About Our Show Ski

For more information about our Show Ski Canada athletes, click here

Show skiing has been called the most entertaining discipline in the sport of water skiing. It is fast-moving, exciting, graceful, and most of all, fun to watch. Virtually all aspects of the sport – including barefooting, jumping, slalom, tricks and kneeboarding – are choreographed into one grand performance.

In its simplest form, show skiing involves a group of skiers performing a variety of acts with the primary objective of providing entertainment. Even at the most advanced and technically difficult levels, the basic format and entertainment concepts remain the same.

Most clubs incorporate numerous types of water skiing into their shows, however they generally focus on five major areas which include:

1. Team Jumping – For spectators, this is the most thrilling event. Usually three to five skiers will perform spins and flips over the 5 1/2-foot ski jump. Distances can exceed 100 feet and frequently spectacular falls occur during this act. Fortunately, the skiers wear protective clothing and know how to handle the falls safely.
2. Ballet and Swivel – Generally performed by young women, this act features a line of skiers choreographed to music. Some skiers may be using swivel bindings which allows them to make 180-degree turns or 360-degree spins.
   Barefooting – Just as the name implies, this act involves skiers skimming across the surface of the water on nothing but the bare soles of their feet. Boat speeds are usually in excess of 35 mph. Watch for multi-skier barefoot lines and barefoot pyramids.
3. Doubles – Features a man and woman team performing various lifts (similar to ice skating) while being pulled by the boat. The male skier either holds onto a handle or is pulled along by a harness, thus freeing his arms to perform the overhead lifts.
4. Pyramid – Is the ultimate in team work. Using hundreds of feet of rope, skiers actually build a human pyramid on water. Look for pyramids up to five levels high where the top skier often is 25 feet above the water — a spectacular display of teamwork.

With the variety of acts, skiers and show formats, how does a judge differentiate between clubs and ultimately decide on a winner? Each club is awarded points in two major categories. First, each of the 13 acts is evaluated for:

1. Flow – How smoothly does an act progress? Clubs attempt to avoid delays and poor boat patterns while maintaining spectator interest (25 points total per judge).
2. Execution – How well is an act performed? Acts are judged on the technical merit of that particular maneuver (0-25 points).
3. Difficulty – This is judged by comparing acts of similar type (0-25 points).
4. Spectator Appeal – Rates the entertainment value of an act and includes the quality of music, costuming, and the performers’ interactions with the audience (0-25 points).

Additionally, each club is evaluated on the following (more commonly called box scores):

1. Dock and Equipment Personnel – They should maintain a low profile, set up acts smoothly in a timely manner, and keep equipment operating properly (0-100 points).
2. Pick-Up Boat Crew – Must keep skis and equipment clear from the skiing area, have a low profile, and not create rough water, etc. (0-100 points).
3. Sound Crew – The host must communicate, entertain, and know the acts (0-250 points).
4. Towboat Driver – Judged for proper speeds, smooth takeoffs and landings (0-200 points).
5. Showmanship – The overall production of the show, appearance of the skiers and equipment, stage presence, choreography (0-300 points).
6. Overall Show – Reflects each judge’s overall opinion of the show, including content and quality (0-350 points).

Disciplines

2025 Team Canada

Canada’s elite water ski athletes are gearing up for an unforgettable performance at the 2025 World Water Ski Show Championships, set to take place in Mulwala, Australia, on March 21, 22, and 25, 2025. With 31 team members, 13 breathtaking acts, and a carefully crafted show plan, Team Canada is ready to showcase their extraordinary skills on the world stage. Read More

Tristan McGowan-Hayes

Krista McKenzie

Peter Mills

Charlie Newlands

Geordie Newlands

Taylor Nullmeyer

Zach Nyers

Darby Paddon

Lauren Peters

Nicole Peters

Audrey Pham-dinh

Emma Pham-dinh

Eric Pham-dinh

Josh Stovel

Ashley Steinburg

Taylor West