2023 WSWC FEMALE WAKEBOARD RIDER OF THE YEAR
WSWC is thrilled to announce Ashley Leugner as the 2023 WSWC Wake Canada Female Wakeboard Rider of the Year! Congratulations, Ashley, on an amazing year filled with remarkable achievements and incredible performances on the water!
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WSWC a le plaisir d’annoncer qu’Ashley Leugner est la planchiste féminine de l’année 2023 de WSWC Planche Canada ! Félicitations, Ashley, pour une année étonnante remplie de réalisations remarquables et de performances incroyables sur l’eau !
PC: Express Media & Pan Am Sports
6 MEDAL DAY FOR WSWC AT THE 2023 SANTIAGO PAN AMERICAN GAMES
Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada: Day 3 Recap – 2023 Santiago Pan American Games
Morning Highlights:
The day kicked off with Neilly Ross and Paige Rini competing in the Women’s Slalom Finals. Neilly gleamed with a silver-worthy score of 3@10.75m/39off. Not far behind, Rini made Canada proud by clinching bronze with a score of 1@10.75m/39off.
Paige Rini: A Day of Bronzes:
Paige Rini wasn’t done after the morning’s triumph. She returned to the scene in the Women’s Jump Finals, where she soared to an impressive 47.3m, adding another bronze medal to her collection. Later in the Women’s Trick Finals, Paige put up a valiant fight, finishing in 6th place. Be sure to keep an eye out for her tomorrow, as she’s set to compete in the Women’s Overall Finals competing in all three events; Slalom, Tricks, and Jump.
Neilly Ross’s Silver Streak Continues:
Today was undeniably Neilly Ross’s day at the Pan American Games. After her spectacular performance in the Women’s Slalom Finals, she switched gears to dominate the Women’s Tricks Finals. Her passion and expertise rewarded her by scoring 10,870 points and earning herself another silver medal.
Dorien Llewellyn: Dual Silver Success:
Dorien Llewellyn had fans on the edge of their seats. First, in the Men’s Jump Finals, he leaped a near-gold 64.5 meters, missing the top spot by a mere 0.2 meters. Then, he showcased his versatility in the Men’s Tricks Finals, scoring 10,690 points and earning himself another silver medal. All eyes will be on him in tomorrow’s Men’s Overall Finals.
Canada’s Wakeboard Star:
Ashley Leugner, representing the maple leaf, took on the Women’s Wakeboard Finals and achieved a commendable 5th place.
What’s Next:
The end for Water Ski and Wakeboard at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games approaches! Tomorrow will see the Women’s Overall Finals, Men’s Overall Finals, and Men’s Wakeboard Finals. Paige Rini and Dorien Llewellyn, are set for the Overall Finals. Meanwhile, Hunter Smith will aim to dazzle in the Wakeboard Finals.
Join us and be part of the excitement! Don’t miss a moment and follow the live webcast and real-time results.
Livestream: https://www.panamsportschannel.org/main
Schedule and Results: https://results-santiago2023.org/#/discipline/WSK/schedule/daily
CANADA’S ASHLEY LEUGNER SET TO COMPETE IN THE WOMEN’S WAKEBOARD LCQ AT THE 2023 SANTIAGO PAN AMERICAN GAMES
Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada’s Ashley Leugner showcased her incredible talent today in the Women’s Wakeboard Qualifiers at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games. Placing third in her heat, Leugner narrowly missed the chance to proceed directly to the finals.
With undeterred spirit, Ashley will be back in the waters for the Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ) on October 22, 2023, with hopes of securing her position in the Women’s Wakeboard Finals.
Reflecting on today’s performance, Ashley stated, “The day went pretty good. I wasn’t super happy with the way it finished out for me but I did land some stuff that I didn’t land yesterday, which was positive for me. I just ended up having a repeat trick and an unfortunate fall and didn’t make it through but I get a second chance tomorrow.” When asked about her goal for the LCQ, she responded determinedly, “That is the goal. Get through finals tomorrow in LCQ.”
Leveraging her vast experience, Leugner remains confident, “I’ve been in this position before. I’ve been to many contests and I’m relying on past contest experience. Which I think I have a lot more than some of the girls here so I think that will help me out a lot.”
The Pan Am Games is not just a competition, but an experience. Ashley expressed her gratitude and excitement for being a part of this event, “I’m just trying to really take in the whole experience here. Reconnecting with people I used to wakeboard with back in the day. Just being here with Team Canada and the whole multi-sport event is amazing.” She also candidly shared her feelings on her journey so far, “I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself but I just have to remember that I’m here and that was the goal.”
Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada is proud of Ashley’s dedication and perseverance. Fans and supporters are encouraged to cheer her on in tomorrow’s LCQ.
About Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada:
Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada (WSWC) is the national governing body for water skiing and wakeboarding in Canada. Dedicated to promoting these sports at every level, WSWC provides resources for athletes, coaches, and enthusiasts, fostering excellence and sportsmanship within a vibrant community passionate about the water.
