Robert Pigozzi slaloms at the Nautique Masters

What Happened to Robert Pigozzi? The Rise and Fall of a Slalom Prodigy

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What happened to Robert Pigozzi? The rise and fall of a slalom prodigy

Robert Pigozzi slaloms at the Nautique Masters

The famous ‘Pigozzi lean’ (image: Des Burke-Kennedy)

By Jack Burden


Cast your mind back to 2019, pre-pandemic, when the waterski world still felt a little simpler. Ski boats were still under six figures, webcasts were homemade affairs, and Joel Poland’s bid for world domination was in its infancy. If you had to pick the next big thing in slalom back then, there was only one correct answer: Robert Pigozzi.

At 21 years old, with arms like tree trunks and a gold chain around his neck, Pigozzi could have been mistaken for a swashbuckling young baseball star – the national pastime of his native Dominican Republic. Instead, he channeled his strength into ripping tow pylons out of their sockets. His leans put even Freddie Winter to shame.

In 2015, he won the Under-17 World Championships, setting a record that would stand for almost a decade. That same year, as a 17-year-old, he finished runner-up at the Under-21 Worlds. By the age of 20, he’d already won his first professional tournament and became just the 12th member of the 41-off club (though many keyboard warriors would question the legitimacy of scores from that event). In 2019, he earned seven top-five finishes in professional events, including an incredible European tour run where he claimed a second pro title alongside three runner-up finishes. He capped off his breakout season with gold at the Pan American Games.

He finished that season fourth in the Elite Standings, making him one of only two skiers (alongside Stephen Neveu) to break into the top four past the unbeatable quartet of Smith, Winter, Asher, and Degasperi over the last five years of the Elite Rankings.

Yes, it helped that Nate Smith was sidelined for much of 2019 due to his SafeSport investigation and subsequent suspension, but Pigozzi’s skiing was the real deal. In 2019, he scored three or more at 10.25 meters (41’ off) eight times in professional competition, including on the notoriously challenging Yarra River.

Fast forward to 2024, and Pigozzi has changed. He’s matured. He’s married. He’s running multiple side hustles, balancing his entrepreneurial ventures with the demands of being a professional athlete. Perhaps the shift in priorities has affected his performance. Last year, he entered just four pro events, finishing 22nd, 15th, 12th, and 17th. He managed to run 10.75 meters (39.5’ off) only once.

At the season’s final event, he looked like a fish out of water. On his opening pass at 13 meters (32’ off), Pigozzi inexplicably pulled up narrow for two ball. Given a reprieve by the best-of-two-rounds format, he looked shaky throughout his second round, repeating the same mistake into six ball on his third pass at 11.25 meters (38’ off).

Even reigning world champion Freddie Winter couldn’t make sense of it: “I am honestly floored. I’ve seen a lot of stuff in waterskiing, but I would’ve put my house on him getting around six. He was cruising, but then suddenly, he’s pulling on the inside and narrow.”

Pigozzi’s form has been on a downward trend for a while now. He hasn’t had a top-five finish since 2021 and has made just two finals in the past two years. In the last five seasons, he’s recorded fewer scores of three or more at 10.25 meters (41’ off) in pro competition than he did in 2019 alone.

Perhaps there’s no way back from this slump for Pigozzi, once the shining star of world slalom skiing. He turns 28 this year, tied the knot, and the responsibilities of adulthood are catching up with him.

But at his best, no one slalomed quite like the strapping Dominican. When running late, he’d drop the hammer, with leans so deep he seemed parallel with the water. A boat driver’s worst nightmare (it’s perhaps not surprising his father is one of the most highly regarded in the world), he was the skier who made you think, “That’s how it should be done. If only I were stronger, braver, younger.”

Where Nate Smith and his many imitators make shortline skiing look effortless, Pigozzi at his best made it look like something anyone could do—if they were just a little more daring. His style harkened back to the power of slalom greats like Kjellander and LaPoint—raw strength combined with dogged determination. It’s the kind of firepower and excitement the sport often lacks today.

