Florida Water Ski Federation

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation scholarships are awarded each year to water skiers who show leadership abilities and demonstrate that involvement in the sport has helped them grow both personally and academically.

Kennedy Hansen from Milton, Florida has won the $1000 Florida Water Ski Federation Scholarship. Kennedy will be attending the University of Louisiana – Lafayette in the fall.

“I’m really looking forward to the next chapter of my life including collegiate skiing and the college experience. The 2021 Florida Water Ski Federation scholarship will help me offset all of the expenses that come with college and collegiate water skiing,” says Kennedy.

This is the inaugural year of the Florida Water Ski Federation Scholarship which is open to three-event water ski athletes who compete in the Florida State Water Ski Championships and are currently registered students in a college or university.

“The water skiing community of fellow competitors, officials, and coaches has made such a positive impact on my life – not only as a skier but also as a person. I’d like to extend a quick thank you to my family for all of your support and to Adam and Cory Pickos and the rest of the crew at Pickos Ski School,” says Kennedy.

The Foundation is very proud of our young athletes and honored to support their future academic needs. You can help support our mission by joining or donating to the foundation.

By USA-WSWS

U.S. water ski athlete Freddy Krueger (Winter Garden, Fla.) won the 2021 King of Darkness title under the lights on Saturday night, soaring 229 feet on his first attempt in the men’s jumping finals. Krueger had earned the top seed for the finals after jumping 234 feet in Friday’s preliminary round. Chile’s Rodrigo Miranda placed second (224 feet) and U.S. athlete Taylor Garcia finished third (222 feet). The event was held at the Isles of Lake Hancock in Winter Garden, Fla., and featured a live webcast by The Waterski Broadcasting Company.

Belarus’ Hanna Straltsova won the women’s jumping title, soaring 174 feet. U.S. athlete Lauren Morgan (St. Louis, Mo.) placed second (170 feet) and Canada’s Taryn Grant finished third (165 feet).

In other action, U.S. athlete Will Roberts (Dow, Ill.) won Under 21 men’s jumping (208 feet).

Complete Results.

U.S. water ski athlete Regina Jaquess suffered a torn ACL on her right knee on Sunday while training in jump for the 2021 Nautique Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament, presented by GM Marine Engine Technology. She is scheduled to undergo surgery today (Thursday, May 27) in Birmingham, Ala. Jim Jaquess, Regina’s father, says the goal is to get Regina in a rehabilitation program as soon as possible so that she can compete in slalom at the 2021 IWWF Water Ski World Championships in October. She is expected to be off the water for at least three months, according to Jim Jaquess.

Jaquess suffered the injury on her last jump set of her training session on Sunday at Bennett’s Ski School in Zachary, La. According to Jim Jaquess, Regina landed the jump fine, but rode back to the dock because she felt she had tweaked her right knee when she hit the ramp. After experiencing significant discomfort, Jaquess underwent an MRI on Monday evening. Dr. Lyle Cain Jr., of Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, will perform the surgery.

The news of Jaquess’ injury comes two days before the 61st Nautique Masters, where Jaquess was the favorite this year to win women’s slalom and jump. The tournament will now be without three of the sport’s biggest stars. Defending men’s jumping champion Ryan Dodd (Canada) announced last week that he would be unable to compete due to an ankle injury, and defending women’s jumping champion Jacinta Carroll (Australia) was unable to make the trip to the United States due to travel restrictions related to COVID-19.

The 2021 IWWF Water Ski World Championships is scheduled for Oct. 11-17 at Jack Travers’ International Tournament Skiing and Sunset Lakes in Groveland, Fla.