The Nautique Network

Dockside Chats: Neilly Ross

Nautique Boats: With the debut of the Nautique Water Ski World Series swiftly approaching, what are you most excited for and how are you preparing for the season?

Neilly Ross: I am SO excited for the Nautique Water Ski World Series. I am definitely most excited to see the scores, specifically trick scores by both the girls and guys, that will be produced at these events. I think we will see some never before done runs and some insane scores, including World Records! To prepare for the season, I’m working on exactly that… World Record runs because that is what it takes now to win most trick tournaments now.

NB: What are your goals for the premier season of the Nautique Water Ski World Series?

NR: The goal is always to win. Within the past few seasons, in order to win, it takes executing perfect runs that are either extremely close to or break the World Record. The thought of this is both extremely exciting and somewhat daunting, but I don’t think there has ever been an era like this in the world of trick skiing! In terms of slalom, I really want to show up more and hopefully land on more podiums. Within the past few years, I have been able to secure some slalom podiums, including at the Nautique Masters in ‘24 and ‘25. I am really starting to set my eyes toward achieving my first pro slalom win.

NB: Which stop on the Nautique Waterski World Series are you most looking forward to and why?

NR: I’m most looking forward to the Rocky Mountain Pro Am in Calgary. Predator Bay is an incredible ski club; the lakes are amazing, the setting is gorgeous, and the club members are super enthusiastic and fun. These lakes are also special to me because it is where I skied (not competed LOL) in my very first World Championships when I was eight. My dad was competing here at the 2009 World Championships, and I got the opportunity to forerun the competition, which was a huge dream come true for me back then. It really inspired me and instilled the dream in me to one day be a pro skier.

NB: What does it mean to have a brand like Nautique leading this new chapter for the sport?

NR: Since I have been a pro skier, I have lived through the eras of the 200, the previous model Ski Nautique, and now the all-new, redesigned 2026 Ski Nautique. Nautique does none other than challenge the “impossible” by improving boats that are thought of as already being the best of the best. When I found out that the previous model Ski Nautique was going to be engineered, I truly thought to myself, “How will the 200 be improved?” It not only improved, it broke countless world records. I again thought this same thought when the 2026 Ski Nautique was in its early stages of engineering. The outcome - the greatest ski boat ever created… without a doubt. As many of the other Nautique athletes will also attest to this, it was both a great task and honor to help develop this current boat where I am very certain that we will see the highest scores, in slalom, trick, and jump, ever achieved.

NB: What does the Nautique Water Ski World Series mean to you as an athlete? 

NR: As an athlete, there is so much relief in knowing that I can focus on my performances during this World Series and that not a single ounce of worry or mental thought will be about the boat. Because the 2026 Ski Nautique is so incredible, us athletes have the luxury of being able to fully channel our focus into what we do on the water. The Nautique Waterski World Series will become a new benchmark of athlete performances in all three events.

NB: In your opinion, how will the Nautique Water Ski World Series impact the sport of waterskiing overall?

NR: The Nautique Moomba Masters and the Nautique Masters are already the two largest events in water skiing (Moomba being the most spectated and Masters being the most prestigious), and they have remained this way for many decades. This series is bound to be the defining structure for competitive water skiing due to the consistency, longevity, and stature of being led by Nautique.

NB: What kind of influence do you think this series will have on growing the sport and reaching new audiences?

NR: The Nautique Water Ski World Series finally gives competitors a platform through a structured skeleton of events. Our sport needs this organization in order to be respectable and comprehendible to fans. Spectators (whether online or in person) will be able to follow the series event by event and watch who will ultimately be the World Series Overall Champion. Benchmarks such as this give fans a reason to watch and get involved.

NB: By giving juniors, professionals, and senior athletes the chance to share the same stage, how do you see this series inspiring or impacting each generation within the sport?

NR: This series will absolutely inspire each generation within water skiing. I was 11 when I competed in my first Nautique Junior Masters in 2013. The impact that every Jr. Masters had on my development and progression was beyond significant. So much so that by 2016 I was competing with the pros, and in 2017 I won my first Pro Nautique Masters title and (before that) Pro Nautique Moomba Masters title. Nothing inspires kids more than competing in the same place as their idols.

NB: What are your thoughts on the new competition structure that gives skiers the opportunity to ski in more rounds?

NR: More rounds = more opportunity for insane scores and world records. As a skier, I live for these opportunities.

NB: If you could describe the spirit or purpose of this series in one word, what would it be, and why?

NR: Commitment - with over 100 years on the water, Nautique is known for its longevity within the watersports industry as well as being the true pioneer for innovation. Commitment is part of Nautique’s DNA in absolutely everything they do - evidenced by consistent industry recognition and shown by the continual innovation and the unshakeable dedication to the sport that we love. With the Nautique Water Ski World Series, Nautique has once again demonstrated their absolute commitment to competitive water skiing, promoting their sustained legacy in competition water skiing by creating a platform to support athletes and push the growth of the sport at every level.

Dockside Chats: Winter Garden Water Ski – Drew Ross Ski Academy

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.

