USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Hall of Fame 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee has announced Stan and Donna Switzer as the recipients of the Foundation’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.

They will be honored along with Hall of Fame inductee Freddy Krueger and Award of Distinction recipients Paul Chapin, Mario Fossa, Scott Pellaton, Lisa Steiner, and Karen Truelove at the 2026 USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Winter Haven, Fla.

Stan and Donna moved to Tampa, Fla., from Kansas in 1968. In 1990 they, along with Richard and Ruth Johnston, purchased the property in Mulberry Fla., that became Ski Paradise. Their contributions to the sport as competitors and officials have been significant over the years.

Donna has served as chief judge of the Southern Regionals and the Masters. She has served as judge at the U.S. Open, Masters, and Water Ski World Championships.

Stan has served as chief judge of the Southern Regionals. He has served as judge at the U.S. Open, Masters, and Water Ski World Championships. He is a long-time member of the AWSA International Activities Committee and served as a Councilman for the Southern Region from Florida for more than 20 years.

Stan and Donna also competed at the regional and national level for many years in addition to Senior Worlds.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes longevity in the sport. The award goes to those individuals who have been actively involved in one or more of the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports disciplines for a minimum of 50 years.