2022 WSWC MEN’S WAKE PARK RIDER OF THE YEAR – DARY ZNEBEL
Congratulations to pro wakeboarder, Elite National Team rider and 6 x Canadian Champion, Dary Znebel @daryznebel , Wake Canada’s Men’s Wake Park Rider Of The Year (2022)!
A stylish innovator in creative park and street riding, Dary has filmed some of the most acclaimed wake movie parts of recent years including in the Canadian @outhousewake Film Series and the ender in @spacemob.tv’s iconic “The Coalition – The Movie – The Trilogy”. In 2022 Dary held down the feature part in the “Coalition 9” short film.
On the 2022 competition scene, Dary won the Best Overall Male Rider at the prestigious @valdostawakecompound “VWC Yardsale IV” international pro contest as voted by a consensus of the world’s best wake park riders competing there!
@obrienwatersports has recognized Dary’s achievements with the creation of the “DZ” pro model board, their wake park best seller in 2022!
While this award is for Wake Park Rider, it’s worth noting that Dary is that rare breed of wake athlete who is a triple threat across park, boat and wakeskate! He was the top Canadian and finalist at the 2022 Pan Am Wake Boat Championship in Brazil, winning Canada its “country spot” for the upcoming Pan Am Games Men’s Wakeboard (November 2023). Dary took 4th in Pro Wakeskate at the 2020 Wake Park Worlds.
Off the water Dary gives back to the sport as Wake Canada National Wakeboard Team Coach contributing countless volunteer hours. Dary also puts in time judging at the local, national and world level as one of Canada’s highest certified wake officials. In his spare time during the summer Dary runs his own private wake sports coaching program in Muskoka, Ontario. – Steve Jarrett
Video: @brennangrange @planetbayou
2022 WSWC MALE JUNIOR WATER SKI ATHELTE OF THE YEAR
Photo Credit: Johnny Hayward Photography
Congratulations to Charlie Ross, the 2022 WSWC Male Junior Water Ski Athlete of the Year!
Charlie had another exceptional year on the water, breaking his own U17 Men’s Slalom World Record, placing at the Canadian Nationals, and winning the PanAm Championships.
Charlie started the year by breaking his own U17 Men’s Slalom World Record with a score of 3@10.25m/41off. This also broke the U21 Men’s Slalom World Record. Charlie then went on to become the Jr. Masters Slalom Champion, breaking the Jr. Masters course record with a score of 1@10.25m/41off. Towards the end of the summer, Charlie competed at the Canadian Nationals in Edmonton, AB. At this event he placed 2nd in the Elite Men’s Slalom and 3rd in the Open Men’s Slalom. Charlie was at the top of his game all season, breaking the U17 & U21 Men’s Slalom World Records again in November with a score of 4@10.25m/41off. Charlie finished 2022 with a gold medal in U17 Men’s Slalom at the PanAm Championships. Charlie started and finished the year as ranked number one in the world in U17 Men’s Slalom.
We look forward to watching you compete in 2023!
2022 WSWC VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR – TANNER CHAMPION
Congratulations to Tanner Champion, 2022 WSWC Volunteer of the Year!
Tanner devotes a significant amount of time supporting competitive water sports in Canada. Tanner is a great official and volunteer for Wake Canada and is committed to the sport. He is a major reason as to why there are wake contests and programs in BC. Although he has a full time job as a firefighter and a baby at home, he still continues to support and grow the sport in Canada.
Tanner always thinks of others and puts the needs of the community before his own. He has an enormous passion for the sport and dedicates his time to ensure events run smoothly. Tanner has also been the head judge at every contest in BC. His commitment for Wake Sports in Canada is unmatched.
2022 WSWC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR – RON MOORE
Photo Credit: Johnny Hayward Photography
Congratulations, Ron Moore on being named the 2022 WSWC Official of the Year.
Ron Moore has gone above and beyond as an official in 2022. He is part of multiple committees Nationally and Internationally, including being a contributing member of the IWWF Safety Manual. Ron also drove at National and International events throughout the year. This included being the Chief driver at the Canadian Nationals as well as a driver at the Pan Am Championships and the 35+ Worlds.
2022 WSWC COACH OF THE YEAR – DAVID WASSILL
Photo Credit: Johnny Hayward Photography
Congratulations to David Wassill on being named the 2022 WSWC Coach of the Year!
David Wassill is a dedicated and passionate adaptive water ski coach in Canada. He selflessly supports new and accomplished skiers from across the country and caters to each of their needs. From beginner to high performance athletes, Dave takes the time to coach everyone. If there is a question that is asked, he is there to answer or to find the answer. If there is an issue with equipment he finds what is necessary to help the athlete reach their goals.
In recognition of all the great work Dave has done within Canadian adaptive water skiing, Dave was inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
Dave has put an incredible amount of time into growing the adaptive water ski program in Canada and has had amazing success in developing competitive athletes. He is second to none in moving an athlete through the Long Term Athlete Development Model and producing world class competitive athletes. The Adaptive Program in Saskatchewan and other programs across the country have reaped the rewards of this ability. He seeks out potential athletes, plants the seed and helps each athlete grow to their full potential. With his passion, energy and unending commitment to adaptive water skiing, Dave is a great ambassador and builder of the sport.
2022 WSWC FEMALE BAREFOOT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – BECKY MOYNES MEYER
Congratulations to Becky Moynes Meyer on being named 2022 WSWC Female Barefoot Athlete of the Year!
Becky Moynes Meyer of Belleville, ON has been Canada’s top female barefoot water skier for the past decade by dominating the Canadian National Championships. In 2022, Becky continued her reign while raising two daughters with her husband Andrew, running her own physiotherapy clinic, working the family farm and renovating the Meyer home! Becky’s 2022 scores of 12 in slalom, 2400 in tricks and 9.3m in jump landed her 7th Overall in the World on the 2022 World Rankings List.
Becky was recently featured on Toronto’s City News 680 athlete of the week, and is undeniably the WSWC 2022 Female Barefoot Athlete of the Year.
2022 WSWC MALE BAREFOOT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – GORDIE CROTEAU
Congratulations to Gordie Croteau on being named 2022 WSWC Male Barefoot Athlete of the Year!
Gordie Croteau has been a household name of Canadian barefooting for many years.
Despite living in the USA, he has not missed a Canadian Nationals tournament in 20+ years.
Gordie’s most recent accomplishments include placing 2nd overall in Open Men’s at the 2022 Canadian Barefoot Nationals, and his Gold Medal and World Record performance at the 2022 World Masters Barefoot Championships in San Marcos, TX. While nursing an injured shoulder, Gordie exercised exceptional strategy to ski to his current strengths and abilities and win the Gold medal in the jump event. His distance became the New World Record for his division. Gordie’s strategy and team work also helped lead Team Canada to the Bronze Medal in Team Overall.
Congratulations to Gordie Croteau on being named Male Barefoot Athlete of the Year!
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.