Diana Sue Parker takes her place on the podium. Photo provided by Debbie Sacks.
Kendra Nathan is pictured with the trick ski she used to capture first place. Photo provided by Debbie Sacks.Canyon Lake Ski Club members competed in the 80th Goode Water U.S. Water Ski National Championships in Maize, Kansas, where some of the nation’s top water ski athletes competed for national titles.
The Canyon Lake Ski Club brought home nine medals. Kendra Nathan (Girls 5) earned first place in Trick and third place in Jump. Tina Grossi (Women’s 5) took first place in Slalom. Diana Sue Parker (Women’s 6) won second place in Jump, fifth place in Trick, and second Overall. Former Ski Club member and resident Carol Brooks also brought home a silver medal in Slalom.
In the Men’s 7, Dee Johnson earned third in Jump, fourth in Trick, and third Overall. This is Grossi’s third gold in Slalom at the nationals.
Liam Brady (Boys 3) and Brad Hartwell (Men’s 7) also represented the club. Club members Tom Nathan and Joe Perez served as tournament officials at the week-long event.
Parker, Brooks, and Johnson have all been invited to the 2022 IWWF World Over-35 Waterski Championships. The tournament will take place in September in Bordeaux, France.
“This will be my 6th Worlds,” Parker said. “I’ve also competed in Chile, Mexico, Spain, and Peru. The event always feels like the Olympics, where there is an opening ceremony and each skier represents their country, holding their flag and wearing their team outfits. The Americans will dress in red, white, and blue dresses and suits. It is such a unique experience meeting people from around the world, enjoying different foods from the various regions, and being together as competitive water skiers.”
Earlier this year, at the 2022 Western Regional Championship in Sacramento, Ski Club members earned 27 medals, eight of which are gold.