So let’s hope there are more chapters to be written in Pigozzi’s story. He remains one of water skiing’s finest sluggers.

2025 Moomba Masters

Moomba Magic: New Champions Rise on the Yarra

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Moomba magic: New champions rise on the Yarra

2025 Moomba Masters

Image: Moomba Masters

By Jack Burden


MELBOURNE, Australia – The 64th Nautique Moomba Masters International Invitational, the longest running event in professional water skiing, delivered another electrifying spectacle on the Yarra River. With its storied history and the festival’s raucous backdrop, no event in the sport draws a bigger live audience. And with it came the unpredictability, the high drama, and a new crop of champions.

The Yarra Claims Its Victims

The Moomba Masters is as much a battle against the conditions as it is against the competition. The infamous Yarra River played its role once again, dashing the hopes of even the most seasoned skiers. The cutthroat LCQ format and brutal preliminary rounds saw big names like reigning under-21 world champion Annemarie Wroblewski and experienced duo Elizabeth and Steven Island miss out on the slalom finals. Trick skiing had its own share of heartbreak, as reigning world overall champion Louis Duplan-Fribourg, along with several other top contenders, failed to navigate their way into the finals after a string of early falls.

Trick Finals: The New Gold Standard

Finals Monday kicked off with a fireworks display in the tricks event, where the women’s showdown was another chapter in the decade-long dominance of Erika Lang, Anna Gay Hunter, and Neilly Ross. Lang, already the Moomba course record holder, set the pace by rewriting her own mark with 10,830 points in the prelims. The final was razor-close, but Lang edged out Hunter and Ross for her third consecutive Moomba Masters crown.

The men’s event was an all-out war, where 12,000-plus was the magic number. Joel Poland, returning to the Moomba Masters after a five-year absence, threw down early with a score above 12,000. Jake Abelson, already riding high from his junior competition victory and course record (12,150), stepped up to take the lead with 12,230. Reigning world champion Patricio Font stumbled in his toe pass and couldn’t claw his way back despite a monster hand pass. Then came top seed Matias Gonzalez, seemingly on the brink of victory until he opted for a wake 180 over a high-scoring risk move, handing the title to Abelson—his first professional win. It also marked the first time in history that all three podium finishers cracked the 12,000-point barrier.

Slalom: A Legend Returns and a New Star Rises

Women’s slalom delivered a storyline no scriptwriter could have crafted better. The two favorites, Whitney McClintock Rini and defending champion Regina Jaquess, had barely survived the LCQs after early-round struggles. But McClintock Rini, skiing first in the finals, set a mark that none of the remaining 7 skiers could beat, securing her tenth Moomba Masters title and cementing her status as the undisputed Queen of Moomba.

The men’s slalom final was another thriller in what has become a wildly unpredictable discipline. Nine different winners in 2024 suggested an anything-goes environment in 2025, and the final reflected just that. Sixteen-year-old Damien Eade took the early lead, before Poland—showcasing his versatility—edged further down the 10.75m line. Then came Freddie Winter, just nine months removed from a broken femur, clawing his way into contention before local hero Lucas Cornale raised the bar to three buoys. It seemed a winning score until the wily veteran Thomas Degasperi managed a piece of four ball, setting the challenge for top seed Charlie Ross. The 19-year-old Canadian skied with a composure beyond his years, securing a full four and his maiden professional title, making him the youngest Moomba Masters slalom champion since Carl Roberge in the early ‘80s.

Jump: A Changing of the Guard

While the conditions kept the scores low in slalom, the jump event was an entirely different story, with personal bests falling like dominos throughout the tournament. The absence of Jacinta Carroll, who had dominated the women’s event for over a decade, left a power vacuum that was quickly filled by Brittany Greenwood Wharton. Making her Moomba Masters debut, the American put together a gutsy performance to fend off a strong challenge from Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya and secure her first professional title.

