Hobe Lake Ski Club is a new private club dedicated to slalom water skiing, located in the heart of South Florida's Treasure Coast. On their own schedule, members enjoy the finest water ski environment available... a pristine natural setting with optimum conditions and the Ski Nautique 200 6.2L. Located at 5878 SE Bridge Road in beautiful Hobe Sound, Fla., more information can be found online at www.hobeski.com.
'Tis the season for the smell of buttery, sugar cookies to waft from the kitchen. 'Tis the season to cozy up to a crackling fire and binge on Elf and The Grinch. 'Tis the season to start dreaming about the real “most wonderful time of the year”…summer!
We know you are aching to be back in action, which is why we have curated a collection of 2018’s most popular presents for getting your crew ready to shred. These products are so good, you might even be tempted to keep them for yourself.
The perfect gift is one that brings everyone together at the lake…and we have gifts for the buoy chaser, the lake lover, the suppin’ yogi and even man’s best friend. We’ve been putting skis under trees for 52 years, and we’re not about to stop. :)
Check it out here: connellyskis.com/holidaygiftguide
The Syndicate Demo Program has been updated for 2018 to now include the all new Syndicate PRO and Syndicate Omni slalom skis. Now you can try Syndicate PRO, VTX & Omni skis and/or Syndicate Hardshell Boot for 2 weeks with no obligation! Every skier is different, so it's often difficult to know which ski will work for your unique style. With the Demo program, we'll ship a ski or boot directly to your door to try at your lake. No more guess-work, no more leaps of faith. Just solid testing and clear decision making to get you skiing to maximize your potential. Get started today at http://www.hosports.com/demo.
Buoys, BBQ, and Beer is back...and this time you’re invited! It’s going down Sunday, December 10th at 1:00 PM and the rules are simple. Every skier gets 6 passes to impress our panel of judges. A champion is crowned in each of four fun categories: smoothest pass, hardest crash, scrappiest completed pass, and best performance! So grab your swerve stick and come on down to the most fun ski event you’ve never skied in. We are asking for a minimum $25 donation for entry to help support a good friend and great ambassador to the sport, Mark Boender. Mark has developed a Pancreatic disease and is in need of our help and support. All entries and money donated will go to Mark and the fight to cure his disease, so feel free to donate as much as you like. Your donation will get you a ski ride, sweet t-shirt, delicious BBQ, and cold beer provided by our friends at Big Storm Brewing. Email
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After four rounds and the elimination of 14 skiers, the 2017 GOODE Bracket Challenge came down to No. 1 seed vs. No. 2. Dave Miller vs. Greg Badal.
The two faced off in the first round of last weekend’s Imperial Lakes Skiers Choice Record in El Centro, Calif., to determine the champ. Watch the video above to find out who won.
Fan contest won with perfect bracket
Kyle Kuykendall is the winner of a brand new XTR, thanks to his perfect picks in the 2017 GOODE Bracket Challenge.
With the bracket submission named “Winner!,” Kyle correctly picked both of the two upsets during the four round event – his uncle (No. 13) Todd Kuykendall’s win over No. 4 seed Jay Leach and (No. 2) Greg Badal’s victory over top seed Dave Miller.
Nine brackets – Gloerson, June 2017, Kevin’s Bracket, LLUSA, Malibu Dave’s Picks, Mary’s Picks, Rich’s Bracket picks, Skicm777, and skidawg – tied for second place, with each only having one mark against them.
To see where all 385 bracket submission placed, click here.
Warhawks win 28th national title since inception of event in 1979
POLK CITY, Fla., Oct. 21, 2017 - The University of Louisiana-Monroe water ski team won the Division 1 national title at the 39th Connelly Skis Collegiate Water Ski National Championships, Oct. 19-21, at Bennett's Water Ski & Wakeboard School in Zachary, La.
The Warhawks tallied 12,165 points in winning their second consecutive and 28th overall national team title since the inception of the tournament in 1979. Louisiana-Lafayette finished second with 11,930 points. Alabama, which tallied 11,880 points, placed third. Florida Southern College finished fourth with 11,240 points and Rollins College was fifth with 9,150 points.