Dockside Chats: Whitney Rini

Nautique Boats: Congratulations on winning your 10^th Nautique Moomba Masters Open Women’s Slalom Title! Tell us more about this accomplishment and what has contributed to so many years of success!

Whitney Rini: Thank you! I really appreciate Nautique’s consistency in sponsoring Moomba and supporting me over the years, giving me the ability to train behind the very best boat in the industry. It is such a unique opportunity to travel to Melbourne, Australia every March to compete there. It is a great way for me to start my season; it keeps me training on the many cool winter days in Orlando that most people would not go skiing.

I know my unique success at Moomba is based on my faith in knowing God has me right where I am meant to be. I remember being stressed for many years because I had an 8-year streak of winning that I somehow believed was impossible to continue - but my God is a way-maker, a promise keeper, and He makes a way where we cannot see a way. 10 wins in Open Women’s Slalom at Nautique Moomba Masters is only possible because it was God’s plan for my life and all the Glory belongs to Him. 

NB: What strategies did you use to be successful with the Yarra River’s current?

WR: The Yarra was certainly challenging in 2025! The water line was a little higher this year than in years past, so the low tide didn’t offer much relief from the backwash. Even though the current wasn’t moving too rapidly this year, I still tried to adapt my skiing based on the current.

In the first round, I felt like the tail current combined with the headwind made my first pass feel slower, so on the second pass, I anticipated the head current and tailwind to feel quite fast. I decided to pull out softer and earlier on my gate on my second pass… my knowledge of the river certainly didn’t pay off as I had hoped in the first round as I went down early, which forced me to ski in the last chance qualifier. This turned out to be a blessing, and I was able to dial in my gates and experience the challenging conditions one more time before I went out first in the Moomba Monday Finals! 

NB: What changes did you have to make to your gates to accommodate for being on a river?

WR: Because the Zero-Off in the Ski Nautique is set up for maintaining a perfect GROUND SPEED of 34.2mph in women’s slalom, this means that a river current of 1mph would allow the boat to maintain a running speed of 33.2mph in a tail current and still get a 16.95 second time from gate to gate. Whereas in the head current, the boat is forced to work harder and maintain a running speed of 35.2mph in order to get from gate to gate in 16.95 seconds. 

With this in mind, I attempt to modify my gates based on how the boat will be running in the water AND based on how the wind direction affects my gate pull out as well.

I try to pull out later in a tail current (because the boat is running slower) and earlier in a head current (because the boat is running faster). 

Also, I feel I have an advantage in doing a one-handed gate at Moomba. By pulling out later, I avoid the rollers on the gate pull out on the bridge end and the boat path swinging into the course on the city end. 

NB: What are your favorite Nautique Moomba Masters memories?

WR: I have so many beautiful memories sitting on the banks of the Yarra watching Moomba and chatting with friends and fans. I also love attending Hillsong Church in Melbourne every opportunity I get.

Another favorite memory is my brother releasing for me in tricks in 2012 when I won tricks at Moomba! I also remember getting my personal best in jump as I soared 170ft and stood on the only jump podium of my career (Second to Natallia “Birdy” Berdnikava).

My favorite memory from Moomba was riding the Ferris wheel with my son, Zane, when I brought him to Moomba with me in 2023 (when he was 2.5 years old). 

NB: Tell us about your waterskiing journey and what inspired you to pursue a professional waterskiing career.

WR: I was born into a water skiing family and started water skiing before I even remember. I had the opportunity to move to Florida in 2002 to pursue my career. In 2004, I won the Jr. Worlds Overall Title and got sponsored by Nautique Boat Company. With the dedication of my parents and some really amazing coaches (including Steve Bush, Matt Rini & Jaret Llewellyn), I developed an understanding of what it took to become a high level professional waterskier. This included making good choices in high school, choosing to skip partying, alcohol, and even going to the beach on the weekends so I could train both on the water and in the gym at the highest level.

In 2006, I went pro in slalom, and a year later I won my first pro title. My career came together quite quickly, but I certainly worked hard and put in my 10,000 hours to make it to the top of my sport at such a young age.

Now I’m almost 20 years into my professional career and am so grateful for the life it has offered me and the amazing support I have received. Huge shout out to Nautique, my parents, Matt and Busher for being there every step of the way! 

NB: What does an average day in the life of Whitney Rini look like when training for tournaments?

WR: I usually wake up with Zane (my 4.5-year-old son) around 7am and we get ready to go to the lake. I make a salad for me, pack his lunch, and blend up a protein and fruit smoothie for breakfast as I head out the door.

I do a warmup and ski 1-2 sets, and Zane usually skis at least one set as well. When we go home, I get some computer work done (I do real estate and book work to keep up with being an entrepreneur).

I like working out at 4pm, so I will go to the gym and do the stair climber and treadmill work for cardio or do reformer pilates for strength and core work.

When I get home, I make a healthy dinner of organic meat and veggies for our family, and we like to play outside until sunset in the summertime.

NB: Where is your favorite place to ski?

