Saskatoon welcomes Western Canada’s top water skiers

(Stacey Hein/CTV News)

Competitive water skiers from across Western Canada put their talents on display in Saskatoon this weekend.

The Saskatoon Water-Ski Club hosted more than 50 athletes from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan for the Western Canadian Championships. Competitors took part in slalom, jump and trick events at the club’s site in the Saskatoon’s north end.

“You’re competing for whoever’s the best in the West,” 17-year-old Enzo Kristian said.

The championship is a qualifying event for the Canadian National Water Ski Championships, giving athletes a chance to advance to the national stage.

“You win this event or you get a good enough score, you can go to nationals. You can also then start to make national teams going to world championships. Pan American Championships and other tournaments across the world,” Kristian said.

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For local skier Carter Lucas, the highlight is seeing younger athletes get a chance to compete.

“This is a tournament more for younger kids and kids getting into skiing,” Carter Lucas said. “It’s really fun. I love hosting it. I love giving the kids a chance.”

Norm Lucas, president of the Saskatoon Water-Ski Club, said the club is always pleased to host the championship.

“We have a world class facility here in Saskatoon. It is fantastic for our Saskatchewan athletes to have access to this facility and it’s a great opportunity to showcase what we have to the other provinces,” Lucas said.

The club will return to the international stage next summer after being awarded the right to host the 2027 Adaptive World Water Ski Championships.

“We’re busy preparing for that a year in advance because there’s a lot of work to be done,” Lucas said.

Adaptive water skier Ashley Berg said she’s excited the world championship is coming to her home course.

“The fact that it’s in Saskatoon is really huge. I really didn’t think that it was going to happen at my home site, so I’m really pumped about it,” Berg said.