The 24-year-old Overall World Champion set the new world record in impressive style at a competition in Florida on Saturday 2nd September.  The record is subject to official ratification. 

The new record came in the final competition of the four-stop Overall World Tour - the Florida Cup held at Ski Fluid in Polk City near Orlando. Joel won the competition, as he did all three of the previous stops, taking the Tour title for the second successive year.

The scores that set the record were: 

• 1@10.25m
• 11,680pts
• 69.8m

Joel Poland at Ski Fluid. Photo: Johnny Hayward

Joel already had the world record - set at the World Championships in October 2021 -  but his combined scores in slalom, tricks and jump in the final round at Ski Fluid were enough to exceed his previous record. 

“The record is pending but fingers crossed it goes through,” Joel said on social media. “I wanna take this opportunity to thank all of my people – coaches, sponsors, parents and supporters. I have the best around me every day and that’s the reason I can make this post.

"A special thank you to Matt Rini and Radar skis for backing me for over 10 years."

Joel Poland at Ski Fluid. Photo: Johnny Hayward

The form Joel is in bodes well for the next Open World Championships which take place in the USA next month. A week ago he jumped further than any other GB waterskier has done, breaking Jason Seels' 13-year-old British record, leaping 71.7 metres off the ramp at the California Pro Am.

The odds are looking good for him to defend his Overall World Championships gold. If he does, he will be the first Briton to do so. Only two Britons before him have been crowned Overall World Champion - Jeannette Stewart-Wood in 1967 and Mike Hazelwood in 1977.

Full scores for the Florida Cup can be found here.

Joel on top at the Florida Cup. Photo: Johnny Hayward