Pickos Ski School, located at 105 Jump Street, is hosting this year’s International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) World Junior Waterski Championships from August 22-29, 2021.

The IWWF World Junior Waterski Championships are held every other year around the world in various locations including Spain, Peru, and Chile. Due to the worldwide pandemic, the 2020 competition was postponed until it was deemed safe for participants to travel and be around one another. Each country has the opportunity to send their best skiers, typically a six-person team, to the event.

Twenty-one countries are slated to attend this year’s competition including Ukraine, Czech Republic, Morocco, and Hong Kong.

This will be the IWWF’s 18th World Junior competition. These junior water-skiers are some of the best in the world and are looking to win a world title and continue onto the IWWF World Open Championships the following year. The skiers will be competing in several divisions, including Boys Overall, Girls Overall, Boys Slalom, Boys Jump, Boys Trick, Girls Slalom, Girls Trick and Girls Jump. Additionally, each competitor will be competing for their own individual scores that are posted on the world ranking list as well as course records.

Video by Land, Air, and Sea productions

The week-long competition, sponsored by Visit South Walton, will begin with check-in on Friday-Saturday, August 20-21, 2021. Friday and Saturday, August 20-21, will be the official “Familiarization Days” consisting of allotted practice time for each team and distribution of all competition materials such as bibs, backpacks, and itineraries. The final rounds of competition will be held on Wednesday, August 25 for the Under-17 division while the final rounds for the Under-21 division will be held on Sunday, August 29 and will conclude with an awards ceremony. COVID-19 procedures will be in place throughout the week in order to keep competitors, coaches, staff, and volunteers safe and healthy. Click here to see the full schedule.

The public is welcomed to sit and attend all of the competition days throughout the week held at Pickos Ski School.

Those competing in the IWWF World Junior Waterski Championships are exclusively towed by the award-winning Ski Nautique.

Additional sponsors this year include Brad Smith, Buffalo Rock-Pepsi, Dutch Bros Coffee, Emerald Coast Marine, Girl Loves a Sunset, LLC., John Lee Nissan, Louis Louis, Point Washington Medical Clinic, The Red Bar, Ski Nautique, ToYou Snacks, and Visit South Walton. There are multiple sponsorship opportunities available at all levels. Those interested in sponsoring the week-long event can get in touch with them here.

To learn more about the 2021 IWWF World Junior Waterski Championships visit their website.