On the men’s side, the competition was stacked, but the weekend quickly morphed into a two-man showdown between Austria’s Luca Rauchenwald, fresh off a University World’s victory, and Great Britain’s Joel Poland. Poland, already having an outstanding weekend across multiple events, continued his surge by launching a monstrous 69-meter (226-foot) leap to claim his first Moomba Masters jump title. But he wasn’t done yet. Under the Melbourne city fireworks display, he capped off the event with a dominant night jump victory, soaring 68.6 meters (225 feet) off the smaller 5.5-foot ramp, putting an emphatic exclamation point on his weekend.

Moomba Magic Lives On

The 2025 Moomba Masters was a festival of breakthroughs and unexpected turns, a reminder that on the Yarra, past records and rankings often mean little. New champions were crowned, legends continued to build their legacies, and the world’s biggest water skiing stage proved once again why it remains unmatched in drama and spectacle. As the crowds dispersed and the festival wound down, one thing was clear: the Moomba Masters remains the ultimate test of talent, nerve, and resilience.

Martin Labra jump crash

Injury Update: Martin Labra Sidelined After Jump Crash

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Injury update: Martin Labra sidelined after jump crash

Martin Labra jump crash

Image: @tincho.ski

By Jack Burden


SANTIAGO, Chile – Chilean water-skiing sensation Martin Labra has been forced to withdraw from the Moomba Masters after suffering a knee injury in a nasty training crash at Miranda’s Ski School. The 18-year-old went out the back and was unable to pull it back on landing, leaving his immediate competitive future in doubt.

Labra, ever resilient, took to social media with a fighter’s mentality: “Doesn’t matter how many times you fall, what matters is how many times you get up. We’ll come back stronger than ever.”

His absence leaves a significant void in the trick event, where he’s been redefining the discipline with pinpoint precision and an unprecedented emphasis on toe tricks. The reigning U.S. Masters and Botaski ProAm trick champion is one of the rare skiers to surpass 12,500 points, and his technical innovation—marked by tricks such as the ‘reverse’ toe-wake-five-back—has set him apart as the highest scoring toe tricker of his generation.

But Labra isn’t just a one-discipline wonder. While tricks remain his calling card at the professional level, his meteoric rise in jump and overall—where he now ranks sixth in the world—has signaled a broader dominance to come. His progress in jumping, particularly at the higher speeds and ramp heights of the pro circuit, suggests he’s far from a finished product.

For now, though, the skiing world holds its breath. A star on the ascent has hit turbulence, but if Labra’s track record is anything to go by, this is just another trick he’ll find a way to land.

2024 Nautique Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament

Joel Poland Makes His Return to the Moomba Masters

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Joel Poland returns to Moomba Masters: A comeback on the Yarra

2024 Nautique Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament

Image: Johnny Hayward

By Jack Burden


The best water skier in the world is back where it all began.

Reigning world record holder in Men’s Overall, 2024 WWS Overall Tour champion, and 2024 Waterski Pro Tour jump champion, Joel Poland will return to the iconic Moomba Masters in downtown Melbourne from March 8-10. It’s been five years since Poland last carved up the Yarra River, and his return makes an already electric event even more explosive.

Poland last competed at Moomba in 2020, where he finished third in men’s tricks. It was a fitting result for an athlete whose professional career first gained traction at this very event. From 2018 to 2020, the Brit made three consecutive Moomba appearances, cutting his teeth on the notoriously unpredictable Yarra—a river that can make or break the best in the world.

But then, an unwanted break. Visa complications kept Poland out of Australia, forcing him to miss the last three editions of the world’s longest-running professional water ski tournament. Frustrating? Absolutely. But Poland never lost sight of the Moomba Masters. A self-proclaimed superfan of the event, he has bided his time, waiting for his chance to return.

This time, he comes back a different skier. More titles, more records, more experience. His preparation? A northern hemisphere winter spent training in Chile at Lago Valle Maipo with the Gonzalez family. While it’s still early in the season, Poland is expected to be a serious contender in all three events—slalom, trick, and jump.

The Moomba Masters is already the most exciting event on the water ski calendar. With Poland back in the mix, it just got even better.