The Nationals included 12 teams in Division 1 and 12 teams in Division 2. National team champions were declared in both divisions. Individual medals for slalom, tricks and jumping were awarded based on athletes' placements within their division. Overall titles were awarded in each division to athletes competing in all three events. Athletes finishing in the top-five in each event of slalom, tricks, jumping and overall in Division 1 earned All-American honors.
The Division 1 field was comprised of: Alabama, Clemson, Florida Southern, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Michigan State, Ohio State, Rollins, San Diego State, Texas A&M, Western Washington and Wisconsin.
HO Sports will be sponsoring the 2017 NCWSA Spirit Award that will be handed out at the Connelly Skis 2017 NCWSA National Collegiate Water Ski Championships! Additionally, HO Sports will be on site with games and prizes, and has agreed to sponsor of the post-banquet festivities!
Spirit Award Winning Team will receive:
- Spirit Award Banner, to commemorate the team’s epic spirit and to hang in their ski-house
- 15’ HO Play PAD
- Girls and Guys Team Development HO Ski Setups (Ski + Boots)
- The team will be featured in the upcoming Collegiate Nationals FlowPoint TV Episode!
How to Compete?
On Site Spirit!
Just bring your team’s spirit and #sendit, just like every other collegiate water ski tournament!
Social Media Tags
With two lakes of skiing and a ton of cool activities on site, the contest judges may not be able to see every single display of spirit in person, so when your team is sharing their spirit with the world, don’t forget the hashtag and tags!
#WaterskiSpirit2017
@hosports on Facebook and @hoskis on Instagram
@thencwsa across all social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
There’s something about watching a jumper shatter the dark with a 200+ ft. leap behind a MasterCraft boat that makes the adrenaline pump on the dock and pulse through the crowd. The 2017 King Of Darkness is an edge-of-your-seat event, and you won’t want to miss it.
This unique event gives world-class athletes a stage to showcase their impeccable talents while promoting the sport and the high-energy lifestyle that accompanies it. The festivities not only include the experience of watching elite skiers, like Freddy Krueger who took the victory in 2016, battle it out for a cash prize jackpot, but also a whole slew of fun-filled activities, yummy eats and good times.
Turn it into a family outing and bring along the youngsters. We’ll have free rides, ice cream trucks, face painters and arts and crafts lined up for the kids to enjoy. And parents, we haven’t forgotten about you. You’ll have nine food, beer and wine trucks accompanied by two bands to get the good vibes flowing and make it a night to remember.
Join us at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Isles of Lake Hancock to watch the best skiers in the world showdown in all three events to take home the King Of Darkness crowns.
Lake Address:
Isleview Drive
Winter Garden, FL. 34787
For more information visit:
Terry Winter won Head2Head final for $1500
Gary Wallace took top honors for in the Handicap final for $1500 and a custom trophy by DB Skis
A huge thanks to NorCal MasterCraft for these awesome ProStars
This event happens because of the officials who do all the work. Kevin Bishop is my partner in crime for this event and I could not do it without him.
Last but not least thanks to Nikol, Steve, Jana and Blazer Grubbs. No one worked harder to make this event happen. Coffee! Coffee! Coffee!
The SportsInsurance.com Queens Cup will return for its second season at Little Mountain Lake near Charlotte, N.C., aka the Queen City, on Sept. 16-17, with more than $10,000 in cash and prizes on the line. "The Queens Cup was well-planned, well-executed and provided exceptional ski conditions," said Jennifer Leachman, a former world record holder and a member of the USA Water Ski Hall of Fame. "I don't know how they could have made it any better.” Leachman won't be able to ski in the Queens Cup this year because of ankle surgery, but she encourages others to experience the event. Women of all skill levels enjoyed the camaraderie and inclusiveness of the 2016 Queens Cup. The goal for the tournament is to bring national and international women skiers together at a world-class site for a slalom championship with a significant number of competitors. Tournament director Jeff Gilbert has goals he sets and meets for the Queens Cup.
