USA Water Ski

Name

USA Water Ski

Legal name

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports

Website

https://sharelifeonthewater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Sports Governing Body

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF)

Keywords

• Water ski governing body
• Recreational water sports
• Competitive water skiing events
• Learn-to-ski clinics
• Sports membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburndale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Supporting Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to The Water Skier magazine, gear discounts (average savings of $500+ annually), monthly content, and community connection. New supporting membership available for $20/year.
2. Basic Skills Clinic Sanctioning: Affiliated clubs pay $30 + 3% processing fee to sanction Basic Skills clinics. Cost covers clinic guidelines, online guest membership registration, and national marketing support.
3. Event Sanctioning Fees: Fees for hosting sanctioned tournaments, practices, clinics, and exhibitions. Grassroots sanctioning fees apply for competitive events.
4. Water Skier Magazine Subscription: Magazine subscription included with membership. Non-members can receive a free digital issue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports operates as the national governing body for organized water skiing in the United States, delivering annual memberships ($20/year) and digital supporting memberships that include The Water Skier magazine and a discount program. It sanctions and supports competitive and recreational events (Basic Skills, Pass the Handle, Grassroots, Adaptive clinics) through a network of affiliated clubs and a proprietary Event Management System, serving over 18,000 active members across nine towed water-sport disciplines.

Product overview

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is the national governing body for organized water skiing in the United States and operates primarily as a membership organization, not a traditional software product company. Its portfolio consists of membership tiers (Supporting Membership and Digital Supporting Membership at $20/year), The Water Skier Magazine (print and digital), an Event Management System for affiliated clubs to sanction and manage events, and several water sports programs including Basic Skills Events, Pass The Handle (free learn-to-ski), Grassroots Events, Adaptive Learn to Water Ski Clinics, and an Annual Awards Banquet. These offerings serve over 18,000 active members across nine sport disciplines and are connected through an affiliated club network spanning local to international competition levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pass the Handle: Free learn to ski event program, formerly known as Get on the Water, focusing on introducing new participants to waterskiing and wake sports
• Basic Skills Events
• Grassroots Events
• The Water Skier Magazine
• USA Water Ski Awards Banquet

