Dear USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Members,
As the new year arrives, we thank members and sponsors for all the support in 2023. With your help, we are financially sound and can celebrate water skiing and wake sports through our many programs and events. Please consider renewing your membership or making a donation online HERE.
The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Museum has been located at the Visit Central Florida Welcome Center for more than three years, thanks to the support of Visit Central Florida and Polk County Sports Marketing. They are good partners in our efforts to celebrate water skiing's past and support the future. If you have not visited the museum's new location at 101 Adventure Court in Davenport, Florida, make it happen today! It's a beautiful presentation of water skiing's history.
Our College Scholarship Program awarded tens of thousands of dollars this year to water sports student-athletes, and we anticipate even more money being handed out in 2024. Encourage all the young water skiers you know to apply before April 1. For a list of our scholarships and how to apply click HERE or consider donating to our scholarship fund.
The foundation has also established a Collegiate Team Grant Fund. Funds will be used for unreimbursed team expenses such as equipment, entry fees, and training expenses. College Water Ski Teams can apply all year for financial assistance, and funds will be sent to the team as soon as possible! For more information, click HERE.
We had some challenging news for our foundation as the year ended. Correct Craft terminated its lease for the Elite Cable Park in Auburndale, Florida. We're now putting the property we own up for sale. We will keep you posted on what happens.
The Museum Artifact Committee spent much of the past year going through the many items never displayed in the museum, which had been in a cold storage facility. After much work, the committee rescued these remaining items and sold them to a collector who will be displaying them at his new water ski-themed restaurant in Orlando, Florida.
The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for April 6, 2024, at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven, Florida. Elaine Heller Fatla, Joe Knapp, Alex Lauretano, Jason Lee, Dennis Longo, and Dusty Schulz will be honored. Our event includes IWWF Hall of Fame Inductees Janifer Ellis, Dallas Friday, and Cathy Williams. For more information and to purchase tickets to attend the festivities, click HERE.
YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT MAKES ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE!
Please see our website and the latest copy of The Water Skier Magazine for more details about what we’re doing.  We’re looking forward to success in 2024.
-Ed
