Chase Sparks is one of six athletes selected to the U.S. U17 Water Ski Team.

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is pleased to announce the selection of the U.S. U17 Water Ski Team. The six-member team, selected by the American Water Ski Association’s International Activities Committee, will compete in the 19th IWWF World Under 17 Waterski Championships, Jan. 5-8, 2023, at Lago Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile.

Athletes that have been selected to the U.S. U17 Water Ski Team are (alphabetical order): Alexia Abelson (Holderness, N.H.), Jake Abelson (Holderness, N.H.), Emma Davis (Milford, Va.), Elizabeth Hall (Newnan, Ga.), Alana Jones (Church Point, La.) and Chase Sparks (Dallas, Ga.).

The U.S. U17 Water Ski Team won the coveted overall team gold medal and four U.S. water ski athletes combined to earn eight individual medals in respective events at the 18th IWWF World Under 17 Waterski Championships, Aug. 22-25, 2021 at the Pickos Water Ski School in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. The tournament was originally scheduled for August 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States has won the U17 world team title in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2021. France won in 1998 and 2006. Canada won in 2004 and 2016.

Sam Greenwood (Little Rock, Ark.) will serve as the coach and Jessica Van Dyk (Grand Rapids, Mich.) will be the manager of the U.S. U17 Water Ski Team.

The Ski Nautique will be the official towboat of the IWWF U17 Water Ski World Championships. Nautique is a National Sponsor of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports.

Donate to the U.S. U17 Water Ski Team to help offset its expenses.