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Waterski Photographer Jonathan Hayward

Capturing the Moment | Waterski Journal

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Capturing the Moment: Jonathan Hayward

Waterski Photographer Jonathan Hayward

Image: @jonnyhayward_photo

Jonathan Hayward

Waterski Journal

Professional wire photographer and water ski enthusiast Jonathan Hayward, who captured some of the most iconic images of the 2023 waterski season, shared his journey and passion for water skiing and photography with Waterski Journal:

“Waterskiing has been an integral part of my life since I was introduced to the sport around age 12, growing up on the far east coast of Canada in Newfoundland. Although there were limited resources available at the time, I eagerly consumed Water Ski magazine, and individuals like Tom King were instrumental in inspiring my career as a photographer.”

Read the full article at Waterski Journal

Team of the Year: University of Kansas

2023 Collegiate Award Winners Announced | NCWSA

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Congratulations to the 2023 winners of the NCWSA Annual Awards

2023 NCWSA Award Winners

2023 NCWSA Honorees (image: NCWSA).

By Molly Voska

NCWSA

Each year, the NCWSA community nominates and votes on the prestigious titles of Team of the Year, Outstanding Leader of the Year, and Athlete of the Year. Through these organization-wide awards, we honor those that have put their best efforts towards supporting the sport, on the water and behind the scenes.

We celebrate their successes at the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports banquet in January. Please join us in applause for this year’s winners!

Team of the Year

University of Kansas

Female Outstanding Leader of the Year

Virginia Dozier, Auburn University

Male Outstanding Leader of the Year

Carter Eaton, Arizona State University

Female Athlete of the Year

Neilly Ross, Rollins College

Male Athlete of the Year

Arron Davies, University of Louisiana Lafayette

Full article at NCWSA.

Elizabeth Montavon pro water skier

No Regrets: Montavon Learns to Live with an Autoimmune Disease | FC Gargoyle

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No regrets: Elizabeth Montavon pro water skier learns to live with an autoimmune disease

Elizabeth Montavon pro water skier

Provided by KLFY Lafayette.

By Gabby Alfveby

Flagler College Gargoyle

One second, you’re at the top of the pyramid and among some of the best water skiers in the world cruising along the surface of the water at 80 mph preparing for future competitions and then you crash: tearing your forearm muscles and getting a concussion.

She was one of the best skiers in the world at the time. Cruising along the surface of the water at 80 mph, she was preparing for future competitions. Trying to get back on top of the podium.

Then she crashed, tearing her forearm muscles and sustaining a concussion.

“I had too much water speed,” Elizabeth Montavon said. “It was just too dangerous of conditions and me thinking as long as I survive it, I’ll be better.”

Montavon is a 3rd generation professional water skier who is ranked as the No. 7 professional slalom skier in the world. Montavon is a 9x national champion, 3x All American, a Pro Tour Stop Champion and a US National Team Member, to name a few of her accomplishments.

Montavon suffered a violent crash in Spring 2022 while training in adverse weather conditions.

Full article at Flagler College Gargoyle.

Ragin’ Cajuns water ski team wins fourth national title in a row, 10th overall

Ragin’ Cajuns Water Ski Team Wins Fourth National Title in a Row | KLFY Lafayette

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Ragin’ Cajuns water ski team wins fourth national title in a row, 10th overall

Ragin’ Cajuns water ski team wins fourth national title in a row, 10th overall

Provided by KLFY Lafayette.

By Charlie Bier

KLFY Lafayette

ZACHARY, La. (KLFY) — UL Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajuns water ski team has claimed its fourth consecutive Division I national title, bringing its overall total to 10 championships.

The team holds the most national championships in school history; it competes as a club sport rather than an NCAA-sanctioned sport.

The team also earned Division I national championships in 2022, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2010, 2005, 2003, 1997 and 1995. COVID-19 considerations prevented the championship from being held in 2020.

This year’s national championship came at the Syndicate Waterskis 2023 Collegiate Nationals that were held Oct. 26-28 in Zachary, La. The win capped an undefeated season for the team, an unbeaten streak that stretches back to 2019.

Full article at KLFY Lafayette.

Erika Lang Trick Skiing World Record Holder

Erika Lang Keeps Setting World Records, One Trick at a Time | Team USA

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Erika Lang Keeps Setting Water Ski World Records, One Trick at a Time

Erika Lang Trick Skiing World Record Holder

Erika Lang competes during the preliminary round at the 2023 IWWF World Waterski Championships on Oct. 13, 2023 in Lake County, Fla. (image: Johnny Hayward)

By Bob Reinert

Team USA

Put Erika Lang behind a powerful motorboat, and she can do things no other woman ever has.

