XIX Pan American Games

U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team members Anna Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.), Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) and Daniel Johnson (Statesville, N.C.) each won medals in respective events on Tuesday as the water ski and wakeboard competition at the XIX Pan American Games concluded at Laguna Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile.

Jaquess (1 buoy at 41 feet off/166 feet/6,710 points) and Gay (5 buoys at 38 feet off/138 feet/10,600 points) won the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in women’s overall on Tuesday, with Jaquess tallying 2,633.02 points and Gay scoring 2,599.36 points. Canada’s Paige Rini earned the silver medal, scoring 2,623.14 points.

Johnson earned the bronze medal in men’s wakeboard, tallying 78.33 points. Argentina’s Kai Ditsch won the gold (88.33 points) and Canada’s Hunter Smith earned the silver (82.67 points).

U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team members finished with a combined nine medals in respective events at the XIX Pan American Games. The U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team finished with five gold medals, one silver and three bronze during the four-day competition.

• Water Ski Results
• Water Ski Overall Results
• Wakeboard Results
• Official Pan American Games Website

Members of the 2023 U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team were: Anna Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.), Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), Erika Lang (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Nate Smith (McCordsville, Ind.). The American Water Ski Association’s International Activities Committee selected the water ski athletes based on a pre-determined selection criteria. Mary Morgan Howell (Dothan, Ala.) and Daniel Johnson (Statesville, N.C.) were selected by USA Wakeboard to represent the team as the wakeboard athletes following the 2023 Pan American Games Team Trials in April in Auburndale, Fla.

In addition to women’s overall, Jaquess won the gold medal in women’s slalom, scoring 4 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off. Canada’s Neilly Ross (3 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off) and Paige Rini (1 buoy at 39-1/2 feet off) earned the silver and bronze, respectively. Gay placed fifth (1/2 buoy at 38 feet off). Jaquess also won the gold medal in women’s jump with a distance of 171 feet. Chile’s Agustina Varas earned the silver (165 feet) and Canada’s Paige Rini earned the bronze (155 feet). Gay placed fourth (134 feet).

Jaquess, 39, has now won 19 medals, including 12 gold, in Pan American Games competition, the most among U.S. water ski athletes since the sport became part of the Pan American Games’ program in 1995.

Lang won the gold medal in women’s tricks, setting a new Pan American Games’ record 11,030 points. Canada’s Neilly Ross earned the silver (10,870 points) and Gay earned the bronze (10,210 points). Lang earned the top seed for the finals with a Pan American Games’ record score of 10,590 points in the previous day’s elimination round. The score shattered the previous mark of 9,910 points set by Peru’s Natalia Cuglievan in 2019. Lang, 27, was competing in her third Pan American Games. The native of Gilbert, Ariz., earned the silver medal in women’s tricks at the 2019 Pan American Games and the bronze medal in 2015.

Smith won the gold medal in men’s slalom, scoring a Pan American Games’ record 3 buoys at 41 feet off. The Dominican Republic’s Robert Pigozzi earned the silver (1 buoy at 41 feet off) and Brazil’s Felipe Neves Simioni earned the bronze (4 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off). Pigozzi was the defending champion and previous Pan American Games record holder with a score of 2-1/2 buoys at 41 feet off in 2019. Smith, 32, was making his second appearance at the Pan American Games, and first since 2015 when he won the gold medal in men’s slalom.

Argentina’s Eugenia De Armas won the gold medal in women’s wakeboard, scoring 83.11 points. Howell earned the silver with a score of 80.56 points and Chile’s Ignacia Holscher earned the bronze (64.89 points). De Armas broke her own Pan American Games’ record of 82.67 points set at the 2019 Pan American Games with a score of 85.00 points in the elimination round to earn the top seed for the finals.

