To close out the ’23 season, host Tyler Boyd talks with the world slalom record holder, Nate Smith. They recap his success on the Waterski Pro Tour, where he earned the top spot. Plus, what it will take to run 43-off, his approach in the slalom course, and Nate’s consistency amongst the best in the sport.

2023 World Disabled Overall Champion Connor Poggetto isn’t an athlete defined by his disability. A member of four USA Adaptive Water Ski Teams, Poggetto and USA Adaptive Water Ski Team Coach Brian Detrick join host Tyler Boyd to talk Team USA, adaptive skiing, and the goals that Poggetto has for himself both on and off the water.

Be sure to check out Episode 22 of The Water Skier magazine's Hit It! podcast, presented by Visit Central Florida. Hall of Fame water ski coach Jack Travers and his son, professional slalom skier Jon Travers, catch up with host Tyler Boyd to discuss the upcoming IWWF World Waterski Championships, the ins and outs of operating a storied water ski school, Jon’s continued success of the professional circuit, and much more from the world of water skiing. 

Fresh off her first pro victory of 2023 and the most recent female athlete to run 39-1/2 off, rising slalom superstar Allie Nicholson catches up with host Tyler Boyd to discuss her love of water skiing, her breakout 2023 season, her role with The Water Ski Broadcasting Company, and much more. 

What do you do after a 16-year football career?

Former NFL kicker David Akers joins the Hit It! Podcast to talk about his unlikely journey from football kicker to slalom skier, the similarities between the two disciplines, and how his competitive drive continues to fuel his endeavors today.

The only water skier to win pro tour championship titles in both slalom and jumping, Carl Roberge earned more than 100 professional victories, including 21 U.S. Open titles and eight Masters championships in slalom, jumping and overall. Incredibly, in 1996, he went undefeated in jumping on the pro tour.

Carl shares his memories about being a member of six U.S. teams, how technology has made the sport evolve, and how his time in the gym helped elevate him on the water.  

While most may know her as Miss America 2023, this nuclear engineering student at the University of Wisconsin destresses by water skiing. Grace shares with us her experiences as a member of the Wisconsin team, how water skiing prepared her for the trials of the tiara, and her plans for the future.

This episode of The Water Skier Magazine’s Hit It! Podcast is proudly sponsored by Radar Skis. Radar was founded and led by skiers who have instilled the passion to push beyond the norm and make better products. We never stop dreaming of what’s next and what we can do to make skiing even better. Our constant desire to push the sport leads us to where we are now. We have fun creating every day so you can have fun on the water. See the full range of Radar goods at radarskis.com. Just go ski.  

One of the dominant overall water ski athletes of her era, 20-time U.S. National Champion Rhoni Barton-Bischoff joins the Hit It! podcast to talk about how coaching has extended her water ski career and the business behind coordinating the prestigious Nautique Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament.

One of the most sought after coaches in three-event water skiing, Chet Raley joins the Hit It Podcast to talk technique, his methodology and how his passion for the sport keeps him young.

While he’ll be inducted into the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in April, Jimmy Siemers is far from finished in the world of water skiing. The three-time world record holder and three-time world champion joins us to talk about not only his Hall of Fame career, but where his passion for the sport is taking him now.