The Water Skier Magazine’s Hit It Podcast

Here she is…Grace Stanke

While most may know her as Miss America 2023, this nuclear engineering student at the University of Wisconsin destresses by water skiing. Grace shares with us her experiences as a member of the Wisconsin team, how water skiing prepared her for the trials of the tiara, and her plans for the future.
 
This episode of The Water Skier Magazine’s Hit It! Podcast is proudly sponsored by Radar Skis. Radar was founded and led by skiers who have instilled the passion to push beyond the norm and make better products. We never stop dreaming of what’s next and what we can do to make skiing even better. Our constant desire to push the sport leads us to where we are now. We have fun creating every day so you can have fun on the water. See the full range of Radar goods at radarskis.com. Just go ski.  

The evolution of a champion: Rhoni Barton-Bischoff

One of the dominant overall water ski athletes of her era, 20-time U.S. National Champion Rhoni Barton-Bischoff joins the Hit It! podcast to talk about how coaching has extended her water ski career and the business behind coordinating the prestigious Nautique Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament.

Chet Raley: The man and the method

One of the most sought after coaches in three-event water skiing, Chet Raley joins the Hit It Podcast to talk technique, his methodology and how his passion for the sport keeps him young.

Following his passion -- Jimmy Siemers

While he’ll be inducted into the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in April, Jimmy Siemers is far from finished in the world of water skiing. The three-time world record holder and three-time world champion joins us to talk about not only his Hall of Fame career, but where his passion for the sport is taking him now.

Setting the bar with Erika Lang

Both a top women’s trick skier as well as a top wakeboarder, Erika Lang joins the podcast to talk the pending 2023 season, what it takes to break world records and the high level competition in the women’s trick category.

Slalom skiing with the legendary Kris LaPoint

Only 13 years old when he broke the men’s world slalom record – and only 14 when he won the Master’s for the first time – legendary water ski athlete Kris LaPoint isn’t done yet. From the science behind water skis to his desire to keep competing, if you are into slalom skiing, you don’t want to miss this episode.   

Jamming with Jay Bennett

Jay Bennett, whose water ski and wakeboard school in Zachary, La., is one of the best known in the business, joins the Hit It! podcast to talk coaching, his time as an athlete, running a top-notch ski school and, of course, the return of the LA Night Jam.
For more information on Bennett Ski School, go to skibennetts.com
For more information on the LA Night Jam, go to lanightjam.com
And for all the latest information on water ski and wake sports, go to teamusa.org/USA-Water-Ski

From the Granite State to the Sunshine State with Barefoot waterski legend Keith St. Onge

Class of 2023 USA Waterski and Wake Sports Hall of Fame inductee Keith St. Onge joins the Hit It podcast to talk about his legendary career.
Having racked up 14 world championships and 19 U.S. national overall titles, Keith talks about his journey from the New Hampshire to Florida, lessons learned along the path of his career, and what it was like to win a gold medal as part of Team USA in the 2022 IWWF World Water Ski Show Tournament.

Kick off the collegiate national championships with Jeff Surdej and Marcus Brown

Tyler is joined by Jeff Surdej – a past chairman of the National Collegiate Water Ski Association – and Marcus Brown, the man so familiar to college water skiing that his likeness is on the logo. Together they discuss the culture of collegiate skiing, the current state of the sport, and offer a preview of next week’s Syndicate Waterskis 43rd Collegiate Water Ski National Championships.

Lauren Morgan and her breakthrough summer

Host Tyler Boyd catches up with The Water Skier magazine’s latest cover athlete - Lauren Morgan, who talks about her breakthrough summer starting with her huge win at the Nautique Masters. Even more impressive, Lauren lets us in on all that she is doing off the water as well.