We have created this petition to show the school that we do not stand with their choice to stifle our opportunity as students to explore and participate in sports of our choice. If you feel as passionate about this as we do, please sign this petition to help save the history and future for the Iowa State Water Ski Club. 

Iowa State University made the decision to turn our sports club into an enthusiastic club in July 2022. The University explained it as: “The Waterski Club is a high-risk club and is a prohibitively high-risk club due to its activity in uncontrolled hazardous environments. The Waterski Club will become an enthusiastic non-sports club organization.” The University considers an “uncontrolled” environment to be one that is off-campus and not controlled by the school. This ultimately led to the decision to designate the Iowa State Water Ski Club as an enthusiastic club, not allowed to practice or compete while affiliated with the school.

During our meeting with the Office of Risk Management to teach them about our sport, we were met with indifference and ignorance. After 35 years of proudly representing this school, we were not given the same pride while discussing our sport. This team has a deep rooted culture and community that the school has chosen to ignore in this ill-informed decision.

Throughout the meeting, we discussed our safety record and that of collegiate water skiing. Similar to many other activities, even with diligent safety protocols in place, there is a risk of injury when participating in water skiing. During the 2021 calendar year, there were 8 injuries in 5,909 rides during National Collegiate Water Ski Association events; a rate of 0.14%. These injuries were strains to lower extremities (knees, ankles), two concussions and one laceration.

Furthermore, the Iowa State Water Ski Club was formed in 1987. We are a well known team that has qualified for the National Tournament in each of the past 10 years. We have a roster with approximately 30 students, and the majority of them learned how to ski during their time at Iowa State. We practice at Dream Lakes Estates 11 miles south of campus. The two lakes are each 2,000’ long and 250’ wide and were designed specifically for competition water skiing. 

Our current members consist of athletes that have won the D2 National Collegiate Trick title, Regional Overall Titles, numerous Conference medals, and numerous All-Star awards. We also have alumni who have obtained their Open Rating and are now competing in the Professional Water Ski Tournaments. Some of the accomplishments of these alumni include: Top 3 at 35+ World’s, Top 20 at World’s, AWSA National Jump title, AWSA National Slalom title, and a Midwest Regional Jump Record. Our alumni have also competed in Malibu Open, IWWF Pan Americans, and other numerous professional tournaments.      

If you consider Iowa State’s motto, “Choose Your Adventure,” to be relevant to the water ski team, please sign the petition. The school needs to recognize the dignity of risk that comes with being involved in sports.