Waterskier looks forward to national competitions

J. Weese | Sep 15, 2011

Photo: In the photo Virginia is slaloming around balls on a course. 

Eleven-year-old Virginia Weese entered the Nationals Water Ski Championships, which were held in Newmarket, Ont., this summer of 2011. This was her first season competing and she placed fourth in her division.

Virginia was born into this exciting sport. She comes from a waterskiing family. Her mother Jill skied at Cypress Gardens and competed in barefooting. Her grandfather and grandmother, Guy and Bonnie Weese, also skied at Cypress Gardens, tournament skied, and operated the Kirk-Kove Resort and Water Ski Show. Her grandfather Guy was also the first man in Canada to water ski jump 100 ft.  Her great grandfather, Stan McLean, and uncle, Ken Kirk, were also show and competitive skiers.

Virginia lives in Kingston but spends much of her summer and school holidays at her cottage by Kirk Kove on Big Gull Lake. She trains with Dan Rini of Sydenham. Dan's sons, Matt and Dan Jr., skied on the national team and competed internationally. Virginia also trains with her mother, Jill, on Big Gull Lake and her father, Chris Shaw, at his cottage.

To compete in slalom, she must enter the gates and get around all six balls and depart through the gates. If she succeeds, the speed is increased by 2 mph - or as the skier says "up 2". Once the maximum speed for her age group has reached (30 mph) her rope is shortened each pass. The shorter the rope, the faster she has to go to make it around those balls!

Not only is Virginia very athletic, she is also very creative and is a student at LEAP - Limestone Education through the Arts. 

For Virginia and all Canadian water skiers, intense training through the spring and summer is how Canadian skiers are able to compete and win. Virginia looks forward to next summer and the chance to ski in tournaments at the national level.