2021 Club Growth Challenge Winners Announced

Jason Lepinsky (center) of Miami, Fla., a quadriplegic who does not have use of his hands, enjoys a ski ride during the Ann’s Angels Adaptive Waterski Foundation’s adaptive water ski event on June 5 at Amelia Earhart Park in Miami. Ann’s Angels teamed up with Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion for the two-day event. Also pictured, side skiers Cole Adamopolous (left) and Shelby Zaborowski (right). Photography by JD Diamond Photography

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Club Growth Challenge Initiatives Contests, presented by Visit Central Florida, and kickoff of the 2022 contests as USA Water Ski & Wake Sports celebrates water skiing’s centennial in 2022. The respective contests – Club Membership Growth Challenge, Club Event Hosting Contest (Basic Skills), and Club Event Hosting Contest (GrassRoots) – encourage the USA Water & Wake Sports membership and sport discipline organizations to get more people on the water and affiliate with USA Water Ski & Wake Sports.

The objective of the Club Membership Growth Challenge was to see which of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports’ 600 affiliated clubs could enroll the most new members in 2021. Members had to be registered in the Active (Full Active, Family Active or Under 25) or Grassroots categories. The Lake Winnebago Ski Club (Lake Winnebago, Mo.) brought in 98 new members to win the Club Membership Growth Challenge. The club will receive a free USA Water Ski & Wake Sports club membership for 2022. The Muskego Water Bugs (Muskego, Wis.) and Purdue University Water Ski Club (West Lafayette, Ind.) finished second and third with 43 and 42 new members, respectively.

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Club Event Hosting Contest (Basic Skills) Challenge objective was to see which affiliated club could host the most sanctioned Basic Skills clinics during 2021. Ann’s Angels Adaptive Waterski Foundation (Winter Haven, Fla.) held seven adaptive clinics in 2021 to win the challenge. The club will receive a free USA Water Ski & Wake Sports club membership for 2022. The Shockwaves Adaptive Ski Squad (Shakopee, Minn.) placed second with six Basic Skills clinics and the Carolina Show Ski Team (Tega Cay, S.C.) finished third with five Basic Skills clinics.

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Club Event Hosting Contest (GrassRoots) Challenge objective was to see which affiliated club could host the most sanctioned stand-alone GrassRoots Tournaments during 2021. Knotty Girl (Winter Haven, Fla.) held nine stand-alone Grassroots events in 2021 to win the challenge. The club will receive a free USA Water Ski & Wake Sports club membership for 2022.The San Diego Water Ski Team (San Diego, Calif.) placed second with seven Grassroots events and the Lake Arrowhead Water Ski Club (Lake Arrowhead, Calif.) finished third with five GrassRoots events.

Winners of the 2022 Club Growth Challenge Initiatives Contests, presented by Visit Central Florida, will receive a free USA Water Ski & Wake Sports club membership for 2023.