A 2025 Roster Ready for Podiums Worldwide!
Help us cheer on Team Shuswap Ski & Board as they make waves in 2025! From the lake shores of Canada to podiums across the globe, these athletes are gearing up for what promises to be an unforgettable year. A team boasting multiple world champions and top contenders in their respective sports, Team Shuswap is poised to dominate the water sports scene in 2025. Here’s a sneak peek at the incredible skiers, riders, and wakesurfers who’ll be representing us in 2025 – and don’t forget to watch for their familiar names at competitions near you!
We asked some of our team members these three questions. Keep reading below for a mini bio and some quick thoughts from each of our skiers and riders!
- What are you most excited for this year and why?
- What do you want to do differently this year compared to last year?
- What is your favourite off season exercise to prepare for the coming season?
Joel Poland (@joelpoland). Joel is a renowned waterskier and seven-time world record holder, with a career that stands out for both his impressive skill and unique style. Joel has earned 12 Pro Wins and is a Masters Jump Champion and Overall World Tour Champion. His distinctive approach to waterskiing—combining technical precision with a flair for showmanship—has earned him a loyal following, both on and off the water. Joel skis for the pure joy of the sport, even in competition, and his enthusiasm is contagious for anyone who watches. His pro-model ski and eye-catching trick passes have made him a standout in the waterski world. With a passion for pushing boundaries and making waves in the sport, Joel continues to inspire and impress as one of the sport’s top athletes.
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Paige Rini (@paigepigozzi). Paige is a top-tier waterskier with titles like Junior Masters, Junior US Open, and Pan Am Slalom Champion. She is currently ranked in the top 10 for tricks and slalom and she is a strong contender for the world overall title in 2025. Paige trains at Matt Rini’s Water Ski School in Florida and is supported by Shuswap Ski & Board.
Paige says, “I’m super excited for Worlds in Italy—my favorite country to visit! It’s such a great opportunity to represent Canada and show how all my hard work is paying off. This year, I’m focused on pushing myself to achieve the best results, but I’m also keeping the fun factor in mind. Outside of skiing, I love staying active with Pilates and spending quality time with my family!”
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Ryan Dodd (@Rdodd260). Ryan is a 5-time consecutive World Champion and the current world record holder in water ski jumping. With over 25 years on the Canadian National Team, Ryan has dominated the sport, winning 90% of the events he’s competed in for the last decade. Known for his fearless approach to jumping, Ryan is constantly pushing the limits of what's possible on the water. He’s also the founder of Stealth Gloves, a popular waterski glove company. Outside of skiing, Ryan is a devoted father, husband, and successful businessman. His 2025 focus is on the World Championships in Italy, where he plans to jump higher than ever before
Ryan says, “It was a tough decision, but after prepping all winter, I decided to skip the Moomba Masters last minute this past March. Instead, I’m focusing on dialing in my skills, testing new gear, and hitting the gym to be ready for the big year ahead. Worlds in Italy is my main goal now! I've learned from past injuries and am fine-tuning my technique to stay closer to my full potential. It’s not just about winning; it's about pushing limits and doing the impossible on the water. After over 100 days of ocean surfing in the off season, I’m now focusing on strength training at the Canadian Sport Institute with an incredible team to help me stay balanced and ready to perform at my best.
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Kate Pinsonneault (@k8_pinsonneault). Kate skis with Cole Grant at Matt Rini's Waterski School in Orlando, Florida. She is an overall skier, but Jump is her favorite. Kate is the U21 Overall Pan Am Champion, and the U17 Jump Pan Am Champion. She is the U17 2024 Canadian Champion in Jump, Trick, Slalom and Overall. Kate is excited to be attending the University of Louisiana Lafayette and skiing on the Ragin Cajun Waterski Team starting the fall of 2025. She plans on attending Junior Masters, U21 World Championship, and Pan Am Championship. She is a member of the Canadian Jr. National Water Ski Team.
Kate says, “I’m really excited for Jr. Masters this spring—it’s always such an amazing event with great energy. I’m also looking forward to U21 Worlds in Calgary, especially since it’s in my home country and I’ll have family and friends cheering me on. This year, I want to make sure I’m fully present at each event, soaking in every moment, as I sometimes get too focused on the results and forget to enjoy the experience. To prepare, I’ve been mixing up my training with sports like downhill skiing and hockey in the winter, along with weightlifting and running to keep me strong and ready for the season.”
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Megan Pelkey (@megan_pelkey). Megan is a member of the Canadian Jr. National Water Ski Team; she is the World Junior Jump Champion and back-to-back Jr. Masters Champion. Megan is a dominant force in all competitions she enters. A regular medal contender we will be very excited to watch her compete in the U21 World Waterski Championships held this year in Calgary, AB!
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Darah Lachance (@darah.lachance). Darah is a 3 event water skier from Nova Scotia. She is a member of the Canadian Jr. National Water Ski Team. She skis at McClintock's water ski school in Ontario and Matt Rini's Ski School in Florida. She is currently attending the University of Louisiana Lafayette and competing for the Ragin Cajuns! Watch the podium at the U21 World Waterski Championships this year, Darah is looking to top it!
