Ohio Water Ski Association - How To Get Involved

How to Get Involved

Waterskiers around the state can come in a variety of shapes & sizes ranging from traditional 3-event waterskiing (slalom, trick, & jump) to barefooting to wakeboarding to show skiing to kneeboarders to surfing, and the majority of the waterskiers around Ohio are recreational skiers who participate in a mixture of all the disciplines. The focus of the Ohio Water Ski Association is to give skiers of all disciplines and ability levels a central place of communication in an effort to help foster the growth of our sport.

40 years ago, getting involved in the waterski community was easy, you simply pulled up to the other boat full of skiers and introduced yourself. However today, many of the more advanced skiers have moved off of the public waterways and opted for more private sites ranging from old gravel pits to waterski specific man-made lakes. OWSA currently sponsors a wide variety of ski events designed to help recreational skiers get more involved in the ski community and grow their skills on the water. Some great "entry level" ski events sponsored by OWSA include:

Open Lake Nights - These events are the simplest way for any skier around the state to get some water time behind a competition ski boat with a trained driver and typically some good fundamental coaching. They're also a great way to meet other local skiers who have been involved with the sport for a long time and can help answer any questions that you may have.
Junior Development Clinics - These clinics for age 17 and under are geared towards beginner and intermediate skiers looking to improve their skills and have a great time at the lake with other skiers their own age.
Collegiate Development Clinics - Many skiers aren't aware that the Midwest has the best collegiate waterski association in the country. Most major universities have waterski teams including the Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Dayton, Miami University, Bowling Green University, and Ohio University. Skiers are currently looking to form clubs at the University of Toledo and Wright State University also. The great thing about our collegiate system is that you don't have to be an advanced skier to join. All of the teams in Ohio are built around beginner to intermediate skiers, many of which don't even know how to ski when they first join the team!
The Buckeye Buoy Tour - These family-friendly events are the first step for any skier looking to take their skiing to the next level. Skiing recreationally is great fun, but competing in a tournament will expand the enjoyment you have for this sport by physically and mentally pushing your skills in a whole new venue. The Buckeye Buoy Tour is designed around 3-event skiing. Tournaments are organized in fun and competitive formats and utilize handicapped scoring so that any skier can win on any given day. OWSA's Novice Scoring System gives even the most beginner skiers an opportunity to take down the most advanced skiers in the state! These events are guaranteed fun!!!
Ohio State Championships - This annual event is designed to bring all skiers from around the state together for a weekend of fun and skiing. A Buckeye Buoy Tour event typically gets the weekend started on Friday with our annual summer meeting on Friday night. Saturday kicks off the official State Championship with a day of slalom and trick & jump for the junior skiers. Saturday night is the annual State Banquet where we eat, pass out annual awards, and enjoy the evening with some music. The Championships are capped off on Sunday with the remaining trick & jump events. The State Championships are a great place to meet skiers from all over the state and form lifelong friendships.

To start getting involved, simply JOIN OWSA. Membership is only $10 per year or $20 for the entire family. If you have any additional questions, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it any time.