In other events, Mexico’s Patricio Font won the gold medal in men’s tricks, scoring 11,910 points. Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn earned the silver (10,690 points) and Chile’s Matias Gonzalez earned the bronze (10,170 points). Font broke his own Pan American Games’ record of 11,580 points (2019) in the elimination round with a score of 12,090 points to earn the top seed for the finals.

Chile’s Emile Ritter won the gold medal in men’s jump with a distance of 212 feet/64.7 meters. Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn earned the silver (212 feet/64.5 meters) and Argentina’s Tobias Giorgis earned the bronze (208 feet).

Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn won the gold medal in men’s overall, scoring 2,970 points. Argentina’s Tobias Giorgis earned the silver (2,689.09 points) and Chile’s Martin Labra earned the bronze (2,671.83 points).

Chris Travers (Groveland, Fla.) was the water ski coach and Dr. Brad Harman (Alvarado, Texas) was the team physician.

The Pan American Games take place every four years, in the year preceding the Olympic Games and is the third-largest multi-sport event in the world behind the Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games.

U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team members Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), Erika Lang (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Nate Smith (McCordsville, Ind.) won gold medals and teammates Anna Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.) and Mary Morgan Howell (Dothan, Ala.) earned bronze and silver medals, respectively, on Monday as event finals got underway in water skiing and wakeboarding at the XIX Pan American Games at Laguna Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile.

Jaquess won the gold medal in women’s slalom, scoring 4 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off. Canada’s Neilly Ross (3 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off) and Paige Rini (1 buoy at 39-1/2 feet off) earned the silver and bronze, respectively. Gay placed fifth (1/2 buoy at 38 feet off). Jaquess also won the gold medal in women’s jump with a distance of 171 feet. Chile’s Agustina Varas earned the silver (165 feet) and Canada’s Paige Rini earned the bronze (155 feet). Gay placed fourth (134 feet).

Lang won the gold medal in women’s tricks, setting a new Pan American Games’ record 11,030 points. Canada’s Neilly Ross earned the silver (10,870 points) and Gay earned the bronze (10,210 points). Lang earned the top seed for the finals with a Pan American Games’ record score of 10,590 points in the previous day’s elimination round. The score shattered the previous mark of 9,910 points set by Peru’s Natalia Cuglievan in 2019. Lang, 27, was competing in her third Pan American Games. The native of Gilbert, Ariz., earned the silver medal in women’s tricks at the 2019 Pan American Games and the bronze medal in 2015.

Smith won the gold medal in men’s slalom, scoring a Pan American Games’ record 3 buoys at 41 feet off. The Dominican Republic’s Robert Pigozzi earned the silver (1 buoy at 41 feet off) and Brazil’s Felipe Neves Simioni earned the bronze (4 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off). Pigozzi was the defending champion and previous Pan American Games record holder with a score of 2-1/2 buoys at 41 feet off in 2019. Smith, 32, was making his second appearance at the Pan American Games, and first since 2015 when he won the gold medal in men’s slalom.

Argentina’s Eugenia De Armas won the gold medal in women’s wakeboard, scoring 83.11 points. Howell earned the silver with a score of 80.56 points and Chile’s Ignacia Holscher earned the bronze (64.89 points). De Armas broke her own Pan American Games’ record of 82.67 points set at the 2019 Pan American Games with a score of 85.00 points in the elimination round to earn the top seed for the finals.

In other events, Mexico’s Patricio Font won the gold medal in men’s tricks, scoring 11,910 points. Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn earned the silver (10,690 points) and Chile’s Matias Gonzalez earned the bronze (10,170 points). Font broke his own Pan American Games’ record of 11,580 points (2019) in the elimination round with a score of 12,090 points to earn the top seed for the finals.

Chile’s Emile Ritter won the gold medal in men’s jump with a distance of 212 feet/64.7 meters. Canada’s Dorien Llewellyn earned the silver (212 feet/64.5 meters) and Argentina’s Tobias Giorgis earned the bronze (208 feet).

U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team members Anna Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.), Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) and Erika Lang (Gilbert, Ariz.) each advanced to the finals in respective events on Sunday as elimination-round action in water skiing and wakeboarding continued at the XIX Pan American Games at Laguna Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile.

Lang earned the top seed for the finals of women’s tricks with a new Pan American Games record score of 10,590 points. The score shattered the previous mark of 9,910 points set by Peru’s Natalia Cuglievan in 2019. Gay also advanced to the finals of women’s tricks, earning the No. 3 seed with a score of 10,320 points.

Jaquess earned the top seed for the finals of women’s jump, soaring 162 feet. Gay also advanced to the finals, earning the No. 4 seed with a distance of 130 feet.

Monday's action includes finals in men's and women's slalom, jump and tricks, and finals in women’s wakeboard. Gay and Jaquess each advanced to the finals in women’s slalom in Saturday’s opening day action. Jaquess earned the top seed for the finals with a score of 1 buoy at 41 feet off. Gay (2 buoys at 38 feet off) earned the No. 5 seed. Also on Saturday, Nate Smith (McCordsville, Ind.) advanced to the finals of men’s slalom, earning the top seed with a score of 2 buoys at 41 feet off, and Mary Morgan Howell (Dothan, Ala.) advanced to the finals of women’s wakeboard, earning the No. 2 seed for the finals with a score of 81.67 points. Daniel Johnson (Statesville, N.C.) advanced to the finals of men’s wakeboard, earning the No. 3 seed for Tuesday’s finals with a score of 77.17 points.

U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team members Anna Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.), Mary Morgan Howell (Dothan, Ala.), Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), Daniel Johnson (Statesville, N.C.) and Nate Smith (McCordsville, Ind.) each advanced to the finals in respective events on Saturday as preliminary-round action in water skiing and wakeboarding got under way at the XIX Pan American Games at Laguna Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile.

Gay and Jaquess each advanced to the finals in women’s slalom. Jaquess earned the top seed for the finals with a score of 1 buoy at 41 feet off. Gay (2 buoys at 38 feet off) earned the No. 5 seed. The finals will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. (EDT).

Smith advanced to the finals of men’s slalom, earning the top seed with a score of 2 buoys at 41 feet off.

Howell advanced to the finals of women’s wakeboarding, earning the No. 2 seed for the finals with a score of 81.67 points.

Johnson advanced to the finals of men’s wakeboarding, earning the No. 3 seed for the finals with a score of 77.17 points.

The 2023 U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team will begin competition at the XIX Pan American Games on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Laguna Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile. Elimination rounds will be held on Saturday and Sunday with finals taking place on Monday and Tuesday. The Pan American Games take place every four years, in the year preceding the Olympic Games and is the third-largest multi-sport event in the world behind the Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games.

Water ski athletes on the 2023 U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team are: Anna Gay (Winter Garden, Fla.), Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), Erika Lang (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Nate Smith (McCordsville, Ind.). The American Water Ski Association’s International Activities Committee selected the water ski athletes based on a pre-determined selection criteria. Mary Morgan Howell (Dothan, Ala.) and Daniel Johnson (Statesville, N.C.) were selected by USA Wakeboard to represent the team as the wakeboard athletes following the 2023 Pan American Games Team Trials in April in Auburndale, Fla. Chris Travers (Groveland, Fla.) is the coach and Dr. Brad Harman (Alvarado, Texas) is serving as the team physician.

Gay will be making her Pan American Games debut in Santiago. The 23-year-old native of Winter Garden, Fla., won women’s world tricks titles in 2021, 2019 and 2015. She also won U21 women’s world tricks titles in 2019 and 2017. A rising overall water skier, Gay won the women’s overall title at the 2023 Moomba Masters in Melbourne, Australia. She also won the women’s tricks title at the 2023 Goode Water Ski National Championships. She is a former women’s world tricks record holder.