That was the case again in May, when Lang nailed another water ski tricks run in Groveland, Florida, to establish a new world record.

Riding under puffy white clouds and a pale blue sky, the Phoenix native performed a dizzying series of turns and spins while connected to the tow rope by her left foot. Then, in her second pass while holding the rope handle with her hands, she flew back and forth over the wake, performing a more impressive flip each time.

It was just another day for the world’s best trick skier.

Full article at Team USA.

Whitney McClintock is off to her 5th Pan Am Games.

McClintock Living Her Dream on and off the Water Ahead of Pan Am Games | Cambridge Today

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Cambridge’s McClintock living her dream on and off the water ahead of Pan Am Games

Whitney McClintock is off to her 5th Pan Am Games.

Whitney McClintock is off to her 5th Pan Am Games.

By Matt Betts

Cambridge Today

Life is all about perspective for Cambridge water skier Whitney McClintock as she gets ready to embark on her 5th Pan Am Games.

A fierce competitor out on the water, it was three years ago she found her true purpose when she gave birth to her son Zane.

“I love water skiing,” McClintock said.

“But I always wanted to be a wife and mommy.”

Now, with Zane in tow, she’s ready to board a flight to Santiago, Chile to compete for her country again.

Full article at Cambridge Today.

Teams podium from the 2023 IWWF World Water Ski Championships

USA Reclaims Team Overall Gold Medal in Lake County, Florida | IWWF

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USA Reclaims Team Overall Gold Medal in Lake County, Florida

Team podium from the 2023 World Championships (image: @iwwfed)

IWWF

Groveland, Florida (October 16, 2023) – The final day of competition of the 2023 IWWF World Waterski Championships brought lots of excitement to waterski fans at Sunset Lakes in Lake County Florida and all around the world watching the live stream.

In Women’s Jump, Hanna Straltsova (USA) won the gold medal with a jump of 55.9 metres ahead of Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya (USA) 53.6 metres who won the silver medal and Lauren Morgan (USA), The World Games 2022 Jump Champion, with 53.0 metres to win bronze.

Men’s jump saw some mind-blowing distances at Sunset Lakes with the reigning World Champion and World Record holder, Ryan Dodd (Canada) winning the gold on his very first jump 69.9 metres (skiers are given three jumps), ahead of many-time World Champion & record holder Freddy Krueger (USA) 69.0 metres who won the silver medal and Taylor Garcia (USA) who won the bronze with a 67.9 metre jump.

Canada’s Jaimee Bull reclaimed her World slalom title by scoring 3.5 buoys on the 10.75 metre line, edging out current World Record Holder Regina Jaquess (USA) 2.50 buoys at 10.75 metre and Allie Nicholson (USA) 2 buoys at 10.75 metres winning the bronze medal.

Great Britain’s Frederick Winter reclaimed the Men’s World Slalom title he last won in 2017 with a score of 4 buoys on the 10.25 metre line, ahead of USA’s Dane Mechler who was just shy of Winter’s score, 3 buoys on the 10.25 metre line, to win the silver medal.  Canada’s Stephen Neveu also scored  3 buoys on the 10.25 metre line but took home the bronze because he had lower preliminary round score that broke the tie with Dane.

Hanna Straltsova (USA) won her second gold medal in the Women’s Overall event, ahead of Germany’s Giannina Bonnemann Mechler who won the silver medal and USA’s Regina Jaquess who won the bronze medal.

In Men’s Overall, France’s Louis Duplan-Fribourg became the first Frenchman to win the Men’s Individual Overall Gold Medal in 24 years, since Patrice Martin won it in 1999.  Reigning World Overall Champion and current World Overall Record Holder Joel Poland from Great Britain won the silver medal followed by Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn winning the bronze medal.

The USA won their first Team Overall title since 2017, ahead of Canada and France to the delight of the many home fans who came out to Sunset Lakes to watch the best waterskiers in the world.

Final Results – click here

The 2023 IWWF World Waterski Championships was exclusively towed by the World-record setting Ski Nautique and Masterline was the Official Tow Rope of the event.

The event was live-streamed throughout on IWWF’s YouTube Channel.

Official Event Web Site (general information, results, live stream link, etc):  https://iwwf.sport/world-title-events/waterskiworlds2023/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwwfed/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/IWWFED
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@IWWFsport

Erika Lang tricking at the IWWF World Championships October 2023

Hosts US Impress at Home IWWF World Waterski Championships | Inside The Games

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Hosts US impress at home IWWF World Waterski Championships

Erika Lang tricking at the IWWF World Championships October 2023

Erika Lang tricking at the IWWF World Championships October 2023 (image: Johnny Hayward)

By Neil Shefferd

Inside the Games

Hosts United States impressed with a one-two in the opening women’s event at this year’s International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) World Waterski Championships held at Florida.

