|
AWSEF Hall Of Fame Inducts Larsen Twins, Clack
Twins Britt Larsen-Kovak and Tawn Larsen-Hahn, along with Scott Clack, were inducted into the American Water Ski Educational Foundation's Water Ski Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. In addition, five people were honored with the AWSEF's Award of Distinction. The ceremony took place at the Omni Orlando Resort in ChampionsGate, Fla.
The Larsens, who combined to win 12 national titles, announced their retirement from competitive water skiing in 2002 at age 32 following dominating careers in tricks. Tawn won world titles in 1989, 1991, 1995 and 1999, and was a seven-time Masters’ champion and six-time U.S. Open champion. She set four world records and held the world record of 8,630 points from 1999 until June 2006 when U.S. athlete Mandy Nightingale tallied 8,740 points. Britt won world titles in 1993 and 1997 and was a three-time Masters’ champion and two-time U.S. Open champion.
Clack started water skiing in 1969 and competed in slalom, tricks and jumping in Junior Boys, Boys and Men 1. He began his show skiing career in 1982 at Cypress Gardens. He competed in the freestyle jumping event on the professional tour for 16 years, where he won 17 consecutive tour stops and tour’s season championship four times. He served as show director at Cypress Gardens from 1995 to 1998 following 15 years as a skier with the attraction. Clack, an AWSEF Award of Distinction recipient in 2001, will join his mother, Barbara Heddon, in the hall of fame. Heddon was inducted in 1986 following a decorated career that spanned three decades.
The 2007 Award of Distinction recipients were: Stillman Bell, Jeff Clark, Peter Fleck, Harold Hill and C.W. "Bill" Wenner.
Bell is distinguished by his achievements in organization and administration. He was a key organizer of the 1966 Nationals in Miami; Southern Region EVP (1964-1965); AWSA Director (1969-1971); and AWSA president (1971-1972). Bell also was an early supporter of professional water skiing.
Clark is an active senior judge, administrator and committee member. He has been an active member of the Lakeland Ski Club for nearly 50 years. He also is a member of the AWSEF board of trustees.
Fleck was a member of the U.S. Elite Barefoot Water Ski Team in 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1998. He was the national Figure-8 endurance champion in 1992 and 1994. He also was president of Water Ski Entertainment Services that contracted shows in theme parks worldwide for six years.
Hill is an unusual combination of AWSA senior judge, scorer and driver. He was president of AWSA from 1994-1996 and has been an active board member of AWSEF since 1986. He currently serves on the AWSEF's Executive & Finance Committee.
Wenner has been a competitive skier since 1948 and active senior judge for more than 30 years. He was president of AWSA from 1974-1976 and is a member of the AWSEF board of trustees. He currently is serving as vice president.
"PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTOS BELOW TO INCREASE THEIR SIZE"
|
