KUALA LUMPUR: Water skier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah ended her season on a high note by smashing her own women's tricks Asian record at the Oceania Championships in New South Wales, Australia, over the weekend.
The 19-year-old scored 7,970 points to finish first in the discipline at the Max Kirwan Ski Park Mulwala ahead of Aussie duo Erica Hayes and Layne Moroney. Aaliyah's previous record was 7,960.
It was a strong weekend overall for Aaliyah as she finished first in the overall category after her tricks triumph in addition to her third and fifth-place efforts in the slalom and jump.
In the slalom, she matched her personal best of 4.5/55kmh/12m in the first round of the competition.
She eventually scored 3/55/12 for third behind New Zealand's Meg Harraway and Australia's Casey Wooderson.
In the jump event, Aaliyah was less fortunate as she experienced strong winds when it was her turn to jump.
Despite leading the pack with a strong 41.3m jump in the first round, she could not improve and settled for a distance of 34.3m.
Wooderson won the open women's jump event with fellow Aussie Kristy Appleton in second and Courtney Williams of New Zealand taking third.
It was, however, enough for Aaliyah to claim the overall win, affirming her status as an all-rounder skier.
Pleased with her results, Aaliyah is already looking ahead to next season.
"I am very satisfied as I performed well in the tricks and slalom and was near my best in the jump," said Aaliyah.
"I hope to maintain my world ranking for next year. It will be crucial for my seeding in IWWF world-ranking tournaments.
"I will take a short break from training and return in January to prepare for the new season.
"I aim to be on the world podium again at the IWWF Under-21 Waterski World Championships in Mexico (June)."
Aaliyah's brother, Aiden, had a tough time in the men's tricks event, in which he was knocked out in the first round after his ski broke.