Jonah Shaffer, 17, of Ottawa, Canada, competed in Saturday’s slalom water ski event. Shaffer said he grew up in the water and his family members have scored national titles in water skiing events around the world.
“(This competition) is very prestigious,” Shaffer said of the weekend event. “It’s an international event, it’s a big title to have.”
Shaffer was up against Dane Mechler, 18, of Loveland for the win. The pair, who see each other often at water skiing events in Florida and Australia, said they consider themselves rivals on water, but friends on land.
Mechler, one of five Ohioans at the championship, said this weekend’s event in is unique compared to the dozens of other water ski tournaments he’s attended. Typically, he said, tournaments are held in rural areas and no one watches the skiers as they cut and twist through the water. But a small crowd formed near the park’s lake Saturday and passersby who were running, biking or walking the park took notice of the skiers.
“It’s great to have spectators,” Mechler said.
The park hosted the championship in 2008 and Stephanie Gigliotti, a senior sales manager for the Butler County Visitor’s Bureau, said skiers wanted to come back because of the lake’s convenient location to dining and hotels. The visitor’s bureau estimates the event will bring $200,000 to the county.
The finals competition of the U.S. Junior Open Water Ski Championships continue today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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