Media

Remembering Dean Chappell (1951-2024)

Remembering Midwest Water Ski Legend Dean Chappell (1951-2024)

Media

Remembering Midwest water ski legend Dean Chappell (1951-2024)

Remembering Dean Chappell (1951-2024)

Chappell was a tenacious competitor who excelled in the jump event (image: @skihusband)

By Jack Burden

The water skiing community is mourning the loss of a dedicated and beloved member, Dean Chappell. A stalwart volunteer, coach, and cherished figure within Illinois water skiing circles, Chappell’s impact on the sport and the community will be enduringly remembered.

An avid three-event skier, Chappell holds the Midwest region jump records for Men’s 5-8 and the Illinois state overall records for Men’s 5, 6 & 8. As recently as last year, he set a pending Men’s 8 (70-74 years) regional jump record at an impressive 111 feet (33.8m).

Representing the U.S. on numerous occasions, Chappell clinched first place in Over-65 Men’s Jump and won gold as part of the U.S. team at the 2018 Over-35 World Championships in Santiago, Chile. This achievement led to the well-deserved recognition of the team as the USA-WSWS Team of the Year.

Chappell’s commitment to water skiing transcended the ordinary. Despite a challenging moment where he broke his neck while jumping, he continued competing well into his 70s. As one of the original Midwest Air Force jumpers, Chappell’s legacy is synonymous with tenacity and a driving force for the growth of water skiing in the region.

His influence extended far beyond his personal achievements. As a Senior-rated driver, judge, and technical controller, Chappell was always ready to contribute at tournaments, generously sharing his knowledge and passion. In the collegiate realm, he served as a coach and mentor for the Illini Waterski Team, leaving a lasting impact on numerous young skiers. His dedication was further evident in hosting and officiating at countless MCWSA Regionals and other collegiate events.

The Chappell family remains an integral part of the tournament waterskiing scene in the Midwest. Kelly and Troy Zoellner, Chappell’s daughter and son-in-law, along with grandchildren Jaret and Julia Zoellner, continue to be actively involved with the PITS Water Ski Club in Decatur, Illinois.

Dean Chappell’s legacy lives on not just in records and achievements but in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know and ski alongside him. He will be profoundly missed, and his contributions to the water skiing community will be remembered with gratitude and fondness.

Jacinta Carroll Welcomes her First Child

World Record Holder Jacinta Carroll Welcomes Her First Child

Media

World Record Holder Jacinta Carroll Welcomes Her First Child

Jacinta Carroll Welcomes her First Child

Image: @jacintacarroll

By Jack Burden

Renowned water skier Jacinta Carroll, holder of the current world record and the only woman to jump 200 feet, has embraced a new chapter in her life. Jacinta and her husband, Sam Weeks, celebrated the arrival of their baby girl, Amelia Ray Weeks, born on December 2nd. The couple opted to keep much of the pregnancy journey private.

The pregnancy kept Jacinta from defending her title at this year’s World Championships. The most dominant female jumper of all time, she is undefeated in professional tournaments since 2013, securing another victory at the Moomba Masters earlier this year.

Since 2021, Jacinta has chosen not to compete outside of Australia, prioritizing her career as a physiotherapist and, now, her growing family over competitive water skiing. Whether Jacinta will return to top-level competition in the future remains to be seen.

Introducing Skier Stats by Waterski Pro Tour

Media

Introducing Skier Stats by Waterski Pro Tour

@waterskiprotour

By RTB

In an exciting development for waterskiing enthusiasts worldwide, a comprehensive platform named “Skier Stats” has made its debut courtesy of the Waterski Pro Tour. This valuable resource offers a deep dive into the world of professional skiers, providing a treasure trove of statistics that shed light on their careers. Skier Stats can now be accessed at stats.waterskiprotour.com.

The official announcement was made by Gregoire Desfond, of Waterski Nation, in a video released on September 7th. Desfond invited waterskiing enthusiasts to explore the Skier Stats, stating, “Some really interesting news for this weekend… We are releasing the skier statistics, so make sure you go and check this out if you want to find any numbers, the best score, the first win, how many podiums of your favorite pro. It’s all going to be out there. Everything was made by Manon Costard, because she’s not only a world champion, a pro water skier, but she’s also a super talented web developer, so keep that in mind if you have any inquiries.”

In an Instagram post the following day, Waterski Pro Tour shared intriguing statistics that serve as a teaser for what Skier Stats has in store:

  • In the last 8 and a half years, since March 2015, only four women have won a professional trick event. These are Anna Gay, Erika Lang, Neilly Ross and Giannina Bonnemann.
  • Anna, Erika and Neilly all won their first pro event before they turned 18. Neilly is the youngest victor of this golden generation at 15 years, 7 months, 12 days.
  • Freddy Krueger has won a jump (or Ski Fly) event every year since 1995 with the exeception of 1997 – a total of 28 different seasons. His first win was at age 20 years, 1 month, 8 days. His most recent victory was 48 years, 3 days old.
  • With two events left on the ’23 tour, Krueger is top of the John K Philips jump leaderboard. Six of the remaining nine in the top 10 were born after Krueger’s first victory.
  • Only four skiers have ever won a slalom event after the age of 40, three men and one woman. They are Andy Mapple, Karen Truelove, Thomas Degasperi and, most recently, Will Asher.
  • The men’s slalom podium for age at the time of latest pro win:
    • Mapple – 41 years, 9 months, 28 days
    • Degasperi – 41 years, 5 months, 9 days
    • Asher – 40 years, 2 months, 3 days
  • In the nearly three seasons of the Waterski Pro Tour, four skiers have won every men’s slalom stop, a run of 33 events. These are Nate Smith, Freddie Winter, Will Asher and Thomas Degasperi. The last skier to win an event besides them was Stephen Neveu on June 30th 2019.
  • The longest unbeaten streak in professional waterskiing belongs to Jacinta Carroll with her 37 pro wins in a row (not including non-Waterski Pro Tour events). She has not lost an event she entered since March 2013. Though she has not been at as many events of recent her streak still stands to this day.

For those eager to dive into the statistics of professional water skiing, the journey begins at stats.waterskiprotour.com.

Chad Scott Betrayal on the Bayou

Smoke Screen: Betrayal on the Bayou | The Binge

Media

Smoke Screen: Betrayal on the Bayou

Former tournament water skier and renowned driver Chad Scott is currently behind bars for corruption-related charges.

The Binge

For almost two decades, DEA Special Agent Chad Scott ruled the streets just North of New Orleans. He controlled a network of snitches by convincing people he arrested to work for him as informants. Chad would stop at nothing to put drug dealers behind bars. His successes won awards at the DEA, but his willingness to bend the rules earned him a terrifying reputation on the streets. Some called him the Golden Boy. Others called him the White Devil. But when one of the guys on Chad’s team is caught dealing drugs, Chad’s life is overturned. His right-hand men betray him and confess everything to the FBI. Investigators go over his career with a fine-toothed comb, asking the question: is Chad Scott the greatest DEA Agent in the South, or is he a criminal?

Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free, by subscribing to The Binge.

Episodes are released weekly for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.