Denny Bartlett Is Favored in Water Ski Race

Denny Bartlett of Lake Arrowhead is considered the favorite in the 37th annual Catalina Ski Race, which will be held today starting and finishing at the Queen’s Way Hilton Hotel.

More than 100 water skiers are entered in the 52-mile event in which the competitors travel from Long Beach to Catalina Island and back to Long Beach.

There are 18 different classes of competition including Open Men, Open Women, Junior Girls and Intermediate Men.

Chuck Stearns of Long Beach, an 11-time winner of the race, has decided to come out of retirement and seek his 12th victory. Stearns, 44, hasn’t competed in the event since 1982 when he won the Open Men’s division. He first won in 1955.

Debbie Norblad of Westlake Village is considered the favorite in the Open Women’s division. Among her top challengers figures to be Marsha Meir of Lake Elsinore.

Among the top entries in the Junior Girls division are 16-year-old Rene Fuscardo of Anaheim Hills and 15-year-old Cheryl Ruston of La Palma. Favored in the Intermediate Men’s division are 16-year-old Mason Thompson of Newport Beach.