Vailla Hoggan began competing in the sport of water skiing at a young age. By age 12 she had already won her first provincial title and by age 13, her first national championship. Hoggan was a dominant player in national women’s water skiing for a full decade as proven by her six straight overall national championship titles between 1964 and 1969.
Her illustrious water skiing career included many Canadian titles. In 1968, Vailla finished first in women’s tricks at the Canadian Nationals, earning herself a Canadian record. Also in 1968, Hoggan became the first Canadian woman to win gold in slalom at the Pan American Championships in Bogota, Columbia.
As a result of her provincial, national and international results, many people and many organizations have celebrated her accomplishments. In 1969 Hoggan was recognized as Western Manitoba’s Athlete of the Year and was named as a honourary citizen of Minnedosa, Manitoba. One year later she was named Life Member of the Minnedosa Mallards Water Ski Club and became the first female executive member as Treasurer of the Canadian Water Ski Association. As a culmination of her life-long accomplishments, Hoggan was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
At 22, Hoggan retired from the sport of water skiing to pursue her education. She became a teacher and worked, as a teacher and counsellor in the Winnipeg School Division for a number of years. After serving as administrator in several schools, she finished her career as the principal of Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute, retiring in December 2002.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
– First female Canadian to win gold – Group 1 (Pan Am) Championships 1968
– Six-time Canadian Overall Champion 1962, 1964-1968
– Six-time Manitoba Open Overall Champion 1961-1965, 1970
– Four-time Manitoba Closed Overall Champion 1960, 1962-1964 National and International Results
– 1961 Canadian Nationals 3rd overall
– 1962 Canadian Nationals 1st overall
– 1964 Canadian Nationals 1st overall (junior and women’s)
– 1965 Canadian Nationals Closed 1st overall
– 1965 Canadian Nationals Open 2nd slalom, 3rd tricks
– 1966 Canadian Nationals 1st overall
– 1966 Group 1 Championships 3rd jump, 4th slalom and overall
– 1967 World Team Trials 1st overall
– 1967 World Championships 10th overall
– 1968 Canadian Nationals 1st tricks, 2nd slalom and jump
– 1968 Group 1 Championships 1st slalom, 3rd overall
– 1969 Canadian Nationals Closed 3rd overall
– 1969 World Team Trials 1st overall
– 1969 World Championships 8th tricks and jump, 11th slalom
CANADIAN RECORDS
Record Holder for Open Women:
– 1967, Tricks – 2611 points, 1967 National Championship
– 1968, Jump – 29.3m (96’), 1968 Quebec Open
– 1969, Slalom – 5 @ 24’ off, 1969 Ontario Open