Products and services

• Supporting Membership Annual $20/year membership that provides a subscription to The Water Skier Magazine, average $500+ in annual gear-discount savings, exclusive monthly email content, and member-only resources and certificates. It is targeted at water-sports enthusiasts who want to support and stay connected to the sport.
• Digital Supporting Membership Digital-only membership tier providing a digital subscription to The Water Skier Magazine and access to the Discount Program for savings on water-sports equipment and other purchases. It is targeted at water-sports enthusiasts who prefer digital access over print.
• The Water Skier Magazine The official publication of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, delivering industry news, athlete profiles, and product reviews. Available as a print subscription bundled with Supporting Membership or as a free digital issue for non-members.
• Basic Skills Events Entry-level learn-to-water-ski events hosted by USA-WSWS affiliated clubs for new participants, featuring a $10 one-day Guest Pass (often covered by the club), a Club-Pays Guest Pass option, and Member-Only clinic templates. Includes the Basic Skills Challenge Series for beginners and novice instructors.
• Grassroots Events Fun, friendly, family-oriented sanctioned competitive events for water-ski and wake-sports athletes of all skill levels, designed to introduce participants to tournament-style competition in a low-pressure environment. Clubs pay grassroots sanctioning fees per event.
• Event Management System (Club Dashboard) A proprietary online platform for USA-WSWS affiliated clubs to create and manage sanctioned events (Basic Skills Clinics, Pass the Handle, Grassroots), handle participant registrations, process payments, build custom registration pages, and submit post-event reports. Accessed via the Club Dashboard.
• Adaptive Learn to Water Ski Clinics Free water-ski clinics for veterans and service members with disabilities, organized in partnership with host organizations including the Missouri Disabled Water Ski Association and C.A.R.D.S. Provides adaptive water-skiing instruction and equipment access at no cost to participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average member savings of $500+ annually on gear discounts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• C.A.R.D.S.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 September 2024Host organization for Veterans Adaptive Learn to Water Ski Clinic in Oroville, CA. Provides adaptive water skiing instruction for veterans with disabilities.
• Missouri Disabled Water Ski AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2024Host organization for Veterans Adaptive Learn to Water Ski Clinics. Provides adaptive water skiing instruction for veterans with disabilities.
• Visit Central FloridacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of Get on the Water programs and Awards Banquet. Supports life on the water initiatives and water ski sport growth from the ground up.
• NautiquecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBoat manufacturer sponsor supporting Pass the Handle programs and Basic Skills Events. Logo featured on event materials.
• MasterCraftcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBoat manufacturer partner supporting Pass the Handle programs. Featured sponsor of water sports events.
• Malibu BoatscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBoat manufacturer partner supporting Pass the Handle programs and water sports community.
• Ski SafeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoat insurance partner offering member discounts through the membership discount program.
• Discount MarineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarine products retailer offering member discounts on water sports gear.
• D3 SkisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki manufacturer sponsor offering member discounts through the membership discount program.
• Radar SkisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWakeboard and ski manufacturer offering member discounts. Featured at headquarters Action WaterSports pro shop.
• MasterlineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater sports equipment manufacturer and sponsor offering member discounts.
• OJ PropsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPropeller manufacturer sponsor offering member discounts.
• International Waterski & Wakeboard FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal governing body for water skiing and wakeboarding. USA-WSWS is a member organization representing the U.S.
• Pan American Sports OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinental multi-sport organization. USA-WSWS is affiliated for Pan American Games representation.
• United States Olympic CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Olympic Committee. USA-WSWS is affiliated as the governing body for water skiing in the U.S.
• American Water Ski Association (AWSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscipline organization for competitive water skiing. One of several sport discipline organizations affiliated with USA-WSWS.
• American Barefoot Club (ABC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscipline organization for barefoot skiing. One of several sport discipline organizations affiliated with USA-WSWS.
• American Kneeboard Association (AKA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscipline organization for kneeboard skiing. One of several sport discipline organizations affiliated with USA-WSWS.
• National Collegiate Water Ski Association (NCWSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollegiate water ski governing body. One of several sport discipline organizations affiliated with USA-WSWS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• USA Swimming: U.S. National Governing Body for competitive swimming with a similar membership + event sanctioning + affiliated-club structure. Operates as the Olympic-affiliated NGB for an aquatic discipline, mirroring USA-WSWS's governance, sanctioning, and certification model.
• USA Water Polo: U.S. National Governing Body for water polo operating an analogous membership-plus-affiliated-clubs model for an aquatic discipline. Shares USA-WSWS's water-sport NGB positioning, Olympic affiliation, and grassroots learn-to-play programs.
• USA Surfing: U.S. National Governing Body for surfing, governing a towed/water sport with membership tiers, sanctioned competitions, and an affiliated-club network. Closely comparable in sport category (towed water sports) and NGB governance model.
• USA Track & Field: U.S. National Governing Body for track and field with a comparable membership organization, event sanctioning, affiliated-club network, and athlete certification pipeline. Closely parallels USA-WSWS's operating model across a different sport discipline.
• USA Sailing: U.S. National Governing Body for sailing — another water-sport NGB with membership tiers, affiliated yacht/sailing clubs, sanctioned regattas, and instructor certification. The closest water-sport analog in structure and audience.
• USA Canoe/Kayak: U.S. National Governing Body for canoe/kayak with the same Olympic-affiliated, membership-driven, sanctioned-event structure covering water-based disciplines. Directly analogous in operating model to USA-WSWS.

Others

• National Marine Manufacturers Association: U.S. recreational boating industry trade association representing boat and marine-engine manufacturers, including several of USA-WSWS's core sponsors (Nautique, MasterCraft, Malibu Boats). Industry ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee: National umbrella body coordinating all U.S. Olympic sport NGBs, including USA-WSWS. Provides governance oversight, funding access, and the broader NGB framework within which USA-WSWS operates.
• International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF): Global governing body for water skiing and wakeboard sports; USA-WSWS is a member organization. Operates one level above USA-WSWS and provides the international federation framework, world championships, and rule-setting function.

Regional players

• Water Ski & Wakeboard Canada: Canadian national governing body for water skiing and wake sports with the same membership + sanctioned-event + affiliated-club model across nine disciplines. Closest international analog serving a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/explore/tags/wearewaterski
• Xx.com/usawaterski
• Facebookfacebook.com/USAWaterSki
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usa-water-ski

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about USA Water Ski