The Water Ski Podcast

hosted by Matteo Luzzeri

EP30: Ski Talk with Jaimee Bull


Episode 30 of The Water Ski Podcast is with Jaimee Bull!
Jaimee is one of the best skiers in the World. Under 21 World Slalom Champion and NCWSA National Champion and Record Holder, Jaimee is a Mechanical Engineering student at UL Lafayette, representing the Ragin' Cajuns and Canada in various tournaments worldwide.

Join Matteo and Jaimee as the go over:
  • Jaimee's early days of skiing
  • The influence of her brother Jaret in her skiing
  • Her first few tournaments
  • The journey to Junior Worlds
  • The experience of skiing for the Syndicate team
  • Jaimee's Bronze Medal at the 2017 Open Worlds
  • Jaimee's victory at the Under 21 World Championships
  • The NCWSA Women Slalom Record performance at the 2019 Collegiate Nationals
  • The state of Pro Women Skiing
  • …and more!!

Follow Jaimee on Instagram, check out her website, and watch her in action.
Also, check out her profile on HO Skis and WWS.

Thank you to everyone for the constant support to The Water Ski Podcast, it has been overwhelmingly encouraging ;-)

Take a few seconds to write a review of the podcast on Apple Podcasts, it really helps :-) … and let's keep the momentum going!
If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider a donation.

EP29: Three Drills to Learn the Slalom Course


This episode of The Water Ski Podcast was originally posted exclusively on Swerve on February 4, 2020.

In this Dock Time episode Matteo share three useful drills and some tips on how to learn the slalom course. Whether you are a free skier ready to tackle the 6 buoys or an experienced slalom skier who wants to introduce someone to the course, hopefully you will find these tips useful :)

Thank you to everyone for the constant support to The Water Ski Podcast, it has been overwhelmingly encouraging ;-)

Take a few seconds to write a review of the podcast on Apple Podcasts, it really helps :-) … and let's keep the momentum going!
If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider a donation.

EP28: Learn (some more) Water Skiing with Coop Diddy


Coop Diddy is back!

This impromptu episode was recorded just a few days ago, after Coop bombarded Matteo with more questions about water ski intricacies. "We should have this conversation in front of the mic" Coop said, and within 3 minutes the two were recording.

By the way, have you checked out Water Ski Bits? Coop has a bit on there too ;-)

In this episode, Coop Diddy asks Matteo more specific questions about the water ski world, informed by the knowledge about the sport he has been acquiring :)

Follow this second episode as Coop and Matteo ramble and untangle:
  • A little update on how TWSP has been going since EP11
  • Trends of Top20 skiers in the World (see BOS post here)
  • What made Men Slalom so competitive in recent years
  • Deliberate practice and skiing in different conditions
  • Big Dawg and Senior categories, including former Pros making the switch
  • Jeff Rogers being the first guy to run 41off at 36mph and 34mph
  • Are 34mph and 36mph two different sports altogether?
  • Coop's first experience of riding in the boat for Matteo
  • Safety and funnies in water ski photo shooting
  • Shoutouts to Coop's fans Freddie Winter and Dane Mechler
  • The effects of COVID on the water ski community
  • …and more!!!

If you are new to the sport, hopefully you'll learn something out of this conversation.
If you are already an experienced and knowledgeable skier, you'll definitely find this discussion amusing and, possibly, resembling the ones you often have about trying to explain our sport to non-skiers.

Follow Coop on Instagram and let him know what you think about the episode ;-)

Take a few seconds to write a review of the podcast on Apple Podcasts, it really helps :-) … and let's keep the momentum going!
If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider a donation.

EP27: Ski Talk with Dane Mechler (Part 2)


Welcome to Part 2 of Dane Mechler's interview for The Water Ski Podcast!

Dane is a water ski sensation and literally a threat to every single event he partakes. Among the many accomplishments Dane has already accrued we find ad Under 21 and University World Championships.

