By Jack Burden

The Under-17 World Championships kick off this week in Córdoba, Argentina, bringing together the world’s top junior water skiers. First held in 1986, the biennial event has long served as a launchpad for the sport’s future stars.

Ahumada Esquí Náutico will host the first World Championships ever staged in Argentina this Easter weekend, with the venue poised to deliver standout performances across all three disciplines.

Here are nine skiers to keep an eye on:

Image: @bretellisphotography

Alexia Abelson (USA)

The sole defending champion from the previous edition in Canada, the 15-year-old American arrives as the favorite in three of four events—and you’d be brave to bet against her leaving Córdoba without hardware. The younger sister of world record holder Jake Abelson, Alexia has already collected professional podiums in three disciplines, most recently finishing runner-up to Regina Jaquess in slalom at the Moomba Masters. Expect her to add another junior world title to her résumé before the weekend is out.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Slalom: 1st (5@11.25m)
• Tricks: 1st (9,100 points)
• Jump: 7th (34.0 meters)
• 1st Overall

Image: @matiasfotografia

Bautista Ahumada (ARG)

Skiing on his home lake, Ahumada enters as the favorite in boys’ tricks—the only skier with a personal best over 10,000 points—but also a genuine contender in slalom. The young Argentine has built a strong international résumé, with titles at both the U.S. Junior Masters (slalom) and Junior Moomba Masters (tricks). Backed by what should be a lively home crowd, he’ll be one to watch in both events.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Slalom: 3rd (3@10.75m)
• Tricks: 1st (10,460 points)

Image: IWWF

Ioannis Kousathanas (GRE)

The true dark horse of these championships, Kousathanas may not yet be widely known outside Europe—but he should be. The Greek teenager’s résumé is light on major international titles, built mostly on national success and European junior podiums, but he arrives in peak form. After escaping the Northern Hemisphere winter to train in Chile, he posted personal bests across all three events at the Torneo Nacional Miranda Ski last month, vaulting himself into contention as the top-ranked overall skier and a serious threat in both slalom and jump.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Slalom: 2nd (4@10.75m)
• Tricks: 4th (8,090)
• Jump: 3rd (50.6 meters)
• 1st Overall

Image: Jackson Cross Photography

Zarhli Reeves (AUS)

The only other skier in the field with a podium finish from the previous edition, Reeves is in a class of her own in girls’ jump—her personal best sitting nearly five meters clear of her nearest rival at over 45 meters. She is the clear favorite for the jump title and could push onto the slalom or overall podium if things break her way.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Slalom: 5th (5@12m)
• Jump: 1st (45.2m)
• 2nd Overall

Image: @mykhailichenko.mykhailo

Mykhailo Mykhailichenko (UKR)

Emerging from a Ukraine still grappling with the effects of war, the storied Sentosa program continues to produce elite talent despite immense challenges. The latest phenom, Mykhailichenko, arrives as the reigning European Under-17 overall champion and a legitimate contender across slalom, tricks, and overall.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Slalom: 5th (2@10.75m)
• Tricks: 2nd (9,650 points)
• Jump: 6th (45.4m)
• 2nd Overall

Image: @dashkrueger

Dash Krueger (USA)

A familiar surname tops the boys’ jump rankings. Dash, son of legendary Freddy Krueger, enters as the top seed with a genuine shot at the title. Raised in Central Florida by two professional skiers, he has long been groomed for this stage—and now faces his biggest test yet as he looks to step out from his father’s considerable shadow.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Jump: 1st (51.7 meters)

Image: @melitine_m

Mélitine Morel (FRA)

One of the most well-rounded skiers in the field, Morel is a threat to reach multiple podiums—and possibly more if everything clicks. Like several Northern Hemisphere athletes, she spent the winter training in South America, posting personal bests in both slalom and tricks in Chile last month as she builds toward peak form.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Slalom: 3rd (1@11.25m)
• Tricks: 6th (5,630 points)
• Jump: 4th (39.1 meters)
• 3rd Overall

Image: Water Ski Australia

Dylan Wright (AUS)

Still relatively unknown on the international stage, the Queenslander has been dominant domestically, stacking national titles and regularly running deep into 10.75m (39.5’ off). He enters as the top seed in boys’ slalom, setting up what could be one of the tightest battles of the tournament.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Slalom: 1st (4@10.75m)

Image: @bretellis_

Bret Ellis (USA)

Who better to challenge Krueger for the jump title than Ellis? In a rivalry that echoes their parents’ era, Bret—son of legendary Scot “The Rocketman” Ellis—arrives with a personal best just one foot shy of Krueger. Intriguingly, a junior world jump title eluded both Freddy Krueger and Scot Ellis in their careers, adding another layer of narrative to this showdown.

Under-17 World Rankings:

• Jump: 2nd (51.4 meters)
• 5th Overall