Lexi Abelson tricks at the 2024 Jr World Championships

Biggest Ranking Movers: IWWF Year-End Top 25 Sees Young Stars and Comebacks

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Biggest ranking movers: IWWF year-end top 25 sees young stars and comebacks

Lexi Abelson tricks at the 2024 Jr World Championships

Image: Johnny Hayward

By Jack Burden


While the sport’s relentless focus on performance can sometimes be a double-edged sword, the IWWF’s ranking lists remain the best tool for consistently assessing the global competitive landscape. Tracking the biggest risers on these lists offers a glimpse into emerging stars and in-form skiers to watch in the coming season. Here, we highlight the most significant ranking jumps from the 2023 to 2024 year-end IWWF Top 25s.

Leading the surge in this year’s rankings is 14-year-old American Alexia Abelson, who made a staggering 42-spot leap in women’s overall, climbing from No. 63 in 2023 to No. 21 in 2024.

The younger of the two Abelson siblings had a breakout season, winning tricks and finishing second in overall at the Under-17 World Championships in Calgary, Canada. She also qualified for all three events at the Jr. U.S. Masters in Callaway Gardens, Georgia. At just 14, she is the youngest skier in the IWWF women’s overall Top 25—by a full three years.

On the men’s side, slalom specialist Adam Caldwell recorded the biggest jump, skyrocketing 31 spots from No. 43 in 2023 to No. 12 in 2024. His comeback follows a battle with a rare form of pneumonia that left him hospitalized in 2023. Now fully recovered, the Denali Skis innovator is back in top form.

The most notable ranking gains were concentrated in men’s slalom (four skiers) and men’s overall (three skiers), reinforcing the depth and competitiveness of these events in 2024.

Biggest Ranking Movers Among IWWF Year-End Top 25 (from Dec. 26, 2023 year-end rankings to Dec. 31, 2024 year-end rankings):

+42 Women’s Overall: Alexia Abelson, USA (5@12m/6,870/14.5m to 3.5@11.25m/8,720/21.6m)

+35 Men’s Overall: Axel Garcia, FRA (3@13m/7,830/46.8m to 2.5@12m/10,380/49.7m)

+31 Men’s Slalom: Adam Caldwell, USA (0.5@10.25m to 4@10.25m)

+24 Men’s Slalom: Lucas Cornale, AUS (1.5@10.25m to 4@10.25m)

+20 Men’s Overall: Thomas Daigle, CAN (3.5@11.25m/6,000/56.3m to 2@10.75m/7,860/63.2m)

+20 Men’s Slalom: Steven Island, USA (1.25@10.25m to 3@10.25m)

+20 Men’s Overall: Lucas Pinette, CAN (4@12m/6,480/54.5m to 3@11.25m/8,110/60.3m)

+18 Men’s Slalom: Daniel Odvarko, CZE (1@10.25m to 2.13@10.25m)

+16 Women’s Slalom: Trinidad Espinal, CHI (4.63@11.25m to 2@10.75m)

+16 Women’s Slalom: Christhiana De Osma, PER (3.5@11.25m to 1@10.75m)

The Orakei Basin in Auckland

Water Ski’s Next Generation Takes Center Stage at 2025 University Worlds

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Water ski’s next generation takes center stage at 2025 IWWF World University Championships

Auckland Water Ski Club

Aerial view of Orakei basin, near Auckland, New Zealand (image: Bruce W. Hayward)

By Jack Burden


AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The 2025 waterski season launches with a bang next week as the IWWF World University Waterski Championships kick off in Auckland. The event, marking the first major competition of the year, is set to establish the early pecking order in what promises to be a high-octane season.

A total of 79 athletes from 19 nations will take to the water, featuring a mix of former junior world champions, rising stars, and burgeoning professionals eager to make their mark. While the World Championships brand may be expanding faster than a ski boat’s sticker price, there’s no questioning the sheer talent on display.

