Shane McConkey's legendary Stinger waterskis

Watch: How Retro Jump Skis Influenced Snow Ski Design | POWDER Magazine

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Tahoe Skier Rides Shane McConkey’s Iconic Water Skis From The ’70s

By Ian Greenwood

POWDER Magazine


Legendary ski filmmaker and Lake Tahoe, California, local Scott Gaffney just took a pair of very unusual skis out for a rip at Palisades Tahoe.

The skis in question? Shane McConkey’s legendary Stinger waterskis.

The Stingers aren’t just wacky powder—nay, water ski—though. They hold an important place in the history of ski design.

In pursuit of the perfect powder ski, McConkey mounted the Stingers and began riding them in deep snow. Initially designed for water skiing in the 1970s, these skis boasted a design feature that would eventually inspire the legendary Volant Spatula. They were widest underfoot, making them reverse sidecut. Most skis are narrowest underfoot.

Full article at POWDER.

2023 Syndicate Collegiate Nationals

Watch: 2023 Syndicate Collegiate Water Ski National’s | HO Sports

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2023 Syndicate Water Skis Collegiate Nationals

By Rob Hazelwood

HO Sports


The Water Ski event that brings the hype to our sport year after year! The energy is high, the skiing is intense and the friendships that are made are legendary! Enjoy Rob’s Recap of this very special event!

Thank you Tri-Lakes for hosting such a spectacular event and shoutout to all the teams, skiers, coaches, drivers, officials, volunteers and everyone else who makes the NCWSA Nationals and collegiate season what it is year after year.

Also thank you to Chris Wharton for the Drone Shots!

Qualified Teams

Southern Atlantic Coastal Region

  1. University of Alabama
  2. Rollins College
  3. Florida Southern College
  4. Clemson University
  5. Auburn University

South Central Region

  1. University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  2. University of Louisiana Monroe
  3. Texas A&M University
  4. University of Arkansas
  5. Texas State University

West Coast Region

  1. Arizona State University
  2. San Diego State University
  3. California Polytechnical University – San Luis Obispo
  4. Western Washington University
  5. University of California – Los Angeles

Midwest Region

  1. University of Kansas
  2. University of Wisconsin – Madison
  3. Miami University
  4. University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
  5. University of Nebraska
  6. Purdue University
  7. University of Michigan – Wildcard qualified
  8. University of Cincinnati – Wildcard qualified
  9. The Ohio State University – Wildcard qualified
81ST GOODE WATER SKI NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Watch: Highlights from the 81st Goode Water Ski Nationals | America’s Boating Channel

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Watch: Highlights from the 81st Goode Water Ski National Championships

By America’s Boating Channel


USA Water Ski & Wake Sports and the American Water Ski Association held the 81st Goode Water Ski National Championships in August 2023 at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach, FL. Here is a look back on the storied history of the Water Ski National Championships.

The video is Featured Now on America’s Boating Channel’s free smart TV app on Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV, on AmericasBoatingChannel.com, and on its YouTube channel, as well as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social networks from Dec. 31 through Jan. 6.

The announcement was made by America’s Boating Channel’s Vice President of Smart TV, Kathy Strachan, and USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Senior Director of Communications & External Relations, Scott Atkinson.

“We’re thrilled to ring in the new year with an exciting documentary tracing the development of the Water Ski National Championships in the United States. This video has special appeal to more than five million American participants in towed water sports. Viewers can also enjoy a superb assortment of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports video titles available anytime at bit.ly/USAWSonTV,” said Strachan.

Atkinson said: “We’re excited to partner with America’s Boating Channel to promote not only our Water Ski National Championships video but also our full catalog of titles covering water ski and wakeboard instruction, water ski history, and show skiing.”

Rob Shirley MasterCraft HandCrafted

Watch: Meet Rob Shirley | MasterCraft

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Meet Rob Shirley | MasterCraft HandCrafted

By MasterCraft


MasterCraft boats aren’t just built—they’re crafted. Crafted by craftsmen who for 55 years have upheld the MasterCraft commitment to more smiles and less worries. Crafted with progression and innovation in mind. Crafted to last and crafted to perform.

