Getting Extreme at Ontario Place

Many if not all of us involved in action sports despise the word “Extreme.”  However, there are also a large majority of us that also rely on the income from action sports to continue to allow us to enjoy the sports that we love.  As we mature in the sport we need to find ways to continue to be involved and also find the money to pay the bills.  In many cases, being “Extreme” helps us bridge the gap between playing action sports and living action sports.

For watersports enthusiasts that grew up in Toronto, the idea of waterskiing or wakeboarding in the city is something special. The idea of getting paid to do it is even better. This dream became a reality again at Ontario Place with the Ontario Place Extreme Wake Series (OPX).

There was a waterski at Ontario Place during the CNE from 1950 to 1997.  The Wake Series is the new school version of this waterski show. The new school is a celebration of the “Extreme.”  High speed barefooting, high flying wakeboarding, technical wakeskating and spectacular hydrofoyling.  All of these put together form an action packed 15 minute show.

This is an exciting time for waterskiers and wakeboarders in Ontario. These events are the beginning of a new movement in professional show skiing. There has only been one company in Canada running professional shows since 1997. Summer Water Sports has been the only company continuing the show skiing legacy in Canada. OPX is so important to this movement because is the beginning to new school show skiing.  This new school is the “Extreme” aspect of the event.  This aspect gets away from traditional ballet style show skiing and moves towards high flying action and excitement. More importantly it celebrates the activities we really enjoy. This means that wakeboarders can do what waterskiers have been doing for years. They can get paid to participate in the sport they love.  Show skiers for years have laughed all the way to the bank, pulling in big money to ski every day. The “Extreme” culture that the media has created now allows wakeboarders to ride and get paid.  This event is open to all waterskiers and wakeboarders in Ontario. It is meant to be a showcase of everyone’s abilities. If you would like to participate please email teamfunwatersports@gmail.com

Check out these EXTREME pictures from the Ontario Place events so far.

Photo credit: Andy Campbell

 Whitney Mclintock is one of the top Professional Waterskiers in the world and we are proud to say she hails from that ‘place to stand and a place to grow’ Ontariariario. I had the chance to throw a few questions her way to find out more about her participation in the sport of three event skiing. Enjoy!

Lets bang out the facts:

Hometown: Cambridge, Ontario

Age: 20

Sponsors: Ski Nautiques, Radar Skis, Matt Rini’s Water Ski School, McClintock’s Water Ski School

Current place you call home: Clermont, FL =)

Favourite Event of the year: US Master’s in Pine Mountain Georgia, Memorial Day weekend- its my favourite event because some truly incredible memories in my life have come from that event. In 2004 I accepted Jesus as my Saviour at the Morning Service held there every year by “In His Wakes Ministry”, then two years later in 2006 I was baptized in Robin Lake. On top of my spiritual success there, the Master’s has been a place of great water skiing success for me also: my most recent Master’s accomplishments were placing 3rd in women slalom and 1st in women tricks in 2009.

So, you  have pretty much the most solid family of waterskiers around. Give us a little bit of the low down on what it was like growing up with parents that are ski fanatics: Haha well we [Jason and I] didn’t really have a chance to say NO to water skiing when we were 2 and on the water. Through the years my parents were great motivators and help encourage both my brother and me to great success in the sport. They have been there for me all my life always giving me the best opportunities with vacations to florida and coaching by Matt Rini and Jaret Llewellyn. I have been truly blessed to be a part of this wonderful water skiing family. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for their unconditional love , support and faith in me! 

We have a lot of wakeboarders and wakeskaters that check out this site and are in the dark about 3 event sking. Can you give them the cole’s notes version of how the contest scene works? We have Slalom, Trick and Jump at our major competitions.Trick is fast paced and we do lots of flips and spins and over the rope tricks. We have two 20 second passes to perform as many high-point tricks as possible- we tend to do a hand pass, and a toe pass.   Slalom is more laid back and enjoyable at the ski dock, the head-to-head competitions have really created a rivalry on the water but friendships on the dock. Slalom is the event for me that the more I can relax and just ski the better I swerve!   Jumping is pretty exhilerating especially when the guys are going in the 230s! The men really know how to make jumping extreme and exciting for the crowd… 3 jumps seems like two mulligans but when every move needs to be perfect to soar through the air THAT far… 3 jumps sometimes isnt enough! 

You have some pretty outstanding results from the past few years. What are some achievements that really hit home for you personally? 
Well first off, My first Pro wins are very special to me:

World Cup Russia 2008 Slalom Champion, 3rd Tricks.

US Masters 2009 I won Trick and came 3rd in Slalom but that was not enough for me.

My most memorable achievement for a while is the World Championships 2009- I won Slalom, Trick, Overall AND team Overall. I have the best team in the world, not only the skiers also my support team: God, Mom, Dad, Jason, Gramma, Grampa, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Coaches: Matt Rini and Steve Bush, and of course my friends and fans!!

