By Jack Burden

CLERMONT, FLA. — On Sunday afternoon, under the sinking Florida sun at Swiss Waterski Resort, Freddie Winter climbed back onto a professional podium for the first time since the crash that nearly ended his career.

For the outspoken Englishman, the third-place finish at the Swiss Pro Slalom wasn’t just another podium—it was a statement. Less than a year removed from a broken femur that sidelined him for most of 2024, the two-time world slalom champion reminded the waterski world that not only is he back—he’s still a threat.

“I sat in bed watching a lot of skiing in the following months wanting so bad to be back amongst it,” Winter wrote after the event. “I’ve worked as hard as I know how since to get back to where I could be competitive. Yesterday it started to feel like I can be.”

Nate Smith was, as ever, imperious. His 5 at 41 (10.25m) in the finals comfortably secured a seventh Swiss Pro title, continuing his reign as the most dominant male slalom skier of the past decade. Vaughn, in second, has picked up his strong form from 2024, delivering one of the event’s grittier performances.

Yet the buzz along the shoreline and in the digital stands—thousands tuning into The Waterski Broadcasting Company’s stream—centered on the fiery Brit. In a sport that often rewards the relentless metronome of perfection, Winter’s brand of visible, determined grind struck a different chord.

Elite slalom skiing is a sport of risk and razor-thin margins. At last June’s Monaco Slalom Cup, Freddie’s pursuit of victory ended with a violent crash into the dock. The images of him stretchered off were a stark reminder of how quickly everything can change.

Doctors predicted up to a year off the water. He gave it just over six months.

While Sunday’s result doesn’t fully reflect his ultimate ambitions, it signals clear progress. After battling through early rounds, Winter secured a place in the finals alongside some of the sport’s most consistent performers.

“I’m a work in progress and I’m happy,” he said. “I’m very happy to be competing with all these guys where I was really struggling not too long ago.”

Winter’s podium performance isn’t just about his skiing—it signals that the 2025 season is shaping up to be as fiercely competitive as 2024, if not more. With veterans like Travers, Asher, and Smith still pushing the limits, and a rising wave of new challengers, the men’s field is sharper and more crowded than ever.

With Freddie Winter back in the fold, the season just got a lot more interesting.