Pro Skiing is Coming Back to Nationals
You might have read the title of this article and thought, “the pro skiers have always been at Nationals and skied.” For that, I would say you are correct.
But this year, something pretty exciting is happening. Cash is on the line for the best for the best skiers in the United States. $40,000 dollars to be exact. Men’s and Women’s Tricks, Men’s and Women’s Slalom and Men’s and Women’s Jump. How cool is that?
The Mystic Lakes Ski Club and the American Water Ski Association (AWSA) are calling the pro event, America’s Cup Invitational. Any U.S skier who has an open rating is qualified to compete.
So why is this important to waterskiing? Well, a few reasons. The first being cash money. You might know that your favorite pro skiers are riding the latest and greatest equipment behind super fancy ski boats. Representing brands as ambassadors. That’s all fine and dandy, but try taking a brand new boat or ski to a credit card company and paying down a balance with it. They will laugh you out of the building! Pro skiers need what we all need to buy groceries, pay mortgages and fill up our boats and vehicles with gas… money. With another pro event on tap this Summer, it gives them the opportunity to stay in the game and afford the lifestyle that they live to help the sport continue to move forward.
Are you riding a new ski this summer that you love? A pro skier spent countless hours with a ski company to help design it and make it a blast for you to enjoy, when they could’ve been out working another job and probably making way more money.
Another reason why it’s awesome that a pro tournament is coming back to Nationals is that it gives the next generation of skiers something to look up to and shoot towards. You hear it all of the time, “the kids are the future of the sport.” If we don’t show them what they can really be someday, then what is going to happen to our sport?
This year, get out to Nationals. Support skiing, meet some new friends and watch the best skiers in the U.S go full send on the lake in the America’s Cup Invitational at Mystic Lakes.
- Spencer Shultz