Then in Abbotsford, BC I won my first head-to-head Pro Slalom title =).

Under 21 World Championships- I won slalom, trick and overall and came 2nd in jump.

To finish this ‘season of a lifetime’ I won IWSF Female Athlete (and Female Skier) of the Year…what an incredible honour!! 

You’re one of the best waterskiers in the world. That probably means a heck of a lot of training and self discipline. What would a typical day in the life of Whitney McClintock entail? Well typically when the weather is not 0 degrees and snowing in Florida (like it did today) I have a lot going on. I am a full time Senior at the University of Central Florida, I ski, work out, and I have my own Mary Kay business. But skiing is #1 importance to me so in the Spring, I will wake up and run, then I will be at Matt Rini’s lake as much as possible (even if that means one early morning ski, run to school and come back to the lake after school) then I will hit the gym after the lake. Work outs faze out during the spring to a less time in the gym so I can focus on the water. And evenings are for Mary Kay! 

What are some of the coolest places in the world you have travelled for water skiing?  I love Russia because the people adore our sport, and I also think Austria is beautiful… I havn’t been to lots of the pro events over seas yet but I will go to Australia and Malasia soon! 

Do you ever strap on a wakeboard or drop the skiis for a foot for kicks? Wakeboard…sometimes, but I am terrified to hurt myself so I only ever jump the wakes and so some 180s… still haven’t flipped on a wakeboard!! and i have never footed! Crazy I need to get on that!! haha

Favourite Hobbies other than water skiing: In my ‘spare time’ I am a Mary Kay Beauty consultant and I love it: pampering women, making them feel more beautiful! Its so rewarding.

Any Training tips for the weekend warriors out there? If you have a DREAM, Dream it big enough that you BELIEVE it, and you can ACHIEVE anything!! As far as coaching goes, if you are skiing in the course and the bouys are just not in rythm with you…ski outside the course, start narrow with perfect rope control- make perfect, carving $$$$ (turns) down the lake and then go back and see how the course feels. =)

OK so enough about the watersports and on with the banger questions. You ready?? Here we go!

Sushi or burger: Sushi

Blackberry or iPhone: Blackberry

Tiger or Leopard: Tiger

Beach or Mountain: Lake beach… yes, Ocean… no, Mountains too please!! 

Beer or Girly drinks: Girly Drinks

Truck or convertible: Pink Cadilac! 

Green Tea or Coffee: Green Tea

Monkey or Zebra: Im gonna go with monkey

Shout outs: Check out my website: ! I have up to date info on whats going on with my skiing and I have apparel coming soon!! Follow me on Twitter: whitmcclintock.  Go ski at McClintocks in Cambridge, ON… www.McClintocks.com .  Also if you want to come to Florida and ski when its miserable up in Canada, check out www.MattRini.com. If you havn’t heard about or you don’t own the new 2010 RadaR Strada, GO to www.RadarSkis.com.     See you all out on the water!!

• Location: Pigeon Lake

• Email address: jay@thewakeinstitue.com

• Phone:    Jeremy: (705) 931-1616 Jay:(705) 340-0516

• Website: www.thewakeinstitute.com

• About Us: Don’t let our new name fool you, we are no new comers to teaching wakeboarding, our staff is made up of a collection of the best instructors in Ontario. Led by Jay Poole and Jeremy Eckford, who are both examiners for the Canadian waterski instructors course. Our focus is on high energy, high content wakeboard training. We teach all ages and abilities from first timers to full competitive training programs for high end athletes. Our staff includes Professional female wakeboarder Erika Langman, National Champ Wakeskater Ally Boothroyd, Mark (chuck) Norris, Young wakeskate phenom Adam Lewis and his big sis Tessa Lewis. We can fulfill all of your watersports needs from basic lessons to major event management. We have a full feature PWC rail park and the best equipment in the industry. Including the latest towboats from Mastercraft and Buckeye Marine and wakeboards from Liquid Force.

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Phone: (705) 457-8754 mobile, (705) 457-8359 office
Website: www.skiwakefootschool.com

About Us: Ski-Mazing Watersports School offers entry level to advanced coaching in waterski, wakeboard, barefoot, Wakekite, wakeski, wakeskate, hydrofoil, trick ski, and virtually anything you can use to have fun on the water. Private cottage clinics, day and weekly Kids Kamp programs, and Rip N’ Ride nationally rated certification are included in our programs. SMWS is Canada’s Official Wakekite Training Centre and sales outlet. We are SkiAbility trained professional instructors and competitors and use the Headzone wireless coaching helmets to enhance your riding skills. Along with our core instruction programs, the whole family can enjoy jet-skiing, parasailing, and our free weekly ski shows using our Mastercraft tournament towboats from Buckeye Marine.