The U.S. U17 Water Ski Team marches in the opening ceremonies. Photography by Rhoni Bischoff.

The U.S. Junior Water Ski Team won the overall team gold medal and three U.S. water ski athletes earned individual medals in respective events at the 19th IWWF World Under 17 Waterski Championships, Jan 5-8, at Lago Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile.

The United States tallied 7,810.76 points in winning the gold medal for the 13th time in the history of the biennial event. Canada earned the silver medal (7,729.62 points) and Chile claimed the bronze medal (7,470.44 points). Athletes and teams from 22 countries competed in the four-day tournament as the world team title and world individual titles in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall were at stake.

Members of the U.S. U17 Water Ski Team were: Alexia Abelson (Holderness, N.H.), Jake Abelson (Holderness, N.H.), Emma Davis (Milford, Va.), Elizabeth Hall (Newnan, Ga.), Alana Jones (Church Point, La.) and Chase Sparks (Dallas, Ga.). Sam Greenwood (Little Rock, Ark.) was the coach and Jessica Van Dyk (Grand Rapids, Mich.) served as the manager of the U.S. U17 Water Ski Team.

Alexia Abelson earned the silver medal in Girls’ tricks (6,500 points); Jones earned the silver medal in Girls’ slalom (1 buoy at 38 feet off); and Jake Abelson earned the bronze medal in boys’ tricks (10,650 points).

Gold medalists were: Canada’s Hannah Stopnicki, Girls’ tricks (6,680 points); Chile’s Matias Gonzalez, Boys’ tricks (11,450 points); Chile’s Daniela Kretschmer, Girls’ slalom (2 buoys at 38 feet off); Mexico’s Nicolas Nelson, Boys’ slalom (3 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off); Canada’s Nellie Allard, Girls’ jumping (135 feet); Chile’s Martin Labra, Boys’ jumping (177 feet) and overall (2,921.57 points); and Canada’s Megan Pelkey, Girls’ Overall (2,672.08 points).

Complete Results. Webcast Archives. The United States has won the world team title in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2022. France won in 1998 and 2006. Canada won in 2004 and 2016.

The Ski Nautique was the official towboat of the 19th IWWF World Under 17 Waterski Championships. Nautique is a National Sponsor of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports.

Donate to the U.S. U17 Water Ski Team to help offset its expenses.

U.S. U17 Water Ski Team Wins IWWF U17 World Championships

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