U.S. U17 And U21 Water Ski Teams Announced
by Scott N. Atkinson
Kennedy Hansen will compete on both the U17 and U21 U.S. water ski teams.
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is pleased to announce the selection of the 2020 U.S. U17 Water Ski Team and 2021 U.S. U21 Water Ski Team. The six-member teams, selected by the American Water Ski Association’s International Activities Committee, will compete in the 18th IWWF U17 Water Ski World Championships and 10th IWWF U21 Water Ski World Championships, respectively, Aug. 22-29, at the Pickos Water Ski School in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.
Athletes that have been selected to the 2020 U.S. U17 Water Ski Team are (alphabetical order): Jake Abelson (Holderness, N.H.), James Bryans (Acworth, Ga.), Alyssa Drake (Oconomowoc, Wis.), Blaze Grubbs (Rio Linda, Calif.), Kennedy Hansen (Milton, Fla.), and Sage Pottbecker (Morris, Conn.). To donate to the 2020 U.S. U17 Water Ski Team to help offset its expenses, visit https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=KWJ5ZG73ZN3US&source=url.
The U17 Worlds, which was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place Aug. 22-25. The United States has won the U17 world team title in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018. France won in 1998 and 2006. Canada won in 2004 and 2016.
Athletes that have been selected to the 2021 U.S. U21 Water Ski Team are (alphabetical order): Jake Abelson (Holderness, N.H.), Brooke Baldwin (Winter Garden, Fla.), Blaze Grubbs (Rio Linda, Calif.), Kennedy Hansen (Milton, Fla.), Sean Hunter (Dothan, Ala.), and Jon Leutz (Jacksonville, Ill.). To donate to the 2021 U.S. U21 Water Ski Team to help offset its expenses, visit https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=RVP8S6HK2BJ2Y&source=url.
The U21 Worlds will take place Aug. 26-29. The United States has won the U21 world team title in 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. France won in 2007, Canada won in 2017 and Great Britain won in 2019.
April Coble-Eller (Lillington, N.C.) will serve as the coach and Erin Kalkbrenner (Maize, Kan.) will be the manager of both U.S. teams.
The WaterSki Broadcasting Company will provide a live webcast of both world championships on its YouTube channel.
The Ski Nautique will be the official towboat of the IWWF U17 Water Ski World Championships and IWWF U21 Water Ski World Championships. Nautique is a National Sponsor of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports.