CLOSE
Sign up to get news on contests, pro events, new products and special offers.
WATERSKI MagazineAmerica's best overall skier is a celebrity everywhere except in his own country.
Question: Who is the top-ranked men's overall skier in the U.S. and fourth-ranked in the world?
If you answered Scott Smith, then you're miles ahead of the country in little-known water-ski facts. If you didn't know the answer, then you might see why the 27-year-old North Carolina native says, “I think I've been neglected.”
Smith has medaled at every U.S. Nationals since 1983, has won U.S. Nationals and Collegiate Nationals overall titles and currently ranks behind only Patrice Martin of France and Canadians Jaret and Kreg Llewellyn in the world overall rankings. He has jumped 203 feet, tricked over 9,000 points and run two at 39 in slalom. But Smith has never skied at the Worlds and until this year had never been invited to the Masters. He's gotten little attention in the U.S. and is actually better known abroad.
“Overall skiing is bigger in other countries,” he says. “In the U.S. we tend to attract specialists because of the pro tour. The competition is so stiff that people give up three-event skiing. I know 95 percent or more of the pro skiers were originally three-eventers. To make a living or to be on top you need to devote time to one event.”
But Smith's passion is for the trifecta. His aggressiveness at the 1997 British Masters, in fact, made a lasting impression on former Water Ski Canada president Vern Oberg.
“It was windy and conditions were terrible,” says Oberg. “We were about to cancel the thing, but he was the first skier in the finals out there. He wanted to get a good jump score so he could get a good overall score. He jumped almost 200 feet.”
The next skier bailed at the ramp three times, and the event was cancelled due to wind.
Smith might be underrated because he isn't among the top 10 in any single event. His consistency in all three events has catapulted his world ranking in overall, an event that's lost its luster in the years since Sammy Duvall dominated it.
“I'm the number-one overall skier in the United States; I mean, there's nobody really that's even close. It's kind of degrading and makes you feel … cheated, I guess, is the best word.”
One constant in Smith's training is his 24-year-old sister, Starlotte, who has followed Scott to the medals stand at Nationals the past 12 years. They live and ski together year-round – at home and at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
“We went to Louisiana for college because we missed each other,” says Starlotte.
“I've seen the world because of water skiing. It's helped me grow into who I am and given me dear friends I'll probably have forever.”
Remember the name: Scott Smith. He's the number-one overall skier in the country.