More than 200 waterskiers from 35 countries took part across six days of action at the Jack Travers Water Ski School at Sunset Lakes.

The first medals were handed out in the tricks disciplines, with the host nation claiming a one-two in the women’s event.

Erika Lang took gold with a score of 10,400 points in the final to claim a second World Championship gold, with her compatriot Anna Gay taking silver with 9,320.

The podium was completed by Peru’s Natalia Cuglievan Wiese who won bronze scoring 9,970.

In the men’s tricks, gold went to Patricio Font of Mexico with a score of 12,470.

Earlier in the competition he tied his men’s tricks world record when he scored 12,690 points in the elimination round.

Silver went to Louis Duplan-Fribourg of France with 11,980 points, with bronze going to Martin Labra of Chile with 11,610.

Full article at Inside the Games.

Sunset Lakes is hosting the 2023 World Water Ski Championships

Best Waterskiers In The World Return To Lake County, Florida | IWWF

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Best Waterskiers In The World Return To Lake County, Florida For 2023 IWWF World Waterski Championships

Image: @jacksunsetlakes

IWWF

Groveland, Florida (October 6, 2023) – The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation’s (IWWF) World Waterski Championships kicks off next week in Lake County, Florida from 10th to 15th October 2023. The biennial event, that was last held in 2021 in Lake County, will feature more than 200 water skiers representing 35 countries at the Jack Travers Water Ski School at Sunset Lakes.

“We are thrilled to be back here in Lake County to host the 2023 IWWF World Waterski Championships. Florida is the undisputed waterski capital of the world, where the best athletes either live or travel to train and compete, and we all feel at home here after having one of our best ever waterski events in 2021. Our return to Lake County will give the ones who could not previously attend two years ago the opportunity to experience the good vibe and an opportunity to perform to the best of their abilities at one of the premier waterskiing venues, Sunset Lakes.” said José Antonio Pérez Priego, President of IWWF.

The event also brings many International Federation representatives, who will be attending the IWWF World Congress, IWWF International Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, as well as a final night’s Awards Banquet & Closing Ceremony that will conclude the week’s formalities.  In addition to world-class waterski competition, there will be an exciting show on the water featuring the top athletes in show skiing performing unique and incredible barefooting, world-class swivel ski, strap doubles, pyramid and freestyle jumping acts.  On shore, there will be live music, a waterski equipment village, food trucks and a playground for children to engage everyone attending the event.

“On behalf of our local partners at the Jack Travers Water Ski School and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, we are thrilled to welcome the 2023 IWWF World Waterski Championships to Lake County!” said Ryan Ritchie, Director of Discover Lake County, Florida. “Our area continues to be a destination for championship waterskiing and our communities thrive off the visitation from spectators and athletes who stay in our hotels and visit our local establishments translating in positive economic impact. We are looking forward to hosting our national and international guests to the area and we hope they enjoy their time here!”

“The Travers family is very excited to welcome again the water ski community to Sunset Lakes. We will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary (October 1973-2023) of Jack Travers’ International Tournament Skiing next week while the IWWF World Waterski Championships is in full swing.” said Jack Travers.

The 2023 IWWF World Waterski Championships will be exclusively towed by the World record setting Ski Nautique and Masterline will be the Official Tow Rope of the event.

The event will be live-streamed all 6 days, from 10th to 15th October 2023, on IWWF’s YouTube Channel.

Watch the Promotional Video here

Official Event Web Site (general information, results, live stream link, etc):  https://iwwf.sport/world-title-events/waterskiworlds2023/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwwfed/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/IWWFED
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@IWWFsport

Event Schedule – click here

Men's slalom podium from the 2023 Travers Grand Prix

2023 Travers Grand Prix Recap | Waterski Pro Tour

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Travers Grand Prix Recap

Men's slalom podium from the 2023 Travers Grand Prix

Men’s slalom podium at the 2023 Travers Grand Prix (image: @waterskiprotour)

Waterski Pro Tour

We could have seen it coming. Last year’s Travers Grand Prix saw absurdly high scores across the board – including a few first evers – so it was no surprise perhaps that this year’s was no different.

Here are the headlines the weekend as we see them: the highest ever scoring round of slalom waterskiing in history (men’s qualifying round 2), highest ever cut to make an 8 skier final (men’s), the highest ever scoring podium (men’s), tied most 10.75m passes run in a single round (women’s final, tied with Malibu Open 2021).

Full article at Waterski Pro Tour.