Slalom Showdowns

On the women’s side, Alexandra Garcia (USA) leads a fiercely competitive Slalom field, with Luisa Jaramillo (Colombia) and Daniela Kretschmer (Chile) set to challenge for the top spot. The men’s event features Nikolaus Attensam (Austria), Jaime Palomino Blanch (Mexico), and Federico Jaramillo (Colombia), each capable of throwing down massive scores under pressure.

Tricks to Watch

In the Tricks event, Malaysia’s Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah—already a familiar name in elite waterski circles—will look to fend off Canada’s Hannah Stopnicki in the women’s category. Meanwhile, the Mexican duo of Pablo Font and Patricio Font, alongside Erick Macias (USA), will be the favorites to beat in the men’s division.

Jumping to Great Heights

The Jump event could deliver some of the most electrifying moments of the week. Nellie Allard (Canada), Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah (Malaysia), and Lili Steiner (Austria) lead the women’s field, while the men’s side features France’s Pol Duplan-Fribourg, Argentina’s Tobias Giorgis, and Austria’s Luca Rauchenwald—all capable of clearing eye-watering distances.

Overall Contenders

When it comes to the all-around battle, expect Australia’s Lara Butlin, Malaysia’s Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah, and Austria’s Lili Steiner to contend for the women’s crown. In the men’s category, Pol Duplan-Fribourg (France) and Tobias Giorgis (Argentina) are the names to watch.

The Bigger Picture

This event marks the first University World Championships under the IWWF banner, with previous editions falling under FISU jurisdiction. Talks are already underway for an expanded 2026 edition, potentially adding wakeboard boat, cable wakeboard, and wakesurfing into the mix.

“IWWF is currently in discussions with a city in the USA to host the 2026 IWWF University Worlds with wakeboard boat, cable wakeboard, and wakesurfing being the proposed disciplines,” said IWWF President Jose Antonio Perez Priego.

With an already crowded calendar of IWWF title events, some critics wonder if the ever-expanding slate of competitions could dilute the prestige of the traditional World Championships. But for now, the focus is on New Zealand, where the future of waterskiing is set to take center stage.

And if the past is any guide, the next global star might just emerge from these very waters.

Ryan Dodd leaves the dock at the 2023 Moomba Masters

Strong Field Confirmed for the 64th Moomba Masters

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Moomba Masters Set for a Thrilling 2025 with World’s Top Skiers

Ryan Dodd leaves the dock at the 2023 Moomba Masters

Waterskiing’s finest set to converge in Melbourne (image: @vincephotography)

By Jack Burden


The stage is set for the 64th Moomba Masters International Invitational, one of water skiing’s premier events, as the Victorian Water Ski Association sends out invitations for the tournament scheduled for March. A total of 69 athletes from 15 countries have confirmed their participation, promising a fiercely competitive and diverse field.

The 2025 roster boasts an impressive lineup, including five of the six individual event world record holders. Notably, the tricks field features all five current skiers who have scored over 12,500 points and all three women who have surpassed 11,000—setting the stage for an intense competition.

While the top seeds include well-established names in the world of water skiing, the rest of the field is comprised of emerging talents, many of whom are relatively unknown. The event’s timing and location have historically posed challenges for Northern Hemisphere athletes, adding an extra layer of excitement as young competitors aim to make their mark on the global stage.

The IWWF University Worlds, held the week prior in nearby Auckland, New Zealand, has further strengthened the presence of young talent traveling to the Southern Hemisphere for this year’s event.

A notable omission from the entry list is Jacinta Carroll, the world record holder, who retired after securing her tenth consecutive Moomba Masters title last year. Her absence guarantees a first-time winner in the women’s jump event.

The Moomba Masters, held in downtown Melbourne during the city’s annual Moomba Festival, draws the largest crowd of any water ski event globally. The Yarra River, with its brackish water, variable tidal currents, and challenging bounceback from the riverbanks, presents a demanding test for athletes. However, the unparalleled atmosphere of skiing in front of thousands of spectators makes it one of the most thrilling experiences in the sport.

