USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Hall of Fame 2027 Award of Distinction
The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee has announced the five recipients of the Foundation’s 2027 Award of Distinction.
Gary “Swampy” Bouchard, Dawna Brice, Elaine Bush, Cheri Coover, and Lori Krueger will be honored as Award of Distinction recipients along with Hall of Fame inductees Royce Andes, Katie Mawby, and Cobe Mikacich at the 2027 USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Winter Haven, Florida on Saturday, April 10, 2027. Tickets to the event go on sale January 1, 2027
Gary “Swampy” Bouchard – Barefoot Water Skiing’s “Coach of Champions”
Swampy Bouchard has coached the best barefoot water skiers in the world for decades, including Keith St. Onge, David Small, Ben Groen, Ashleigh Stebbeings, Jackson Gerard, Jason Lee, Lexi McCauley, and Noah Kinnaman. His passion and innovative training techniques have created generations of champions through his work at the World Barefoot Center and as a USA Team Coach.
Lori Krueger – Water Skiing “Integrity in Sport”
Lori Krueger has exemplified sportsmanship, character, and integrity in a water skiing career spanning more than four decades. Lori is a five-time 35+ World Overall Champion, skied the U.S. Masters from 1999-2007, medaled in the U.S. Nationals from 1978-2020, and set a world record in the 35+ women’s jump in 2014.
Elaine Bush – Water Skiing “Leading by Example”
Elaine Bush is recognized within the competitive water-skiing community as a long-time leader, technical official, event organizer, and contributor to the growth of tournament skiing in the United States and internationally.
Dawna Brice – Water Ski Racing’s “Queen of Speed”
Dawna Brice grew up snow skiing and water skiing in Lake Arrowhead, California. She tried all kinds of sports and was good at them, but she loved water skiing best.
And she loved the speed of water ski racing most of all.
Cheri Coover – Show Skiing “Never stop performing and creating”
Cheri Coover is a California girl with a Cypress Gardens soul. Born and raised in Vallejo, Cheri learned to water ski at 4 and was competing in slalom tournaments by age 12. But when she was 15 she went to see a ski show at Marine World in Redwood City, California, and she found her passion: Swivel skiing. She immediately called Cypress Gardens and ordered a swivel ski.
The Award of Distinction was created to recognize 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. Even those who have later become famous outside the sport and others whose contributions have been in the form of resources or public relations are eligible for nomination for the Award of Distinction.