Darah says, “I'm super excited for U21 Worlds in Calgary this year, especially to see all my Canadian, collegiate, and international ski friends together. For tournaments, I’m focusing on having more fun, as I’ve learned that enjoying them makes me ski better. In the off-season, I focus on getting stronger and building endurance in the gym, which helps me improve faster behind the boat.”
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Carly Bonham (@carlybonham_). Carly is a member of the Canadian Jr. National Water Ski Team. She is a Canadian Water Ski National Championship Medalist and JR Canadian Open Medalist. Carly spends time as a coach with WSWA helping with the Alberta Rippers Program. Carly’s infectious enthusiasm spreads joy and passion for watersports on every dock she skis. She is constantly working to improve her own skiing and chase that next PB.
Carly says, “I’m really excited for the U21 Waterski Worlds at the end of June, especially since it’s being held at my home site. I’ve been training hard in hopes of qualifying for one of the spots on the Canadian team, but even if I don’t make it, it’s still an amazing event. This year, I’m focusing on being patient and staying hopeful throughout the process. On top of that, I’ve been keeping busy with alpine skiing to stay active in the off-season.”
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Bradley Gibbons (@bradley.gibbons). Bradley is a Canadian National Waterski Champion. He is a silver medalist at Pan Ams with Team Canada. Bradley splits his time between training down south and coaching at Corey Vaughns Water Ski School. We are looking forward to watching Bradley as he competes in some of his first Pro Events this year!
Bradley says, “I'm looking forward to competing in the Lake 38 Pro Am and Hilltop Pro Am this summer. These events are a great way to test my skills against the best and assess what I need to improve. I'm also excited for the Bumpass Buoy Fest, a fun event that helps grow the sport and allows skiers of all levels to compete. This season, my main focus is on mindset. In 2022, I pushed through an injury and made it to the podium, but last season I let external factors affect my performance. I’m learning from that and focusing on maintaining a positive attitude. For training, I’m doing EMOM circuits with bench press and deadlifts to build strength and endurance, which helps with the short bursts of power needed in slalom skiing.”
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Kerry Williams (@kwillyofficial). Kerry is a Wakesurfer from Koocanusa who has been surfing for 6 years. He rides a Phase 5 Matrix! Kerry is the Canadian National Wake Surf Champion and placed 4th at the 2024 IWWF World Wakesurf Championships in the Pro division. We are really looking forward to watching Kerry’s career develop as he continues to progress.
Kerry says, “I’m most excited for the World Games in Chengdu, China this year—it’ll be awesome competing with top riders from around the world and staying in an athlete’s village with athletes from other sports. This year, I want to focus on having more fun, as I put too much pressure on myself last year. For off-season training, my favorite exercise is ab roller knee rollouts to strengthen my core and improve balance on the board.”
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Noah Goulding (@noah.goulding_). Noah is a Canadian Wake Surfer. He lives in Calgary, AB and surfs at Tie Lake, BC. He has been Wake Surfing since the Summer of 2021. Improving quickly, in the summer of 2024 he joined the WSWBC Wake Surf Team. Training hard all summer with top Canadian coaches and being pushed by his peers, Noah placed second in the SemiPro division at the BC/AB WakeSurf Provincial Championships. Later that summer he won the Canadian Wake Surf Nationals! Look for Noah topping more podiums in 2025!
Noah says, “This year, I’m hoping to compete in some Centurion WSWS tournaments in the USA and make it to the World Championships. I’m also excited about the BC Summer Games since it’ll be my first time attending! For the upcoming season, I’m focusing on getting new combos and laying down a killer run, rather than just landing the best tricks. In the off-season, I stay active by using my Balance Board to practice tricks, improve my balance, and stay fit. I also make time for daily visualization, which helps me mentally prepare and see myself succeeding”
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Joey Gurr (@joey.gurr). Joey is the Canadian National Open Wakeboard Champion. He was the only Canadian to compete in the 2024 IWWF World Wakeboard Championship in Hangzhou, China. Joey has been selected for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China in August. Joey spends his summers coaching wakeboarding in between getting training sets himself.
Joey says, “This season, I'm excited about progressing in my riding and seeing growth in others, especially after coaching teams like Wake BC and Saskatchewan Wake. I'm also in my prime for riding and can't wait to see what's possible. This year, I’ve changed things up by training, coaching, and riding in Florida until the ice melts in BC. I’ve also seen improvements in my strength, endurance, and handle control, especially from bar exercises like narrow grip pull-ups, muscle-ups, and L-holds. These movements help build core, back, and shoulder strength while simulating handle grips.”
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2025 is set to be an exciting year with new records, milestone performances, and international competitions. Follow Team Shuswap as they chase podiums at events like U21 Worlds in Calgary and the World Games in Chengdu. Stay updated on their journeys and watch them make waves this season!