The thrill of walking on water

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This article was published 02/08/2016 (3326 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

According to some athletes, there’s no better place to be than on the water.

Winnipeg will soon play host to the 2016 Canadian National Water Ski and Adaptive Water Ski Championships, which will be held at the Water Ski-Wakeboard Manitoba’s (WSWM) high-performance tournament and training facility, also known as Lake Shirley, which is located at 365 Murdock Rd. The championships will be held between Aug. 11 and 14.

South St. Vital resident Rhonda Boresky, a key event organizer and avid water-skier, hopes the championships will help shine the spotlight of the sport in the province and highlight some of the community program offered by WSWM, including the Rip ‘n’ Ride camps and clinics, which introduce young people to water-skiing and wakeboarding and are facilitated by WSWM-certified coaches.

Talking to The Lance in the run-up to the championships, Boresky said one of the benefits of water-skiing and wakeboarding is that they can be enjoyed by the whole family. She also noted that Lake Shirley was built for the 1999 Pan Am Games and is considered a jewel in the city’s crown by members of Winnipeg’s water sports community.

“This mom doesn’t sit on the sidelines with a coffee, as I think it’s really important to show the kids out there what there is to do and what they can achieve. All of the family is involved and you also get to sit in the boat, as well go out on the water,” Rhonda said.

“Lake Shirley is one of the better ski lakes out there and we’re very excited to be hosting the championships. I’m guessing that a lot of people don’t know about the championships being held here, as lots of people head off to their cabins for some rest and relaxation during the summer.”

“Programs like Rip ‘n’ Ride are great because they target youngsters and we’re always trying to find little gems in the community,” she added.

One of Manitoba’s brightest young water-skiing stars is Southland Park resident Taryn Grant, 21, whose list of sporting accomplishments keeps on growing. One highlight was being crowned the U21 world slalom champion last year, which she describes as “a tournament to remember.”

“I knew that I had a good chance of at least of at least getting on the podium,” said Taryn, who is currently attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she is part of the school’s water-ski team.

“One thing I really liked about the championships was that I had all of my friends around, including a bunch of people who I had grown up seeing at tournaments and friends who I go to school with in Louisiana. Everyone is so close and gets along with each other so well. It just makes the whole experience even better.”

“Winning the slalom title was amazing, it was a dream come true. It was even more special to share it with my brother (Cole), who was there as one of Team Canada’s coaches. I always wanted to be a world champion and now I am. That will never get taken away from me. I’m hoping it was just a stepping stone to what is to come in the future, as well,” she added.

Noting that she and Cole push each other to be better water-skiers, Taryn said coaching youngsters is just as important to her as being able compete.

“I also love being able to coach kids and their faces when they get up for the first time, when they run the slalom course, land a jump or learn a new trick for the first time. Being able to give back and help out whenever I can is important to me because I want to see the sport continue to grow. I want to give others the opportunity to experience and enjoy the sport that I love so much,” Taryn said.

Cole, 23, who also lives in Southland Park and is also on the water-ski team at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, said he grew up on the water and is thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in the sport he loves, including a stint of coaching in Saskatchewan this summer.

“I was raised on the water at the family cottage and it’s such a great family sport,” said Cole, whose accolades include an overall first-place finish at the 2015 Canadian men’s nationals (1st in jump, 2nd in trick).

“One thing I love about it is the freedom. Even if you’d had a rough day at work or school, when you walk on to the water or you’re flying through the air, you feel such a sense of freedom, as well as an adrenalin rush. It’s an exciting and fun experience and every time I go out, there’s something new to learn.”

“I’m definitely living the dream, as I’m so passionate about water-skiing. I don’t make a huge amount of money, but I get to travel the world and I’m grateful to have this opportunity.

Brandon Boresky, 17, who is Rhonda’s son, said that success is not just about the ability of the athlete, but also about the skill of the driver of the boat.

“It’s just an awesome feeling when you’re working so hard and you get going so fast on the water,” said Brandon, who finished third at the western Canadian championships last (3rd in slalom, trick, jump and overall), said Brandon, who attends Collège Jeanne-Sauvé.

“When you’re moving so fast there are so many things to think about, such as hitting the jump in the right body position and getting your skis right. And having a good driver is extremely important, as they have to be able to anticipate your movements. At the westerns last year, I worked really hard and I was really pumped because I felt it was a really good achievement.”

All three local athletes will be competing in various events at the upcoming championships.

Go online at www.wswm.ca/nationals-2016 for more information. 

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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