Orillia’s Jordan Long was named male MVP at the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation’s World Water Ski Show Tournament in Florida last week.
“It’s the peak of the industry,” he said. “I’m extremely grateful.”
Long was two years old when he began water skiing. Now 29, he is a member of the Canadian National Show Team.
“My grandfather was a show skier and so was my father,” he explained. “I like it because there are a ton of disciplines. You never get bored.”
In 2006, Long began competing in wakeboard tournaments. Ten years later, he transitioned to show skiing, which is where the money is, he says.
The Twin Lakes Secondary School graduate has been on the Canadian team since 2012 and has been to every world water ski championship since. The team has finished as high as third in previous years. This year, it finished fourth.
His goal at this point in his career is to help grow the sport.
“It’s an expensive sport,” said Long, who was named the top show ski athlete of the year in 2019 by Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada. “You really do need a family base that is willing to put the money into the sport.”
He is a member of the Show Ski Canada council. He and his partner are also heavily involved with the development team.
“It’s an outlet for people to enter the sport and see what it’s all about,” he said. “They can join if they like it and will eventually move on to the competitive team if they get to that level.”
Long said it’s an honour to represent his country at global events and to help to grow the sport around Canada.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s a sport that I love deeply, and to be able to represent our country is extremely honourable.”
He says he would not have been able to have such success without the support of his family.
“My grandmother just passed away yesterday morning,” he said. “She was, 100 per cent, the biggest water ski supporter ever.”
Since Long was a young child, his grandmother never missed one of his competitions.
“Even this past week, when I competed down south, she watched every second of it on a livestream,” he said.
Long has also been faithfully supported by his father and grandfather.
“I could have never made it this far without all their support,” he said.
The next World Water Ski Show Tournament will take place in March 2025 in Australia. Long is already starting to plan and fundraise for the event.
“The behind-the-scenes work is outrageous,” he said. “We love it, which is the reason why we stick to it.”
