2017 Water Ski Racing World Championships Coming to Washington State

The National Water Ski Racing Association (NWSRA) has announced the selections to the 2017 U.S. Formula 1 Water Ski Racing Team, U.S. Formula 2 Water Ski Racing Team and U.S. Junior Water Ski Racing Team. Athletes selected to the teams will compete in the 20th Water Ski Racing World Championships, July 29-Aug. 5, on Lake Washington in Seattle, Wash., and the Puget Sound at Point Ruston in Tacoma, Wash. The athletes were selected based upon a combination of accumulated point totals in marathon events during the 2016-2017 season and selection committee approval.

Water ski racing athletes from nearly a dozen countries will compete in six divisions - Men's Formula 1 and Women's Formula 1; Men's Formula 2 and Women's Formula 2; and Junior Boys and Junior Girls - for world titles at the biennial event, which will consist of four races. Men's Formula 1 and Men's Formula 2 competitors race for 1 hour, plus 1 lap; Women's Formula 1 and Women's Formula 2 competitors race for 45 minutes, plus 1 lap; and Junior Boys' and Junior Girls' competitors race for 30 minutes, plus 1 lap. There will be four rounds of racing, and the final overall placements will be determined from the athletes' three best race placements.

Athletes selected to the 2017 U.S. Formula 1 Water Ski Racing Team were: Todd Haig (Redlands, Calif.), Cameron King (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Michael LaFrenz (Moorpark, Calif.) and Katelin Wendt (Rim Forest, Calif.). The United States has won 10 world team titles since the inception of the event in 1979.

Athletes selected to the 2017 U.S. Formula 2 Water Ski Racing Team were: Kane Kennedy (Skyforest, Calif.), Mary Maher (Fair Oaks, Calif.), Cheryl Ruston (La Palma, Calif.), Amy Threlfall (Palmdale, Calif.), Martie Wells (Colton, Calif.) and Trevor Wendt (Huntington Beach, Calif.). Justin Legere (Camarillo, Calif.) and Erica Leonard (Oceanside, Calif.) were selected as alternates.

Athletes selected to the 2017 U.S. Junior Water Ski Racing Team were: Mason Goldsmith (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Rex Helm (Porter Ranch, Calif.) and Mathew Klee (Harbor City, Calif.). James Jenkins (Mission Viejo, Calif.) was selected as the alternate.

Bob Nixon (Boulder City, Nev.) will serve as the team captain and Julie Kennedy (Skyforest, Calif.) will be the assistant team captain.

Drivers for the U.S. teams will be: Mike Avila (Campbell, Calif.), Randy Davis (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Steve Davis (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Rob Ettinger (Orange, Calif.), Carl Goldsmith (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Carl Johnson (Fountain Valley, Calif.) and Wayne Murray (El Segundo, Calif.). Observers will be: Dennis Hall (Alta Loma, Calif.), Ted Hofmann (Torrance, Calif.), Mike King (Claremont, Calif.), Andy Klee (Harbor City, Calif.), Ken Kramer (Redlands, Calif.), Dean Thirkill (Rolling Hills Estate, Calif.), Darrel Weatherford (Lakewood, Calif.) and Kevin Yedor (Placentia, Calif.).

About USA Water Ski: The National Water Ski Racing Association is one of nine sport discipline organizations of USA Water Ski, a non-profit organization promoting water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is affiliated with the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (world governing body) and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and Pan-American Sports Organization as the national governing body of organized water skiing and wakeboarding in the United States.