Portland Skier Competes in Water Ski National Championships

Gary Holm a local Portland Oregon Water Skier has qualified to compete in the 66th Water Ski National Championships in West Palm Beach Florida this week.
 
Holm resides in greater Portland and skies at Warman Lake qualified earlier this year to compete at Water Ski National Championships in the Mens 5 division for skiers aged 53 to 60.  Advancement to the national championships is earned through placement on the national rankings' list for respective divisions.

The five-day water ski national championship begins this Tuesday August 12th and concludes Saturday August 16th.  More than 800 water ski athletes from across the United States will compete for national titles in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall in respective age divisions and two Open divisions.

Starting time for Men 5 jumping is Thursday, Aug. 14 at 8:30 a.m. Men 5 jumping is the first event scheduled for Thursday. There are 62 competitors entered in the Mens 5 division, for skiers aged 53 to 60.

The Ski Club of the Palm Beaches has been host to the US Water Ski National Championships at Okeeheelee Park nine times. This year the Club will welcome top water skiers from arount the nation for the tenth time.  Okeeheelee Park in Palm Beach County was the site of the 1989 World Water Ski Championships; and it has also hosted the Southern Regional Water Ski Championships five times.

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The 2008 National Officials include:
 
Chief Judge Region
Dean Chappell MW
Asst. Chief Judges 
Ralph Hall E
Sally Mecham W
T Caldwell SC
Leon Larson S
 
Qualifications Judge 
John Harris E
 
Assignments Judge 
Laura Johnson W