah. Her previous national best was a distance of 32.8m which she recorded en route to taking gold at the SEA Games.
Aaliyah also equalled her national mark of 0.5/55/12 in slalom although she eventually only finished fifth.
Additionally, Aaliyah also produced a season best score of 6,960 to finish second in tricks, behind American Kennedy Hansen who scored 7,910.
It is some way off her national record of 7,600 but it is certainly a positive showing as Aaliyah successfully landed a new trick in competition.
“She did well in tricks and the only drawback was she fell in toes so she couldn’t get past 7,600 points,” said Malaysian Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (MWWF) head coach Hanifah Yoong.
“However she has gained 4kg in the past 12 months and she has more power as shown in her flips, jumps and in slalom.
“Now she just needs to get back to her former toe tricking speed in order to get back in form.”
Aaliyah was certainly not outdone by her brothers as 10-year-old Adam showed the makings to develop into a top tricks skier in the future.
The SEA Games gold medallist smashed his national record, for the second time this year by scoring a total of 4,750 to win the boys’ Under-13 event.
It was a significant improvement from the 4,430 he achieved during the Latrobe International in Melbourne in March.
The new score is not only a personal best for Adam but it is also a new Asian Under-17 record as well.
Aiden the middle sibling, 12, did not win but he still put up a good showing to finish behind his brother with a new personal best score of 4,030.
Both boys also fared well with new personal bests in the Under-13 slalom. Aiden putting up a run of 3/55/16.25 while Adam touching base with 0.5/55/16.25.
The team now resumes training at the Santa Rosa Beach for two weeks before heading to Callaway Gardens, Atlanta where Aaliyah is due to compete at the Nautique Waterski US Masters from May 25-27.
