POLK CITY, Fla. - Professional water skiers and wakeboarders will team up with amateurs from across the country at USA Water Ski’s fifth annual Pro-Am Challenge, Oct. 12-13, at Crane’s Roost in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The event will feature a team format competition in slalom and wakeboarding. Competitors from the National Ski League and National Wakeboard League – two of USA Water Ski’s popular grassroots series – will team with top professional water ski athletes and wakeboard riders.

"The Pro-Am Challenge is a very exciting event that allows people to compete with and against their heroes in water skiing and wakeboarding," said Steve McDermeit, USA Water Ski’s executive director. "While everyone is trying to win, the main focus of the competition is to have fun."

Professional athletes who participated in last year’s event included Scot Ellis, Brandi Hunt, Evan Kennedy, Lucky Lowe, Chris Parrish, Chris Rossi and Cathy Williams.

The field of amateur skiers will consist of athletes who have taken part in at least one of the more than 150 NSL and NWL events held throughout the country during the 2002 season.

The NSL and NWL were created in 1998 to provide up-and-coming skiers with the opportunity to compete against those of similar abilities. These tournaments are attractive to the recreational skier because regardless of ability or experience, everyone has a chance to win.

In addition to the Pro-Am Challenge, Crane’s Roost also is the site of the 2002 Disabled Water Ski National Championships, Aug. 8-10, and the 2002 U.S. Open Wakeboard Championships, Oct. 4-6.

USA Water Ski was formed in 1939 as a non-profit organization promoting water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is affiliated with the International Water Ski Federation (world governing body) and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and Pan-American Sports Organization as the national governing body of competitive water skiing in the United States. With more than 40,000 members, USA Water Ski is the largest water ski federation in the world.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: This press release, as well as other water-skiing information, is available on our World Wide Web Page, www.USAWATERSKI.org.