2022 WSWC JUNIOR BAREFOOT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – MATHIS LARIVIERE
Congratulations to Mathis Lariviere for being named 2022 WSWC Junior Barefoot Athlete of the Year!
For a second year in a row, Mathis Lariviere has earned the title of Canadian Junior Barefoot Athlete of the Year for his first place ranking in both slalom and tricks in the Boys Under 17 division. Mathis started barefooting at the age of 10 and first competed at the age of 13 at the Canal Soulanges in 2019. During the off season, Mathis also participates in Olympic style weight-lifting, and finished 2nd in his weight division at the 2022 Jesus du Quebec this year.
During the ski season, Mat trains on the water with his Dad and younger brother Tristan. They like to challenge each other to learn new skills. Mathis was the Boys age division champion at the 2022 Canadian Barefoot National Champions in Bala, ON where he reached new personal best scores of 980 points in tricks and 6.33 in slalom.
2022 WSWC MALE DEVELOPMENT ADAPTIVE WATER SKI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – BRAESON SCHACHER
Photo Credit: Johnny Hayward Photography
Congratulations to Braeson Schacher on being named 2022 WSWC Male Development Adaptive Water Ski Athlete of the Year!
Braeson Schacher was committed to training all season long, competing at every tournament that was available to him and qualifying for worlds with his trick score at the US Nationals. He also took his ski ability coaching foundations course and volunteered at every give it a go clinic in Alberta.
2022 WSWC FEMALE DEVELOPMENT ADAPTIVE WATER SKI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – KENDRA ERHARDT
Congratulations to Kendra Erhardt on being named 2022 WSWC Female Development Adaptive Water Ski Athlete of the Year!
Kendra Erhardt came to a ‘give it a go’ clinic in Edmonton, AB in early June and she was hooked! She was invited to join a high-performance camp in Lacombe, AB in July. This talented athlete trained nonstop for the rest of the summer to be ready to compete in the US Nationals, where she qualified for Worlds. The future is bright for this young lady.
2022 WSWC FEMALE ADAPTIVE WATER SKI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Esther Berman on being named 2022 WSWC Female Adaptive Water Ski Athlete of the Year!
Esther Berman has been skiing as a completely blind athlete for many years. In the year 2022, Esther had her best year yet. She spent time on the water training in Ottawa and attended the one week High Performance Training Camp in Ontario. She also competed in Easterns and the US Nationals where she qualified for the 2023 Canadian Adaptive Worlds Water Ski Team
2022 WSWC MALE ADAPTIVE WATER SKI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – BLAKE LAMONTAGNE
Photo Credit: Johnny Hayward Photography.
Blake Lamontagne started his 2022 water ski season in the gym increasing his fitness dramatically. Once the ice came off the lakes, Blake was hard at work on the water. Blake trained at the Saskatoon Water Ski Club, Anne’s Angels in Florida, Predator Bay, Schacres Lake and spent two weeks in California training with some of the US National Team.
Blake attended numerous tournaments this year as well. He attended Westerns in Saskatoon, Nationals in Edmonton, Provincials in Saskatoon and the US Nationals in Paducah, Kentucky. His best cost score of the year was in Paducah in tricks where he received a cost score of over 800 points.
Blake continues to commit fully to his fitness and training and obtaining his goal of a World Record in the 2023 Worlds.
2022 WSWC MALE ADAPTIVE WATER SKI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – RYAN RIEHL
Photo Credit: Johnny Hayward Photography.
Ryan Riehl is a dedicated and motivated water skier who skis as a blind and deaf athlete. He has competed for over 15 years in the adaptive sport and continues to compete in all 3 events; slalom, trick and jump. Ryan acknowledges the assistance he receives from his coaches and team mates and he appreciates the camaraderie of the National Team.
Ryan loves to ski, is enthusiastic, trains hard, and is a great ambassador of the sport. Over the last 2 years, Ryan has been sharing his experiences through Zoom talks with schools across Saskatchewan. He highlights water skiing a main motivator in living with his disabilities.
2022 WSWC JUNIOR SHOW SKI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – ZACK PHAM-DINH
Congratulations to Zack Pham-Dinh, 2022 WSWC Junior Show Ski Athlete of the Year!
Zack Pham-Dinh started water skiing at age 3 on Sparrow Lake and on the Ottawa River. He has now been show skiing and training with the amazing athletes at SWS, Muskoka Extreme, Fern Resort, and the Canadian Junior Development Team which he has been a part of for 2 years.
Zack is a natural show skier and has effortlessly learned how to jump, do shoulder starts, base 2-1 pyramids, and is learning doubles. He also placed 3rd Barefoot Nationals in his age category.
Zack is dedicated to training in all disciplines, has great sportsmanship and has a bright future ahead.
2022 WSWC MALE SHOW SKI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – JORDAN LONG
Congratulations to Jordan Long, 2022 WSWC Male Show Ski Athlete of the Year!
Jordan Long is an exceptional show skier and a specialist in many disciplines including freestyle ski jumping, barefooting, hydro foiling, and wakeboarding. With his diverse skillset, he generously volunteers his time to coach up-and-coming skiers on the development team. He has been a key performer at the last 5 World Water Ski Show Championships. At the most recent World Championships in 2022, Jordan came 9th in the freestyle jumping individuals’ division and performed in 6 out of 13 acts in Team Canada’s competitive show. At the same event, he skied his way to winning the Male MVP Award of the entire tournament. In addition to this honour, Jordan was named 2022 @iwwfed Male Show Ski Athlete of the Year. He was also one of two Canadian athletes nominated for the Ski Show Podcast awards this year.
2022 WSWC FEMALE SHOW SKI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Carly Jones, 2022 WSWC Female Show Ski Athlete of the Year!
Carly Jones is Canada’s top swivel skier and placed 7th at the 2022 World Championships in the individual swivel ski competition. As part of Team Canada, Carly participated in most acts during the show; star swivel, pyramid, barefoot pyramid, women’s barefoot flyer, doubles, and ballet.
Carly is dedicated to the sport like no other. At the 2022 World Championships, she injured her knee during the show on Saturday. Although injured, that did not stop her from performing in the show on Sunday. She did not want to let the team down and persevered through her difficult acts.
Carly not only trains herself, but she also is a volunteer coach for the development team. She has a true passion for the sport, and it shows through her constant skill development and her mentorship.