By Jack Burden

The water ski community is mourning the loss of Jean-François Rapp, a French champion skier and revered coach, who passed away aged 69 this week.

Rapp first made his mark as one of France’s brightest young talents. A multiple-time national champion in slalom and overall in the 1980s, he was ranked third in the world when the first official world ranking list was published in October 1979—behind only American greats Bob and Kris LaPoint.

One of the first French skiers to split his time between Europe and the United States, Rapp became a familiar presence at Florida ski schools and eventually forged a lifelong friendship with Jack Travers. That bond brought him to Sunset Lakes, where he became part of the Travers Ski School coaching staff and community for decades.

In recent years, Rapp’s greatest legacy has been as coach and mentor to the Duplan-Fribourg brothers—Louis, Pol, and Tristan—guiding them from juniors to the elite stage. Under his watch, Louis claimed the World Overall title in 2023, Pol captured the University World Overall crown earlier this year along with multiple junior world jump titles, and Tristan has emerged as one of the sport’s most exciting new trick prospects, joining the exclusive 12k club this season. For the family, Rapp was more than a coach—he was family.

Tributes poured in from across the skiing world. Lelani Travers reflected on his lifelong bond with her husband, Jack:

“Jean Francois Rapp has gone on to what we know is a better place. Oh my goodness, the stories those two wild boys could tell. They spent a lifetime loving this sport and the people in it. He will always bring a smile to our faces and have a huge place in our hearts.”

Pol Duplan-Fribourg dedicated his University World title to Rapp:

“This man didn’t just teach me how to be good at waterskiing; he also had to put up with me for many years, never counting the minutes he spent in the boat, always giving his very best every single second. Beyond skiing, he taught me what it means to be a man—how to carry myself, how to make the most of life, and how to seize every opportunity that comes our way.”

Rapp’s influence could be felt in Louis Duplan-Fribourg’s World Championships performances as well, with one friend describing him as a patient craftsman who helped polish one of the sport’s brightest diamonds.

From the heights of the 1970s ranking list to the shores of Sunset Lakes and the world’s biggest stages, Jean-François Rapp dedicated his life to waterskiing. He will be remembered not only for his results, but for his devotion, warmth, and the generations of athletes who carry his lessons forward.