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2025 WATER SKI & WAKE SPORTS FOUNDATION
HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

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2025 Hall of Fame Reception & Ceremony
Saturday, May 3, 2025

TICKETS GO ON SALE

January 1, 2025

FRIDAY

May 2, 2025

 

Hall of Fame Social

*NEW LOCATION*

Winter Haven Garden Center
715 Third Street NW

Winter Haven, FL 33881

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ​

SATURDAY

May 3, 2025

 

Hall of Fame Reception & Ceremony

 

Social Hour (cash bar)

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Dinner 6:30 pm

Ceremony 7:15 pm​

Nora Mayo Hall

500 3rd St. NW

Winter Haven, FL 33881

*SEMI-FORMAL ATTIRE*

SUNDAY

May 4, 2025

 

USA-WWF General Membership/Board Meeting

9:00 am

Polk County Sports Marketing HQ

2701 Lake Myrtle Park Road

Auburndale, FL 33823

CLASS OF2025

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients for the Hall of Fame.

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HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Scot Ellis

Scot Ellis’ love for water skiing began as a kid in Central Florida when he happened to catch a show by the Lakeland Water Ski Club. At age 7, he was a member of that Lakeland show team, and at 8, he was skiing three events, too.

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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Don Bucher

Don Bucher is an Indiana farmer who has been active in water skiing for nearly 70 years. He is a member of the Indiana Water Ski Hall of Fame and a water skiing legend in the Midwest.

AWARD OF DISTINCTION

This award was created to recognize many individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to our sport. They may include tournament skiers, innovators, industry leaders, officials and others responsible for landmark achievements in the development of water skiing as well as those whose long periods of dedicated and generous service deserve special recognition.

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Bob

Archer

Industry

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Mike "Mack"

Makridichian

Water Skiing

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Mike Mckelheer

Industry

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Jeff

Surdej

Collegiate Water Skiing

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Geno

Yauchler

Show Skiing

Thanks to our generous sponsors for making this event possible, especially Polk County Sports Marketing and Visit Central Florida, for their continued support.

If you cannot attend in person please consider supporting our mission to celebrate the innovators of towed water sports.

BECOME A SPONSOR
(coming soon)

HOST HOTEL

Staybridge Suites Winter Haven-Auburndale

(Close to Nora Mayo Hall)

Group Code: WSK ​

BOOKING LINK 

 305 5th St NW

Winter Haven, FL 33881

  (863) 229-5145

    CUT OFF DATE: APRIL 4, 2025

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