Top 10 Seeded Women:

SlalomTricksJump
Regina Jaquess (USA)Neilly Ross (CAN)Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya (USA)
Whitney Rini (CAN)Erika Lang (USA)Brittany Wharton (USA)
Elizabeth Montavon (USA)Anna Hunter (USA)Regina Jaquess (USA)
Neilly Ross (CAN)Alexia Abelson (USA)Valentina Gonzalez (CHI)
Alexander Garcia (USA)Hannah Stopnicki (CAN)Lili Steiner (AUT)
Annemarie Wroblewski (USA)Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya (USA)Sade Ferguson (AUS)
Trinidad Espinal (CHI)Daniela Verswyvel (COL)Kristy Appelton (AUS)
Sade Ferguson (AUS)Valentina Gonzalez (CHI)Lara Butlin (AUS)
Alice Bagnoli (ITA)Erica Hayes (AUS)Sanchia Outram (GBR)
Christhiana De Osma (PER)Megan Pelkey (CAN)Zarhli Reeves (AUS)

Top 10 Seeded Men:

SlalomTricksJump
Nate Smith (USA)Jake Abelson (USA)Joel Poland (GBR)
Frederick Winter (GBR)Patricio Font (MEX)Ryan Dodd (CAN)
Thomas Degasperi (ITA)Matias Gonzalez (CHI)Taylor Garcia (USA)
Charlie Ross (CAN)Martin Labra (CHI)Luca Rauchenwald (AUT)
Lucas Cornale (AUS)Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA)Louis Duplan-Fribourg (FRA)
Joel Poland (GBR)Joel Poland (GBR)Jack Critchley (GBR)
Steven Island (USA)Edoardo Marenzi (ITA)Igor Morozov (IWF)
Nicholas Adams (AUS)Pol Duplan-Fribourg (FRA)Tobias Giorgis (ARG)
Joel Howley (AUS)Tobias Giorgis (ARG)Edoardo Marenzi (ITA)
Jaeden Eade (USA)Dominic Kuhn (AUT)Archie Davis (AUS)

2025 water ski calendar

2025 Water Ski Season Calendar: Everything You Need to Know

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2025 water ski season calendar: Everything you need to know

2025 water ski calendar

The 2025 professional water ski season kicks off in March at the 64th Moomba Masters in Melbourne, Australia (image: @jmommer2)

By Jack Burden


The 2025 water ski season is shaping up to be another action-packed year, featuring a robust calendar of major events and thrilling competitions. Following an exhilarating 2024 season, this year promises intense battles on the Waterski Pro Tour and beyond.

Waterski Pro Tour Overview

Last year, the Pro Tour was dominated by an unpredictable men’s slalom season, with Will Asher leading the pack. On the women’s side, Jaimee Bull, Regina Jaquess, and Whitney McClintock Rini delivered an unforgettable season-long showdown. In 2025, we expect more of the same high-level competition.

So far, 11 events are confirmed for the 2025 Pro Tour. Among these:

  • Nine events will feature slalom skiing.
  • Three events will showcase jump competitions.
  • Four events will include trick skiing.

The season kicks off in the U.S. in the spring before heading to Europe for a tightly packed June and July schedule. Afterward, the tour returns briefly to the States before culminating in the much-anticipated World Championships.

Marquee Events & New Additions

  • World Championships (Recetto, Italy – Late August): The biggest event of the year will determine the sport’s best in all disciplines.
  • Ski to Glory ProAm (Ioannina, Greece – Early September): A brand-new addition to the calendar, this event will feature all three disciplines and marks Europe’s first professional jump competition since 2018. With the largest prize purse in Waterski Pro Tour history, it is set to be a major highlight.

Other Key Competitions

Following the World Championships, details on late-season events are still emerging, but fan-favorites like the MasterCraft Pro are expected to return.

Beyond the Pro Tour, the legacy events, including Moomba and the U.S. Masters, will continue to draw top talent. These marquee competitions will showcase slalom, trick, and jump skiing, as well as wakeboarding.

Additionally, while details are still being finalized, the WWS Overall Tour is expected to host another round of professional overall tournaments.