In 1968, Rob Shirley embarked on a mission driven by a singular vision—to build the best ski boat in the industry. While he came from a competitive waterskiing background, Rob’s passion for the sport extended beyond participation. Unsatisfied with the performance of the ski boats on the market at the time, Rob was determined to redefine the standard, harnessing his insights into what would make a boat truly exceptional—superior turning, impeccable tracking, and the ability to produce unrivaled wakes. After countless dedicated hours, Rob brought his vision to life, debuting the 18-foot groundbreaking ski boat bearing the name “MasterCraft” and forever altering the course of the towboat industry. This very first MasterCraft—and each one after it—was meticulously built by hand. And still to this day, every MasterCraft built upholds this legacy, handcrafted by dedicated engineers and passionate boaters who carry the torch that Rob lit all those years ago.

This is MasterCraft HandCrafted.

Discover More: www.mastercraft.com/handcrafted

Marcus Brown's FlowPoint TV

Watch: Love What You Do | FlowPoint TV

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Love What You Do – A Decade of FlowPoint TV

By FlowPoint


May 1, 2023

“To be honest, I got hurt, couldn’t ski….and was like, f*%k this!….no one is showing water skiing how I know it needs to be shown! ABC, ESPN, all television time had come in the late 70’s and stayed until the mid 90’s, right when I started trying to compete. I literally was there when the sport crumbled. So that was the driving force at first….to SHOW people, as many people as I could reach, exactly what water skiing is, how insanely beautiful and challenging it can be…and to open folks up to another way to live life on the water, I guess…

Originally, the seed for this idea of the FlowPoint, came during one of the greatest, yet most disappointing moments in my professional skiing career: At the 2011 World Championships in Dubna Russia, I had an unexplainable experience, in which I somehow surrendered to something bigger than myself, at the exact right moment. It was magical…..I had tapped into the FlowPoint. It only lasted for a moment….BUT, the feeling, the residue from that experience, still sticks with me today. Its somewhat of a northstar personally…and it was enough to drive me towards this idea of the FlowPoint in all of our lives.

That was the moment I picked up a camera. And I’m thankful for the winding roads we discovered, with that camera and some good hearted people.

Its been a wild ride…come join us on a journey through the past 10 years of FlowPoint TV”

-Marcus Brown

2022 NCWSA Nationals

Watch: 2022 Syndicate Collegiate Water Ski National’s | HO Sports

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2022 Syndicate Water Skis Collegiate National Championships // THE Water Ski Event of the YEAR

By Rob Hazelwood

HO Sports


Re-live the 2022 Syndicate Water Skis Collegiate National Championships in San Marcos, TX! One of the most exciting and energized competitions in the sport of Water skiing! We at HO/Syndicate are always thankful to continue supporting collegiate water skiing and keep this amazing tournament as alive and epic as ever!

Shoutout to all the teams, skiers, coaches, drivers, officials, volunteers and everyone else who makes the NCWSA Nationals and collegiate season what it is year after year.

Competing Teams:
Southern Atlantic Coastal Region:
University of Alabama – D1
Florida Southern College – D1
Rollins College – D1
Clemson University – D1
Auburn University – D2

South Central Region:
University of Louisiana at Lafayette – D1
University of Louisiana Monroe – D1
Texas A&M – D2
University of Texas – Austin – D2
University of Arkansas – D2

West Coast Region:
Arizona State University – D1
San Diego State University – D2
California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo – D2
University of California, Berkeley – D2
Western Washington University – D2

Midwest Region:
University of Wisconsin – Madison – D1
Kansas University – D1
The Ohio State University – D1
University of Michigan – D1
University of Miami – D1
Purdue University – D2
Michigan State University – D2
University of Nebraska – D2
University of Cincinnati – D2

Marcus Brown's FlowPoint TV

Watch: Collegiate Water Skiing – United By Water | FlowPoint TV

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Collegiate Water Skiing – United By Water: FlowPoint TV

By FlowPoint


We think Collegiate Water Skiing might just be the brightest and best part of the sport. So, why the hell not tell the story of Collegiate Nationals, just one more time??!!

In 2017, we went to Bennett’s and covered Nationals.

In 2018, we went to San Marcos, and have yet to share that footage with the World (maybe, someday….).

In 2019, we went to California and showed you just how ridiculously good Waterskiing is.

In 2020, well, you know what happened….

So now, here you have it, the 2021 Collegiate Water Ski Nationals, on a silver platter, waiting for you to sit back, relax and enjoy the show. The Best Show in Water Skiing!