About – 2025 World Disabled Water Ski Championships 2025

ABOUT THIS WATER SKI TOURNAMENT

THIS IS THE WORLD WATER SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY

This tournament is held every two years and rotates between North America, Europe, and Australia. The best disabled water skiers in the world come to this tournament to compete in 3 events: Slalom, Trick, and Jump.

THE 3 TRADITIONAL WATER SKI EVENTS

need more IWWF info

SLALOM

As the boat travels in a straight line through the slalom course the skier must go around buoys that are set out on both sides of the boat. From one side to the other, 3 on each side of the boat for a total of 6 buoys in each pass through the slalom course. The skier will continue until he either misses a buoy or falls. The skier is awarded 1 point for each complete turn around a buoy. The skier with the highest buoy count is declared the winner.

TRICKS

The boat travels in a straight line for 20 seconds. Then the boat stops, turns around, and returns in a straight line for another 20 seconds. The skier attempts tricks from a predefined list of tricks. The harder the trick the higher point value. Therefore, the skier has a total of 40 seconds to complete as many high point tricks as possible. There are no style points.

JUMP

Again, the boat travels in a straight line. A ramp is positioned on the left hand side of the boat path.

The skier has 3 attempts over the ramp and jumps are scored by the distance flown from the ramp to the point where the skier lands in the water and does not fall. The best score of the 3 attempts is scored. The skier may choose his speed up to a maximum of 35 mph and a ramp height of 5 feet.

view jump,slalom and trick videos from 2023 Worlds here

SKIERS ARE GROUPED BY ABILITY

STANDING SKIERS: 6 categories

SEATED SKIERS: 5 categories

VISION IMPAIRED SKIERS: 2 categories

2 categories

CATEGORIES OF STANDING SKIERS (for more info on categories)

ARM

A1 & A2 – Arm disabilities – the difference between the categories is that the residual limb is allowed to touch the handle,

LEG

L & LP – Leg amputation – the difference between the categories is those in LP category ski with prosthesi

BOTH ARM & LEG

A/L1 & A/L2 – significant arm and leg impairment, arm and leg amputation, and hemiplegia – the difference between the categories is level of impairment.

CATEGORIES OF SEATED SKIERS

QUADRIPLEGICS

MP1– Skier is unable to hold the handle with hands. Skiers have no trunk rotation and no use of abdominal muscles. Skiers in this class are generally quadriplegics.

PARAPLEGICS

MP2 – No active trunk rotation and no use of abdominal muscles. Skiers in this class are generally quadriplegics with more functional ability and high level paraplegics

MP3 – upper trunk rotation but poor lower trunk rotation. Skiers in this category generally have mid-level break paraplegia

MP4 – good trunk rotation but limited controlled sideways movement. Skiers in this category generally have lower-level break paraplegia

MP5 – Normal trunk movement in all directions. Skiers in this category generally have both legs amputated, those who cannot ski standing.

CATEGORIES OF VISION IMPAIRED SKIERS

Vision Impaired

V1 – These skiers have no light perception in either eye or inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance.

PARTIAL SIGHT

V2/3 – the difference between the categories is V1 skiers have no light perception in either eye or inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance.

AWARDS

THE TOP 3 STANDING SKIERS

In each event Male and Female

THE TOP 3 SEATED SKIERS

In each event Male and Female

THE TOP 3 VISION IMPAIRED SKIERS

In each event Male and Female

TOP 3 OVERALL SKIERS

In each group (Standing, Seated, Vision Impaired) Male and Female

Considered the “best overall skier” a skier must compete in all 3 events.

TOP 3 TEAMS (COUNTRIES)

Arguably, the most coveted award of the World Championship. The team trophy is awarded to the country with the highest number points. Only the top 5 scores from each country in each event are scored.

IWWF DISABLED WATER SKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – PAST WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE WORLDS

2023 – Elk Grove, Calif.