Dane is currently ranked 8th in the IWWF Elite Ranking List, a proficiency and competitiveness he manages during his free time from a high-pressure finale position at Grant Thornton.

In this second part, Dane shares more recent events, particularly with regards to the 2019 season.

Join in as Dane and Matteo cover the following:
  • Dane's peculiar slalom technique, and what led to some those peculiarities
  • His days with Matteo and Keith Albritton in Tallahassee
  • The challenge of getting past the 2@41off hump
  • Being top seed at the 2019 Open Worlds at Malaysia.
  • How he followed that experience with California Pro Am
  • Dane's first Pro podium at the 2019 Malibu Open
  • Combining work and high-end skiing
  • The financial side of growing the sport of water skiing
  • …and a lot more
Follow Dane on Instagram, and watch some of the highlights of the 2016 University World Championships

Take a few seconds to write a review of the podcast on Apple Podcasts, it really helps :-) … and let's keep the momentum going!
If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider a donation.

EP26: Ski Talk with Dane Mechler (Part 1)


In this episode, Matteo sits down with Pro Skier Dane Mechler!

Dane is a water ski sensation and literally a threat to every single event he partakes. Among the many accomplishments Dane has already accrued we find ad Under 21 and University World Championships, and more that we will cover on Part 2 this Saturday.

Dane is currently ranked 8th in the IWWF Elite Ranking List, a proficiency and competitiveness he manages during his free time from a high-pressure finale position at Grant Thornton.

In this first part, Dane navigates his early days in skiing, facilitated by a great and long time friendship with Matteo.

Join them as they cover the following:
  • Dane's early days of skiing in Cincinnati and his dad's influence on his skiing
  • The relationship with his brother Mason and their joint ski journey
  • The early days at Pickos Ski School and Cory's influence on Dane's ski style
  • His first tournament experiences in the Midwest and at the National level
  • The Junior Worlds and the ensuing commitment to proper tournament preparation
  • Dane's collegiate days at The University of Louisiana
  • The path to victory at the Under 21 Worlds
  • The sensational win at the 2016 University Worlds in a run-off with Robert Pigozzi
  • …and a lot more
Follow Dane on Instagram, and watch some of the highlights of the 2016 University World Championships

Take a few seconds to write a review of the podcast on Apple Podcasts, it really helps :-) … and let's keep the momentum going!
If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider a donation.

EP25: Ski Talk with Harry Spavin and Ryan Gonzales, Ragin' Cajuns Water Ski Team


This episode of TWSP is with Harry Spavin and Ryan Gonzales, the Team Captain and Coach of the Ragin' Cajuns Water Ski Team!

Louisiana has a long and successful tradition of collegiate water skiing, with University of Louisiana Monroe and University of Louisiana at Lafayette having won almost all the NCWSA titles ever awarded.

This episode is a small window into the lives of two people who are continuing the tradition of the Ragin' Cajuns Water Ski Team. "Spav" is a great skier, current Team Captain, and the 2019 NCSWA Male Outstanding Leader of the Year, who led the Cajuns to their 7th National title. "Gonzo" has been the Coach of the Water Ski Team since 2011, and has been able through hard work and dedication to help this skier-run team reaching new heights.

Join Matteo, Spav, and Gonzo as they talk about:
  • Harry's early days of skiing and his journey to the University of Louisiana
  • How Ryan, not a skier, ended up coaching one of the best ski teams of all time
  • The inner workings of how the ski team runs
  • Some of the key people, donors, and alumni that allow the team to continue thriving
  • The process that brought the 2019 National Title back to Lafayette
  • and a LOT more :)

Follow the Ragin' Cajuns Water Ski Team on Facebook and Instagram, check out this article of their 2019 Championship by the University of Louisiana, and a video from the 2015 Championship.

Oh yeah, and follow Spav and Gonzo on Instagram too :)

Take a few seconds to write a review of the podcast on Apple Podcasts, it really helps :-) … and let's keep the momentum going!
If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider a donation.