Looking Ahead

With events spanning four continents and hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money up for grabs, the 2025 season is set to be one of the most competitive and financially rewarding yet. Whether you’re a dedicated fan or a competitor, this year promises nonstop action and unforgettable performances on the water.

Tournament (Events)LocationDate
University Worlds (S T J O)Auckland, New ZealandFebruary 26-March 2
Moomba Masters (S T J)Melbourne, AustraliaMarch 6-10
Swiss Pro Tricks (T)Clermont, FloridaApril 20
Swiss Pro Slalom (S)Clermont, FloridaMay 4
U.S. Masters (S T J)Callaway Gardens, GeorgiaMay 23-25
Lake 38 ProAm (S)Tallahassee, FloridaMay 30-June 1
Monaco Waterski Cup (S T)Roquebrune-sur-Argens, FranceJune 6-8
Louisiana Night Jam (J)Zachary, LouisianaJune 7
Moulay El Hasan Pro (S T)Rabat, MoroccoJune 14-15
Portugal Pro (S T)Barragem Carril, PortugalJune 21-22
Fungliss ProAm (S)Donmartin, FranceJune 21-22
Botaski ProAm (S T)Seseña, SpainJune 26-29
San Gervasio ProAm (S)San Gervasio, ItalyJuly 4-6
Oxfordshire ProAm (S)Oxford, United KingdomJuly 11-12
California ProAm (S J)Elk Grove, CaliforniaJuly 18-20
Under-21 World’s (S T J O)Calgary, CanadaJuly 26-August 2
Hilltop ProAm (S)Arlington, WashingtonAugust 15-17
World Championships (S T J O)Recetto, ItalyAugust 27-31
Ski to Glory (S T J)Ionannia, GreeceSeptember 4-7
Travers Grand Prix (S)Groveland, FloridaSeptember 26-28
King of Darkness (S J)Winter Garden, FloridaOctober 24-25

IWWF International Hall of Fame

Two Titans of Water Skiing Immortalized in IWWF Hall of Fame

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Two titans of water skiing immortalized in IWWF Hall of Fame

IWWF International Hall of Fame

Nine athletes, officials, and pioneers were honored in the 2025 IWWF Hall of Fame.

By Jack Burden


Legend is a term often overused in sports, diluted until it loses its impact. Defined as someone who leaves an unforgettable impression, the 2025 IWWF Hall of Fame inductees restore its true meaning. Among them, two titans of waterskiing stand out: Jaret Llewellyn and Camille Duvall. To speak of these icons is to speak of transcendent greatness, boundary-breaking dominance, and the magnetism that defines sporting legends.

Let’s start with Jaret Llewellyn, a man whose career statistics read like they belong to an entire team, not just one individual. With a reported 117 professional victories, 11 world records, and 9 World Championship titles, Llewellyn is a colossus of Canadian waterskiing, a beacon of brilliance in a sport that often favors youth over longevity. From the frozen plains of Alberta to the humid swamps of South Florida, Llewellyn’s impact has been felt worldwide. By 14, he was representing Canada. By 18, he turned professional, carving his name into history one victory at a time.

Llewellyn’s versatility is unparalleled. A Junior World Champion in tricks, a world-record breaker in jump, and a five-time U.S. Masters overall champion, he dominated multiple disciplines even as they evolved. He thrived during the heyday of Ski Fly and continued winning well into his 40s. His story isn’t just about victories; it’s about adapting, surviving, and triumphing amid fierce competition. Patrice Martin, Jimmy Siemers, Adam Sedlmajer—these weren’t mere rivals; they were legendary opponents. Yet Llewellyn consistently emerged as the standard of excellence.

His 16 World Championships medals—the most by any man—tell a tale of persistence. From his breakout performance as a 21-year-old in 1991, sharing a podium with his brother Kreg, to his bittersweet swan song in 2015, Llewellyn’s career has been defined by longevity and dominance. His influence doesn’t stop at medals and records; through the WWS Overall Tour, he has spearheaded a resurgence in the overall discipline, ensuring his legacy endures for future generations. His Hall of Fame induction is more than an accolade—it’s a crowning achievement for a career that reshaped waterskiing.

