Saskatchewan wakeboarders ready for world championship test

SASKATOON, Sask. — Three athletes from Kipabiskau Water Sports Club are set to represent Saskatchewan on the world stage as they travel to Pine Mountain, Ga., for the WWA Wakeboard World Championships, scheduled for Sept. 9-13 at Robin Lake.

The athletes are Jacob Clunie of Clavet and brothers Mason and Marin Wempe-Monz of Saskatoon, who earned their spots through strong performances at provincial and national championships.

Clunie and Marin Wempe-Monz will compete in the junior men’s 14-18 division, while Mason Wempe-Monz will compete in the boys’ 10-13 division.

Danny Gray, president of Kipabiskau Water Sports Club and vice-president of Sport for All with Water Ski Wakeboard Saskatchewan, told SaskToday the athletes qualified through their performances at provincial and national championships.

All three riders bring impressive résumés into the world championships.

Clunie won gold at provincials and placed fourth at nationals this season. Last year, he finished 10th at the WWA Wakeboard World Championships in the boys’ 10-13 division, Gray said.

Mason Wempe-Monz enters the event as a two-time national champion and provincial gold medallist.

Marin Wempe-Monz is a three-time national champion who won bronze at provincials while competing through a knee injury. He later finished fifth at nationals after entering the finals as the top qualifier.

Both Clunie and Marin Wempe-Monz overcame significant injuries this season, with Clunie returning from a broken arm and Marin recovering from a knee injury, Gray said.

Clunie has been wakeboarding for five years, while Mason Wempe-Monz has participated in the sport for seven years after getting his start at age six. Marin Wempe-Monz began wakeboarding at age six and now has 11 years of experience.

For the athletes, competing at the world championships offers an opportunity to test themselves against elite competitors from around the globe.

“Competing at the world championships is a huge opportunity because we get to ride with some of the best up-and-coming riders in the sport,” Clunie said. “It’s a fun experience and a chance to get to know riders from all over the world.”

Marin and Mason Wempe-Monz described the event as a great opportunity to measure yourself against the best wakeboarders in your age division from around the world.

Gray said Kipabiskau Water Sports Club has played a key role in the athletes’ development.

“Kipabiskau Water Sports Club is where these kids have grown up learning to ride,” he said. “The club has a strong sense of community and has been recognized at past competitions for its sportsmanship and team spirit. The team has become more like a family than simply a group of competitors.”

The club introduced Mason and Marin Wempe-Monz to both wakeboarding and water skiing through its annual water sports clinic, where they received coaching and developed friendships within the sport.

The club has also supported high-performance athlete development by hosting Wakeboard Provincials for much of the past decade and running high-performance camps in partnership with Water Ski Wakeboard Saskatchewan.

According to Gray, the club provides athletes with access to experienced coaches, specialized equipment and training opportunities that help them progress in the sport.

Wakeboarding has also opened doors beyond competition.

Marin and Mason Wempe-Monz said the sport has given them opportunities to travel in the United States and overseas for training and competition. They also expressed gratitude for the support of Kipabiskau Water Sports Club, Water Ski Wakeboard Saskatchewan, Sask Sport, Saskatchewan Lotteries and sponsors Backside Boardshop, Martin Motor Sports and Jobu Outdoors.

Clunie said he draws inspiration from Humboldt native Rusty Malinoski, one of Canada’s most accomplished professional wakeboarders.

According to Gray, Malinoski has mentored members of Saskatchewan’s high-performance wakeboard program, hosting training sessions in Florida and sharing his experience competing internationally.

“Rusty’s willingness to support and coach these athletes has had a tremendous impact on Jacob and many other young riders in Saskatchewan,” Gray said.

The athletes are travelling this week ahead of competition at the WWA Wakeboard World Championships, where they will compete against some of the world’s top young wakeboarders.