Posted by: usaws
On: 05/23/2020 16:13:18
In: Water Skiing
The American Water Ski Association’s board of directors announced that Tri-Lakes, in Zachary, La., will host the 78th GOODE Water Ski National Championships. The world’s largest three-event water ski tournament will be held Aug. 4-8. Tri-Lakes previously hosted the Nationals in 1984 and 1989. It most recently played host to the Collegiate Water Ski National Championships in 2017.
The 2020 Nationals was originally scheduled for Aug. 4-8 at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach, Fla., however, the Ski Club of the Palm Beaches decided to pull out as the local organizing club due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on South Florida.
The nation’s top water ski athletes will compete for national titles in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall in respective age divisions and two Open divisions during the five-day tournament.
Advancement to the world’s largest three-event water ski tournament is primarily earned through placement on the national rankings list. Athletes also can qualify by placing in the top-five in the previous year’s event or at respective 2020 regional championships.
The first national championships was held in 1939 at Jones Beach in Long Island, N.Y. Except for three years during World War II (1942-1944), the Nationals has been held every year since 1939.
GOODE Skis, a National level sponsor of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, has been the title sponsor since 2000.