Nautique Boats: Nautique has been proud partners of Winter Garden Water Ski, home of the Drew Ross Ski Academy for 14 years! How did you personally get started in waterskiing?
Drew Ross: Growing up in Ontario, Canada, we took summers seriously - which meant that from ice out to late fall, time on the water was the priority. While at summer camp in the early 1980’s, I was invited to try a tournament in Muskoka - I’ve been captivated ever since.
NB: Tell us about your facility at Winter Garden Water Ski.
DR: WGWS is located at the Isles of Lake Hancock community, just north of Disney. More than 20 years ago, Leigh’s father Ed Neill was looking for a place to call home and ski in Central Florida, and the orange groves on the south side of Lake Hancock presented a very special opportunity. Two man-made lakes were constructed on a peninsula of land overlooking natural Lake Hancock, a surreal setting, and the Isles of Lake Hancock residential community was born with an eye to optimize Florida lake life and water skiing. The western ski lake is home to Winter Garden Water Ski and offers ideal water skiing conditions in a pristine and idyllic setting.
NB: What is your mission at Winter Garden Water Ski?
DR: Our mission at Winter Garden Water Ski is to provide an unparalleled water ski experience, irrespective of ability - involving progress, building confidence, and having fun.
NB: Can you share some of your favorite client success stories?
DR: Wow, it’s incredible to think about… several skiers who have trained here have gone on to podium at world championships. If you spend some time on the dock, it seems that success stories are frequent, and that the mantra “the sky is the limit” can be very true. But success is not necessarily measured by titles - and victories occur at a very personal level. Whether it is a junior making the course for the first time, a new trick learned, or riding one ski for the first time, achievements and milestones that are memorable help shape the human spirit. Sharing in this is very humbling and a privilege at the same time.
NB: Your kids, Nautique Athletes Neilly and Charlie Ross, train with you at Winter Garden Water Ski. Can you share your favorite memories from coaching them throughout the years?
DR: What is so funny to think about is how different Neilly and Charlie were as young skiers. From her very beginning at a young age, Neilly came straight to the dock to practice at every opportunity with a discipline I’ve rarely seen. Charlie? Early on, well, not so much - I guess skiing was an acquired taste for him! But as probably every skiing family can relate, I think the time together on the water, in nature, doing fun physical activity, is irreplaceable. Identifying goals, imagining what may be possible, crafting plans to achieve goals - these are life lessons!! They are each other’s number one supporter, which I think has been a massive motivating factor. Both have gone on to win world titles and set records, with the other on shore at the event every time.
NB: Can you describe a typical day in your life at Winter Garden Water Ski?
DR: Essentially, we are a facility that offers coached sessions through the day by reservation and appointment. Water skiers are passionate, and mornings are cherished. We typically begin shortly after sunrise, though daily forecasts and weather conditions do sometimes dictate the schedule for us - as such we ask that guests have flexibility. My role extends from coaching to managing bookings, maintenance items, and hosting tournaments - it’s a very busy life! We’ve got a terrific community of skiers, and the positivity is contagious.
NB: Can you give us some insight as to how your students prepare for big tournaments like the Nautique Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament presented by GM Marine?
DR: Tournament prep is an arduous but healthy process. Every major tournament is different from the standpoint of where it is, and what travel and training will look like in the weeks and days leading up to the event. For the Masters and other majors, we typically make a plan for each athlete months in advance as far as what their runs will look like, where they will be in those days leading up to the tournament, and what the taper from volume training to competition prep will look like. As a coach, I am to instill motivation and confidence in our athletes - and the understanding that a strong work ethic breeds confidence, and so on. Mindset is such a key piece of the process.
NB: What does Nautique mean to you?
DR: Nautique’s commitment to excellence is self-evident, but it goes much deeper than that. The Nautique mission, “Building Boats to the Glory of God” showcases what Nautique Boats is all about - Nautique is a team of people who share values. A commitment to excellence and staying true to roots (water skiing and water sports) as well as family are all part of the ethos and values of Nautique and the spirit of the Nautique community. I think that Nautique’s respect for tradition and legacy within water skiing is highlighted by the Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament presented by GM Marine.
NB: What are your favorite features on the Ski Nautique?
DR: I think the versatility offered by the HydroGate, MicroTuners, and trick ballast combine to make a boat that can lead in both slalom skiing and trick skiing, which is simply incredible. These are very different events - slalom skiing requires the flattest wake possible, while trick skiing requires a healthy sized wake with progressive slopes and defined crests. The design and engineering of the Ski Nautique is remarkable.
NB: What does the future of Winter Garden Water Ski look like?
DR: The future?? Well, you’re looking at it! We will continue to strive to improve and focus on offering the best on the water ski experience that we can. For more information, check out www.wgwski.com or @wintergardenwaterski on Instagram.