On the other side of the lake stands Camille Duvall, whose waterskiing legacy is as luminous as the golden era she dominated. Upon her retirement, USA Today called her “the best-known female water skier in history,” and Sports Illustrated named her among the “100 Greatest Female Athletes of the Century.” If Llewellyn’s career was a marathon of excellence, Duvall’s was a meteoric ascent that redefined the possibilities for women in waterskiing—and beyond.

Her dominance was forged in the fiery crucible of the 1980s professional circuit, where she didn’t just compete—she reigned. The Coors Light Water Ski Tour wasn’t merely a competitive stage; it was Camille’s playground. She claimed the season championship every year from 1984 to 1988, an unparalleled streak. Beyond her wins, Duvall’s charisma and marketability turned women’s waterskiing into a marquee attraction, transforming the sport’s perception on a global scale.

Her accolades came thick and fast: the 1985 World Slalom title, five U.S. Masters victories, 43 pro tournament wins, and becoming the first female water skier to earn six figures in a single year. Injuries may have cut her competitive career short at 33, but Duvall’s influence only grew. She transitioned seamlessly into roles as a coach, television producer, and advocate for women in sports. Her legacy stretches far beyond the water’s edge, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and female athletes worldwide.

What unites Duvall and Llewellyn is their defiance of limits. They shattered ceilings, reshaped perceptions, and transformed their respective eras. While Llewellyn endured and mastered the sport’s evolving dynamics, Duvall flourished in a spotlight she helped create. Their inductions into the Hall of Fame are not just personal milestones but milestones for waterskiing itself—a testament to the sport’s capacity to produce athletes who transcend its shores.

The 2025 IWWF Hall of Fame class isn’t just a celebration of past glories. It’s a reminder of what waterskiing—and those who dedicate their lives to it—can achieve. Jaret Llewellyn and Camille Duvall, welcome to immortality.

See the full 2025 IWWF Hall of Fame class here.

Winter returns to the water for the first time

Injury Update: Winter Returns to the Slalom Course After Broken Femur

News

Injury update: Winter returns to the slalom course after broken femur

Winter returns to the water for the first time

Image: @thefredwinter

By Jack Burden


For the first time since his devastating leg injury, two-time world slalom champion Freddie Winter took to the water on January 10, marking 198 days since the crash during the Monaco Slalom Cup that broke his femur.

“198 days ago, my leg was snapped in two,” Winter wrote on Instagram. “It’s taken a while and, trust me, it’s taken a lot, but today I got back out there. It couldn’t have felt much more foreign, but who cares? I’m back.”

The injury, sustained during a high-stakes final against compatriot Will Asher, was a brutal blow to Winter’s 2024 season. Chasing a victory at 10.25m (41’ off), Winter’s quest ended in calamity when an uncontrolled lean led to a collision with a dock. The image of Winter being stretchered away became a sobering reminder of the perils of elite slalom skiing.

Doctors initially estimated a recovery timeline of up to a year—a grim prognosis for the fiercely competitive Brit. Yet, through rigorous rehabilitation and the guidance of a top-tier medical team, Winter defied expectations to be back on the water in just over six months.

“It’s been tough,” Winter admitted on the TWBC Podcast last fall. “When you break something as significant as your femur, it’s not just the bone—it’s the muscles, the ligaments, everything around it. But I wasn’t going to sit on the sidelines longer than I had to. I’ve been counting the days, and now I’m counting down to Moomba.”

While his first session back was far from a return to form, it was a critical milestone in a journey that has been equal parts physical and mental. Winter’s return is a beacon of perseverance in a sport that constantly flirts with the edge of control.

As he sets his sights on the Moomba Masters in March, Winter’s comeback isn’t just about chasing titles; it’s about reclaiming his place in the sport he loves. For now, the slalom maestro is back where he belongs—on the water, defying the odds.