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Trent Finlayson
Nate Smith
“The tournament wasn’t even a class-C tournament — good joke.”
“If it’s not a record (tournament), it’s not a score.”
“I wouldn’t say I could run 41 unless I did it in a record-capable tournament.”
— Excerpts from the skifly.com message board on Nate Smith’s competitive achievements.
Let the hate begin.
On Oct. 3 of this year, a 19 year old from Indianapolis, Indiana, achieved a feat many in the slalom world thought was impossible. Fresh off his rookie pro season, Nate Smith stopped by a small, class-C tournament in Maiden, North Carolina, and became the youngest skier to ever run 41 off. Not only that, he also nabbed one buoy at 43.
“They (tournament organizers) heard I was going to be in the area and asked if I’d swing by their event to help judge and ski,” explains Smith. “I wasn’t chasing a score or trying to make some statement I was just skiing — and skiing well. I understand the difference between a record event and a class-C event, but there were senior drivers and senior judges working the event, so I knew what I’d done. It happened then and it will happen again.”
What transpired at the event, however, would set off an avalanche of hate on numerous water-ski websites and discussion boards, criticizing slalom’s latest star. But Smith didn’t dwell on the online shit storm. Instead, he brushed it off and set out to rack up some solid scores in record events.
“After the North Carolina tournament,” Smith says, “I realized what I was really capable of, and people started pushing me to do some fall record tournaments in Florida.”
Smith packed up his car and headed south to the Swiss Ski School Fall Record. At the event, while skiing against the likes of Will Asher and Jason McClintock, he posted the weekend’s top scores: a 3.5 and a 5 at 41 off.
“I was really happy with the weekend,” Smith says. “I skied great and put up my best record scores.”
But once again, public outrage was lurking just a turn away. Having set a pending Men I National Record, Nate’s handle was re-measured, only to come up a quarter-inch too long. Smith, though, thinks the criticism of his skiing is overblown.
“It (the handle) was long, but that’s slalom,” he explains. “It’s funny, I run one at 43 off in a class-C, and people hate. I back that up with a 5 at 41 in a record event and people still hate. Then I score another 5 at 41 the very next weekend — what’s left to hate on now?”
I don’t feel like an outsider, but I guess I did kind of sneak in here.
Still a teenager, Smith has ascended through the pro ranks at an unprecedented rate. In June 2009, he was 59th in the IWSF rankings, with an average of 1.5 buoys at 39 off. But by November 2010, Nate had skied an average of 5 buoys at 41 off, which moves him up to 3rd in the world, behind world-champion Will Asher and world-record holder Chris Parrish. While Smith acknowledges he’s had an incredible run this year, he credits his accomplishments to nothing more than a natural evolution in his skills.
“I’ve always skied well in practice, so I don’t feel as though this has come from nowhere,” he says. “I have to admit, though, I have picked up a bunch of buoys in the last year or so. But really, the only thing I’ve changed is getting on a new ski.”
I guess, technically, I am a pro skier now. Big events, sponsors, travel.
Nate Smith turned out to be the talk of 2010. In spite of Will Asher’s domination and Chris Parrish’s new world record, the skiing public was enthralled by the unknown Indiana kid’s sensational season. And the overnight success has kind of caught Smith off-guard as well.
“This is what I’ve always wanted to do,” Smith says . “I mean, I knew I was pretty good, but once I started running 39 I started to rethink what I was capable of. I used to think getting past 3 ball at 41 was impossible, but now I know better.”
My goal is to run 41 this weekend and then I’m going to rest.
After running 39 off in 17 straight tournament rounds in fall 2010, Smith is understandably a bit tired. With his sights set on running 41 off and taking a stab at Parrish’s world record during his final tournament of the season, Nate is just steps away from a much-deserved winter break.
“I’m really close to being burned out. I’m having fun, but I just need to get away from it for a while. Living up here (Indiana) has always been an advantage for me because I’m forced to stay away from skiing for a few months. Then, when spring finally rolls around, I’m mentally and physically ready to get after it.”
By Trent Finlayson Photos: Bill Doster and Todd Ristorcelli
Nate Smith
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people are always afraid of the unknown. Nate is a unknown to most of the tournament world…………until the MI Pro event. After being around the Malibu Open this year. IMHO The pro scene is a group that embraces performance and this kid will push the best in our sport to new heights by leading from the front.
Another unknown was Cale Burdick. Cale is three years older than Nate, but he was the founder of the unknown kids from Indiana. Both Cale and Nate grew up skiing at Champion Lake in McCordsville, IN, a lake I built from scratch in 1989. Cale had never lost a Midwest Regionals in Slalom since he was 9, and Nate beat him in open Mens Slalom in Midwest Regionals this past Summer in a Run off. Both Cale and Nate have run 39.5, and capable of 41 off. Couple of amazing kids. It is for me truly like the field of dream…..build a lake….and they will come….and they have come…..congradulations, Cale and Nate…..Best Slalom Skiier in the World!!!!!!!
I saw him at the Diablo tournament and he lookes like a baby. He's the future. Very impressed. H e seemed humble and a nice kid.
Nate has won Nationals 3 times, (Boys 1, 3, and Mens 1) and Midwest Regional Champion around 11 times (he has never lost at Regionals). He is not a loud mouth cocky kid, he just loves to ski, and loves competition. He has always had his skiing do the talking. The post of his recent tournament scores were by others, not him. Many big tournaments he has posted PB. I know boys 3 and Mens 1 were PB's when he won.
For the record he Won Mens 1 Nationals with 1 at 41 at 18 years old. 2009 Nationals results here. And BTW I heard it was an easy 39 from people who where there.
2009 Nationals results link http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/divisions/3event…
His 39’s started to come even easier this year and he started to figured out 41 toward the end of the year. He may not be well known prior to this year, but everyone in the Midwest has known who Nate is for a long time. I am excited to see how he carries over into 2011 and if his 41 continues to get more consistent.
Paul Miller
The wimps that hide behind the blogosphere are nutless freaks. I saw Nate at the Allendale Michigan pro stop. He pushed Asher to the end. If Parrish's staged record stands, then Nate in a Class C is fine with me. My guess is that chronic self-flaggelator Risto is behind the hate. Dude is out of control.
Brilliant! CP's record was staged. Like – did he not really run it or something. Records are too stringently reviewed and challenged. "Staged" – give me a break. And, you "guess" TR is behind the hate. So, let's tear up someone's name based on an your guess. Get real dude!
Knowing Nate Smith personally, he is truly a class act. He has the ability to not only be the worlds greatest up and coming slalom skier, but more importantly, the ability to be a positive role model for young upcoming athletes. We will be cheering him on again this year. Also, Nate, we are proud to have you skiing behind a Nautique. Keep up the good work!
I drove for Nate several times in Florida @ several different Record Tournament sites. The young lad is for real…….as a lot of comments that have been made, maybe due to his size, but he light on the
rope…. a slalom technician!
I really enjoyed reading because u have wrote a excellent remarks in this article. Excellent job!