“This tournament provides a great value for the entry fee -- a great site, a top-quality tournament, a minimum of two to three rounds, and multiple opportunities to win cash and prizes for all levels,” Gilbert said.
Joy Kelley of Tennessee validated the scoring system -- and made skiers over 40 smile -- by finishing second last year as a 50-some-year-old skier.
“There is something truly unique about this event,” Kelley said. “Today, there is no other opportunity like Queens Cup for women. It is an event that inspires, challenges, and allows us to simultaneously pull together our physical, mental and emotional strength -- with a (scoring) system that provides appropriate and unlimited competitive opportunity for women 30 to 70-plus years of age.”
Read more: SportsInsurance.com Queens Cup fast approaching
The Senate’s ability to carry speed is unmatched in the industry. This speed allows the skier to maintain width on the boat ultimately giving a sense of freedom sought after by those that ski in the course as well as those ripping open water turns. By taking our competition shape and adding two tenths of an inch in extra width we have created a stable riding platform. This platform creates the balance needed for a skier to feel at home, while the pro le of the ski allows the skier to feel the speed and angle sought after at any level. Go for a spin on the Senate and you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a new ski under your arm.
For complete results, click here.
Joy Kelley is somewhat of an ageless wonder in water skiing.
She’s a three-event skier who breaks records and raises the bar almost every time she gets on the water. Kelley surprised probably everyone except herself in 2016 when, at age 58, she advanced to the head-to-head final of the SportsInsurance.com Queens Cup women’s slalom tournament near Charlotte, N.C.
The only disappointment was a fluke fall on her 28-off pass in the final against Sweden’s Josefin Hirst of Florida.
Kelley, of Tennessee, will return for the 2017 Queens Cup at Little Mountain Lake on Sept. 16-17, likely still riding high from the event’s 2016 debut. Her Facebook post after the inaugural event summed up her feelings:
“Wanted to show much gratitude to the sponsors of the Queens Cup! Since the weekend I have been in awe of the cash and prizes awarded, over $10,000. For a first ever event to reach such heights is a direct reflection of the passion, belief and support for women in water skiing and the daily, behind the scenes, focused efforts of the tournament organizers in securing sponsors who also share the same dedication to our sport! Hopefully, we gave the sponsors a good return on their investment by skiing our best, positively influencing others, sharing their product/service with others, and just being an overall strong woman of integrity and character!”
Hers was a popular opinion shared by many of the entrants after last year’s event. Year 2 is just around the corner with an even larger field to share the wealth. As Kelley posted:
“From t-shirts to goody bags to prizes of ski lessons, ski bags, skis, gloves, etc., and cash awards, I have never experienced an event like this! Thank you so very much to all the sponsors! May the Queens Cup live on in ways that continue to exceed the expectations of everyone involved!”
For information on the Queens Cup, which draws support from area Nautique dealer Race City Marine, contact tournament director Jeff Gilbert at
Snoqualmie, WA – September 1, 2017 - O’Brien Watersports announced today that they have acquired substantially all of the assets of Nash Mfg., which produces watersports products under the Hydroslide brand name; pool and lake leisure products under the licensed brand name of Margaritaville, and rotational molded coolers under the brand name Sub Z. Nash began making wood water skis in 1954 and is the oldest watersports manufacturer based in the United States with factory and headquarters in Fort Worth, TX.
Pete Surrette, General Manager of O’Brien commented, “We are very excited to welcome Hydroslide, Margaritaville and Sub Z brands to the O’Brien family. We believe these products will fit well within our existing dealer and consumer base as well as open up new sales avenues for the O’Brien brand in the pool and cooler businesses.”
“I am very excited to see the Nash brands turn the page on the next chapter.” Said Keith Parton, President of Nash Mfg. “It has been a great 50 years at Nash and I believe the new partnership with O’Brien will be even better. I believe this is a great opportunity for all of our customers.”
O’Brien is committed to the Hydroslide, Margaritaville and Sub Z product offerings. The acquisition of these brands also supports O’Brien’s strategic transition into other segments of the sporting goods industry.
O’Brien has been making quality Watersports products since 1964 - Providing fun on the water for the entire family!