Bakersfield, Calif. (KBAK/FOX58) — More than 500 of the nation’s top water ski athletes will head to the Ski West Village in Arvin, for the Goode Water Ski National Championships in August.
The Ski West Village last held the event in 2007, which marked the last time the competition was held in California.
Athletes will compete in multiple events including slalom, tricks, jump, and overall.
The Ski West Village is located at 28311 Millux Road, Arvin, California 93203.
Legendary ski filmmaker and Lake Tahoe, California, local Scott Gaffney just took a pair of very unusual skis out for a rip at Palisades Tahoe.
The skis in question? Shane McConkey’s legendary Stinger waterskis.
The Stingers aren’t just wacky powder—nay, water ski—though. They hold an important place in the history of ski design.
In pursuit of the perfect powder ski, McConkey mounted the Stingers and began riding them in deep snow. Initially designed for water skiing in the 1970s, these skis boasted a design feature that would eventually inspire the legendary Volant Spatula. They were widest underfoot, making them reverse sidecut. Most skis are narrowest underfoot.
The Water Ski event that brings the hype to our sport year after year! The energy is high, the skiing is intense and the friendships that are made are legendary! Enjoy Rob’s Recap of this very special event!
Thank you Tri-Lakes for hosting such a spectacular event and shoutout to all the teams, skiers, coaches, drivers, officials, volunteers and everyone else who makes the NCWSA Nationals and collegiate season what it is year after year.
Also thank you to Chris Wharton for the Drone Shots!
Qualified Teams
Southern Atlantic Coastal Region
University of Alabama
Rollins College
Florida Southern College
Clemson University
Auburn University
South Central Region
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana Monroe
Texas A&M University
University of Arkansas
Texas State University
West Coast Region
Arizona State University
San Diego State University
California Polytechnical University – San Luis Obispo
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports and the American Water Ski Association held the 81st Goode Water Ski National Championships in August 2023 at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach, FL. Here is a look back on the storied history of the Water Ski National Championships.
The video is Featured Now on America’s Boating Channel’s free smart TV app on Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV, on AmericasBoatingChannel.com, and on its YouTube channel, as well as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social networks from Dec. 31 through Jan. 6.
The announcement was made by America’s Boating Channel’s Vice President of Smart TV, Kathy Strachan, and USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Senior Director of Communications & External Relations, Scott Atkinson.
“We’re thrilled to ring in the new year with an exciting documentary tracing the development of the Water Ski National Championships in the United States. This video has special appeal to more than five million American participants in towed water sports. Viewers can also enjoy a superb assortment of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports video titles available anytime at bit.ly/USAWSonTV,” said Strachan.
Atkinson said: “We’re excited to partner with America’s Boating Channel to promote not only our Water Ski National Championships video but also our full catalog of titles covering water ski and wakeboard instruction, water ski history, and show skiing.”
Episode 12 of the Icarus Sports series, “The Outdoor Sports Show,” showcases highlights from the World Waterski Championships, which took place earlier this year in Groveland, Florida.
MasterCraft boats aren’t just built—they’re crafted. Crafted by craftsmen who for 55 years have upheld the MasterCraft commitment to more smiles and less worries. Crafted with progression and innovation in mind. Crafted to last and crafted to perform.
In 1968, Rob Shirley embarked on a mission driven by a singular vision—to build the best ski boat in the industry. While he came from a competitive waterskiing background, Rob’s passion for the sport extended beyond participation. Unsatisfied with the performance of the ski boats on the market at the time, Rob was determined to redefine the standard, harnessing his insights into what would make a boat truly exceptional—superior turning, impeccable tracking, and the ability to produce unrivaled wakes. After countless dedicated hours, Rob brought his vision to life, debuting the 18-foot groundbreaking ski boat bearing the name “MasterCraft” and forever altering the course of the towboat industry. This very first MasterCraft—and each one after it—was meticulously built by hand. And still to this day, every MasterCraft built upholds this legacy, handcrafted by dedicated engineers and passionate boaters who carry the torch that Rob lit all those years ago.
Ukrainian water skier Danylo Filchenko won a gold medal at the World Games. But when the war began and his hometown of Dnipro was bombed, his life radically changed.
“To be honest, I got hurt, couldn’t ski….and was like, f*%k this!….no one is showing water skiing how I know it needs to be shown! ABC, ESPN, all television time had come in the late 70’s and stayed until the mid 90’s, right when I started trying to compete. I literally was there when the sport crumbled. So that was the driving force at first….to SHOW people, as many people as I could reach, exactly what water skiing is, how insanely beautiful and challenging it can be…and to open folks up to another way to live life on the water, I guess…
Originally, the seed for this idea of the FlowPoint, came during one of the greatest, yet most disappointing moments in my professional skiing career: At the 2011 World Championships in Dubna Russia, I had an unexplainable experience, in which I somehow surrendered to something bigger than myself, at the exact right moment. It was magical…..I had tapped into the FlowPoint. It only lasted for a moment….BUT, the feeling, the residue from that experience, still sticks with me today. Its somewhat of a northstar personally…and it was enough to drive me towards this idea of the FlowPoint in all of our lives.
That was the moment I picked up a camera. And I’m thankful for the winding roads we discovered, with that camera and some good hearted people.
Its been a wild ride…come join us on a journey through the past 10 years of FlowPoint TV”
-Marcus Brown
Independent perspectives on tournament water skiing
