Water-Ski Racing Demo Set For Seafair 2016, Worlds Coming In 2017

Known in performance-boating circles for hosting one of the most popular and longest-standing Unlimited hydroplane races on the circuit, the 2016 Seafair summer festival in Seattle will include a high-speed waterskiing exposition. The hydroplane and waterskiing events will run on Lake Washington August 5-7, the final weekend of the 10-week festival in the Pacific Northwest, which officially begins Friday, June 3, with the Military Day at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

High-speed water-skiers slated to participate—at speeds of more than 100 mph—in the exhibition include former world champions Todd Haig and Katelin Wendt, as well as USA Water Ski Hall of Famer Martie Wells.

High-speed water-ski racers (show here during the 2014 Catalina Ski Race) will take to Lake Washington for an exhibition during the final weekend of Seafair this summer. Photo courtesy/copyright Bob Brown/Media Direction.

The new addition to the festival is part of a three-year deal between Seafair organizers and Overload Productions. The exhibition, however, is a precursor to a bigger plan. According to a press release from Seafair, Overload Productions, the National Water Ski Racing Association and USA Water Ski will host the 20th annual World Water Ski Racing Championships during Seafair in 2017.

“We are delighted to help Overload Productions introduce one of the most amazing sports in the world to the Pacific Northwest,” said Richard Andersen, Seafair’s president and chief executive officer, in the release. “It’s impossible to describe how exciting this event is, and then to have the World Championships in 2017 is even more incredible.”

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