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Water Ski Hall of Fame Inductees

Friday, April 8, 2011

The American Water Ski Educational Foundation's 10-member Hall of Fame Selection Committee has announced that former water ski racing athlete Debbie Nordblad of Claremont, CA and former barefoot water ski athlete Ron Scarpa of Winter Park, FL will be the 2011 AWSEF Water Ski Hall of Fame inductees. The 29th annual induction ceremony will take place April 30 at the Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL. Nordblad and Scarpa will be the 60th and 61st inductees into the AWSEF Hall of Fame, which is located in Polk City.

Nordblad is widely considered the most decorated U.S. women's water ski racing athlete of all time. She competed in 12 world championships, winning the overall gold medal two times, the silver medal three times, and the bronze medal three times. She started 44 world championships' races and earned 28 podium placements - five gold medals, nine silver medals and 14 bronze medals - during that span. Nordblad also won 14 national titles and was a three-time winner of the famed Catalina Ski Race. She was selected USA Water Ski's Female Athlete of the Year in 1991.

Like Nordblad is to water ski racing, Scarpa is widely considered the most decorated U.S. men's barefoot water ski athlete of all time. He has won more Open Men national overall titles - 12 (plus one Open Pro Men national overall title) - than any other athlete in the history of barefoot water skiing. He also won four men's world overall titles, the most of any other athlete in barefooting. In addition to the world overall titles, Scarpa won five world tricks titles, four world slalom titles and two world jumping titles. He was selected USA Water Ski's Male Athlete of the Year in 1992. He is still active in coaching after retiring from major competitions in 2005.

The purpose of the Water Ski Hall of Fame is to honor and perpetuate the names and accomplishments of skiers, pioneers and officials whose dedication and competitive achievements at national and international levels have brought lasting fame to the sport of water skiing. Four categories of membership have been approved by the AWSEF's board of trustees: competitive water skiers, including participants in traditional water skiing, barefoot skiing, ski racing and any other nationally competitive individual discipline recognized by USA Water Ski and approved by the AWSEF board of trustees; water skiing pioneers; water skiing officials; and show skiing. For eligibility requirements and more information, visit the official Web site of the American Water Ski Educational Foundation at www.waterskihalloffame.com