WSWC AND THE COC ANNOUNCE CANADA’S WATER SKI AND WAKEBOARD TEAM SELECTED TO COMPETE AT THE SANTIAGO 2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s water ski and wakeboard team selected to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
The Team Canada water ski and wakeboard team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games is:
Athletes:
Water Ski
Dorien Llewellyn (Innisfail, Alta.)
Whitney McClintock Rini (Cambridge, Ont.)
Paige Rini (Winter Garden, Florida)
Neilly Ross (Orlando, Florida)
Wakeboard
Ashley Leugner (Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask.)
Hunter Smith (North Vancouver, B.C.)
Canada qualified the maximum of four water skiers and two wakeboarders thanks to performances at the 2022 IWWF Pan American Championships for the two disciplines. Canada finished third in the overall open team classification for water ski.
Dorien Llewellyn, who is coached by his father, 12-time Pan Am Games medalist Jaret Llewellyn, will make his second appearance at the Pan American Games. At Lima 2019, Llewellyn won gold in the men’s overall water ski event, a silver in tricks and a bronze in jump. At the most recent IWWF World Waterski Championships in 2021, Llewellyn won gold in men’s tricks and silver in men’s overall.
“I am incredibly excited and grateful to have the opportunity to represent Canada at the Pan Am Games for a second time,” said Llewellyn. “Not only does water skiing have a golden history at these Games, but my family does as well, with my father winning 12 Pan Am Games medals himself. The chance to build upon the legacy that we have created together is one that I will continue to cherish every time I am a part of the Canadian team at any level of competition.”
Nine-time IWWF world champion Whitney McClintock Rini will make her fifth appearance at the Pan American Games. In her previous four appearances (Rio 2007, Guadalajara 2011, Toronto 2015 and Lima 2019), she won a total of 14 medals, including five gold. At Santiago 2023, the twenty-year Canadian National Water Ski team veteran will return to the Laguna Los Morros venue where she has competed at numerous times throughout her career, including at the 2013 World Waterski Championships where she won a silver medal in both the women’s slalom and women’s overall.
Paige Rini, who won three bronze medals at Lima 2019 in the women’s slalom, tricks and overall events, will make her second appearance at the Pan Am Games. She finished the 2023 World Water Skiers Overall Tour with a bronze medal for her efforts throughout the season and looks to continue her podium performances at Santiago 2023.
Llewellyn, McClintock Rini and Rini will lend their significant Pan Am Games experience to teammates making their Pan Am debuts – Neilly Ross, Ashley Leugner and Hunter Smith. Ross is the 2017 IWWF world champion in women’s tricks and the 2017 IWWF Female Water Skier of the Year.
“I am beyond excited to be representing Canada at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile,” said Ross. “It has been a dream of mine to compete in this competition across sports for many years, especially in the footsteps of my dad who was able to win several Pan American Games Championships. I can’t wait!”
Ashley Leugner is one of Canada’s most decorated wakeboarders: a 7-time National Champion, World Championship Silver Medalist, Bronze World Cup finisher and many top ten finishes on the world circuit.
“Representing Canada at an event as prestigious as the Pan Am Games is a dream come true!” said Leugner. “It took a long time for women’s wakeboarding to be included in the Games and if I wasn’t able to represent Canada at least once, I would feel like I had unfinished business. I’m very grateful for the opportunity as I’m sure this experience will be one to remember for a lifetime!”
Hunter Smith rose up through the ranks of Wake Canada and Wake BC events winning his first national title at age 9. Smith is Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada’s 2022 Wakeboard Boat Rider Of The Year.
“I’m excited and honoured to represent Canada at the Pan Am Games.” said Smith. “This is something I have been working towards for 14 years! Since I first stepped on a wakeboard at age 7, I fell in love with the sport. It has given me so many great friends and awesome life experiences.”
Water ski and wakeboard have been on the Pan American Games program since Mar del Plata 1995, where Jaret Llewellyn won the inaugural gold medal in men’s jump and men’s tricks in water ski. Since then, Canada has won a total of 56 Pan American Games medals in water ski and wakeboard, the highest total of any country.
Water ski and wakeboard will take place October 21 to 24 (Days 1 to 4) at the Laguna Los Morros in the San Bernardo district of Santiago.
“As the Chef de Mission, I am proud to extend a warm welcome to these water ski and wakeboard athletes to the Canadian team on our way to the Pan American Games,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. “In a competition where the waves of Olympic recognition have not yet reached, our team composed of Pan American Games medallists and rookies promises to showcase skill and passion. Let’s make history and ride the tides of success at the 2023 Pan Am Games!”
Team Canada’s water ski and wakeboard team coaches and support staff for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:
Kyle Hunter (Paris, Ont.) – Team Leader
Jaret Llewellyn (Innisfail, Alta.) – Water ski coach
Matt Rini (Kingston, Ont.) – Water ski coach
Drew Ross (Belleville, Ont.) – Water ski coach
Dary Znebel (Mississauga, Ont.) – Wakeboard coach
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.
The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.
Watch the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Broadcast Channel here.
Follow the Live Results here.