Howell, 20 will be making her second appearance at the Pan American Games after women’s wakeboarding made its debut at the 2019 Games in Lima, Peru. Howell earned the silver medal in women’s wakeboarding in 2019. Howell, a native of Dothan, Ala., qualified for the U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team by winning the Pro Women division at the 2023 Pan American Games Team Trials at the inaugural Wake Sports Festival, April 14-15, 2023, at the new Championship Water Ski Lake at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale, Fla. In addition to her silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Games, Howell most recently won the 2021 and 2022 Nautique Masters and 2022 Moomba Masters.

Jaquess, 39, has won 16 medals in Pan American Games competition, the most among U.S. water ski athletes since the sport became part of the Pan American Games’ program in 1995. In addition to the 2019 Pan American Games in which she won gold medals in women’s slalom, jumping and overall, Jaquess has competed in the 2015, 2011, 2007 and 2003 Pan American Games. She also owns Pan American Games’ records for women’s slalom (3 buoys at 41 feet off, 2019), jumping (173 feet, 2011) and overall (2,955.71 points, 2011), and she is the current women’s world slalom record holder (5 buoys at 41 feet off). In 2023 she has won women’s slalom titles at the Swiss Pro Slalom, Nautique Masters, Goode Water Ski National Championships and California Water ski Pro Am. Jaquess lives and trains in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., where she owns her own compound pharmacy.

Johnson, 18, will be making his Pan American Games debut in Santiago. Johnson, a native of Statesville, N.C., qualified for the U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team by winning the Pro Men division at the 2023 Pan American Games Team Trials at the inaugural Wake Sports Festival, April 14-15, 2023, at the new Championship Water Ski Lake at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale, Fla. Johnson, who has been competing for 14 years, says his biggest tricks are the Switch Toe 1080 and Switch KGB 540. Among Johnson’s other highlights from 2023, he won the Moomba Masters, was second overall on the Supra Pro Tour, and third overall on the Malibu Riders Experience.

Lang, 27, will be competing in her third Pan American Games. The native of Gilbert, Ariz., earned the silver medal in women’s tricks at the 2019 Pan American Games and the bronze medal in 2015. Lang could arguably be viewed as the favorite in women’s tricks at this year’s Games. She earned wins at the 2023 Moomba Masters, 2023 Swiss Pro Tricks, 2023 Nautique Masters, and the 2023 IWWF World Waterski Championships. She also is the current women’s world tricks record holder, setting the mark of 11,360 points at the 2023 Sunset Cup-Masters Last Chance Qualifier on May 19 in Groveland, Fla.

Smith, 32, will be making his second appearance at the Pan American Games, and first since 2015 when he won the gold medal in men’s slalom. The current men’s world slalom record holder with a score of 2-1/2 buoys at 43 feet off, Smith has dominated the men’s slalom scene in 2023, winning titles at the Moomba Masters, King of Darkness, Swiss Pro Slalom, Nautique Masters, Lake 38 Pro-Am, Kaiafas Battle Pro-Am, MasterCraft Shootout, Goode Water Ski National Championships and California Water Ski Pro Am. Smith is a native of McCordsville, Ind.

The U.S. Pan American Water Ski Team has won the medal count at two Pan American Games (1999 and 2003). It tied with Canada for the high count in 1995, while Canada has won the high count in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

Water skiing has been a part of the Pan American Games’ sports program since the 1995 Games in Mar Del Plato, Argentina. Men’s wakeboarding was added to the water skiing program – joining Men’s and Women’s slalom, tricks and jumping – for the first time at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Women's wakeboarding was added to the program at the 2019 Games in Lima, Peru.

The U.S. Pan American Water Ski & Wakeboard Team has won the medal count at two Pan American Games (1999 and 2003); it tied with Canada for the high count in 1995 and 2023; Canada won the high count in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. The United States has won at least three gold medals in seven of its eight Pan American Games’ appearances.