WR: There is no place like home! There’s no place I’d rather spend my days than at Matt Rini’s Waterski School in Orlando. We have such a comfortable set up and only good vibes at our school. I love watching Zane play in the sand and learn to ski with all his favorite pros. Of course, I also love hanging out in our Ski Nautique with my hubby, Matt Rini! 

I do love to compete at Winter Garden Water Ski… this lake was built perfectly for the highest scores and its home to some of the best athletes in the world. I’m thankful for the Ross family for hosting (and letting me be a part of) many record competitions every season!

NB: You have skied in tournaments across the globe. What are your top 3 favorite destinations?

WR: Lakes of Kastynstone, Calgary, AB, Canada - My favorite waterski memory was made here (2009 World Championships) - it is one of the most beautiful places on earth as you drive down the hill to the beautiful twin lakes. Plus, it’s just a short drive to Banff & Lake Louise! If you have never been - put it on your bucket list!!

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - I attended the Pan Am Games in Rio in 2007. My mom came with me, and I’m so grateful she wanted to stay a day to tour. We hiked up the mountain to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer. This is certainly something I’m glad I got to see! 

Perth, Australia - One year, we had a World Cup stop in Perth after Moomba, so a bunch of the pros made the trip across Australia to some of the most beautiful beaches. A group of us went to Penguin Island to see the penguins in their natural habitat. There were even dolphins swimming in the bay where we competed! Such a cool experience! 

NB: What are your favorite things to do off the water and in the off-season?

WR: My favorite hobby is hanging out with Matt and Zane. I enjoy organizing play dates for Zane with my mom friends. We like to attend Hope Church in Winter Garden. We also love hosting family and friends for meals at our home in Clermont. I am also a real estate agent, so I enjoy looking at houses with clients any chance I get! 

NB: Are there any other watersports that you enjoy?

WR: When I get the opportunity to hang out with Correct Craft engineer, Paula Sleiman Abel, for a mom and Zane play date with Paula and her son, Kai, I enjoy wake-surfing behind her Air Nautique.

I also recently had the opportunity to try E-foiling, and I really enjoyed the feeling of gliding along the water with a similar feel to snowboarding. 

NB: What does Nautique mean to you?

WR: The foundation of Nautique and Correct Craft is “Building Boats to the Glory of God.” This has played an integral part in both my professional career and my faith journey through the profound influence of Mr. Ralph Meloon. Nautique is the leader in design and innovation in our industry, and I’m honored to be in my 21st year of partnership with Nautique Boat Company! Nautique is so much more than just a boat - Nautique has given me the opportunity to live my dream life and spend my days at the lake with my family making memories together. So, I guess to me, Nautique means faith, family and living my dream! 

NB: What are your favorite Ski Nautique features?

WR: Coming out of winter in Orlando, I would have to say the heated passenger seat has been a huge blessing! Of course, I always appreciate the strong and consistent pull of the PCM engine, and I must say my Reef Blue and Steel Blue metal-flake Ski Nautique is an absolute stunner to look at!

NB: Do you train with any Team Nautique athletes?

WR: I train with my amazing husband, Matt Rini at our Ski School in Orlando, pulled exclusively by the Ski Nautique. On a daily basis, I am training alongside my son, Zane, my superstar stepdaughter, Paige, and her husband, Robert Pigozzi. We frequently have Team Nautique athletes show up at the lake for a couple sets from time to time. We always welcome visits from Neilly and Charlie Ross, Thomas Degasperi, and Erika Lang.

NB: Who has been your biggest influence or role model and why?

WR: Growing up, I had the unique opportunity to watch my Aunt Judy train in the summers. She became a 2x World Champion the year I started skiing! If you were there, you would have heard 5-year-old Whitney telling everyone, “I am going to be a world champion one day!”

Dreams become realities when we believe they are possible. Watching my aunt bounce back to training after 3 pregnancies to be a world champion again made me believe that I could do that one day too! My Aunt Judy is a really amazing lady, mom, and now she’s a grandma too! I am grateful I had her as a role model growing up! 

NB: Do you have any advice for aspiring junior waterskiers?

WR: I have a quote I came up with a long time ago: “Go for what your mind wants and don’t give up until your heart is satisfied.” I still believe this fully. I believe God puts dreams in our minds to pursue and we are called to follow those dreams enjoying the ride until 1, we accomplish them or 2, until God calls us somewhere else that changes our dreams! 

We are on this planet to shine the light of love on everyone we meet. What a beautiful opportunity we have been given to live these days in the sun and on the water! I encourage young people to not get frustrated (I wasted so many years being frustrated). Feel gratitude every day for the goals you are pursuing and work hard to achieve them. Replace any fears with faith that God has you right where you are meant to be and pursue those dreams with everything you have! When you arrive at your goals, continue to be grateful to everyone who helped you get there (because you didn’t do it alone)! 

NB: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future?

WR: I am looking forward to an awesome 2025. I plan to ski at some local pro events in Florida and I will go to the Nautique Masters in May. Then, we have Cali Pro Am mid-summer and World Championships in Italy at the end of August. I plan to attend a bunch of record rounds at my favorite sites pulled by Nautiques this summer for opportunities to run 41 too!