U17 World Water Ski Championships to take place in Calgary

Predator Bay is ready for its international water ski event.

The 2024 International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Under-17 World Water Ski Championships kick off Friday at the lake just south of Calgary.

The event features more than 130 of the world’s best 12- to 17-year-olds, competing for top honors in three different disciplines.

“Slalom, trick and jump,” said Taryn Grant, with Waterski and Wakeboard Canada. “We have three events and then we have the overall where all of those events are combined, where you get an overall score and then all the countries compete together for the overall team title as well.”

Grant is also on the Canadian national team and knows how hard these young athletes work to prepare for competitions around the world.

“We have competitors who have been training for years and years, their whole lives,” she said. “They have to qualify for the world rankings or they have to qualify as national team members, so they qualify as a competitor for their country — so they have to be at an elite level to compete here.”

Youngest Member of Team Canada

At 12, Sofia Pelkey ​​is the youngest member of Team Canada and the youngest competitor overall. Pelkey ​​competes in all three disciplines, but says jumping is her favorite.

“I feel honored to be here,” she said. “That I was picked for the team and it’s kind of nerve-wracking knowing that there are a lot of good athletes, but overall it feels pretty cool.”

Her goal for this competition is to reach the finals for jump and trick. She started competing at international level at the age of 10 and has been water skiing for a long time.

“(My) dad, when we were younger, about eight, he thought it would be a good idea to just put me into water skiing,” she said. “So we just started at our cabin in B.C. and then he put my sister in first and she really enjoyed it and she also became a world champion — so he decided to take me.”

If Pelkey ​​makes it to the vault finals, she will likely face Australia’s Krisy Appleton. Vaulting is her specialty, and she is a fraction shy of the world record of 46 meters. Her best time is 45.6.

“Yeah, you’re thinking about all the techniques and trying to get yourself off the slope and floating through the air,” she said. “It’s pretty hard, but when you do it right, it feels really good.”

Appleton is enjoying her time at Predator Bay, a world-class facility just south of Calgary, she says.

“It’s absolutely beautiful, it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever skied,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be here, it’s beautiful, it’s amazing, it feels so good to ski, the slope, the conditions, the weather, everything is just perfect.”

“I just say wow”

Paul Fong, who oversees the event on behalf of the IWWF, is impressed with the talent on the water this year.

“All I’m saying is wow,” he said. “Not just because of the way the lake looks and the scenery, wow, but because when you look at the kids out there on the water, they blow your mind.

“We have a world record holder here among the kids,” he added, “and it’s not what it used to be. If you have two boys skiing, one of them can be the world record holder.”

Seb Hron is on Team Canada and focuses on slalom and trick. The 15-year-old from Ontario can’t wait to ski at the World Cup.

“Well, it’s kind of a big thing for me,” he said. “Because I only started skiing three years ago, so the fact that I’m here and skiing against some of the best in the world is kind of crazy.”

The event runs from August 2-4. Read more here: https://iwwf.sport/world-title-events/u17worlds2024/