At home on the water

Cole and Taryn Grant continue to make their mark in the world of water skiing.

The siblings – who are both currently based in Orlando, Florida – recently received recognition from Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada.

Cole, 28, won the 2020 WSWC Coach of the Year award and Taryn, 26, won the 2020 WSWC Female Waterskiing Athlete of the Year award. The brother and sister duo are from Southland Park.

According to the organization’s website, Cole – who is currently enrolled in a coaching diploma program – has managed to continue working with many of Canada’s next generation of junior skiers during the pandemic to prepare them for a number international events coming this year.

In response to the recent announcement, Cole said Spear he is honored to win the award.

“It is a great honor to have won the WSWC Steve Bush Coach of the Year award,” said Cole. “It’s an award that has been won by so many great coaches, including my mentors.”

Cole is currently a coach at the Matt Rini Water Ski School in Orlando, a stimulating environment in which he thrives.

“We have people coming from all over to come and ski with us for a few days to a few months at a time,” Cole said.

“We have people who are learning and just starting to become veteran professional athletes and world record holders. I am also part of the Canadian National Team staff who take me to international events supporting the Canadian National Team skiers, and I am also involved with the Junior National Team. So my training involves both Canadian teams and individual athletes from around the world at our school in Orlando. ”

“I am fortunate to love what I do and can spend time by the lake every day helping people learn, grow and achieve their goals,” he added.

Cole said that due to the pandemic, many events have been canceled or postponed this year, which means 2021 is shaping up to be a busy year for international events.

Last year, officials say, Taryn set a new Canadian women’s open record of 53.2 meters and was ranked fifth in the world at the time of publication. She said she was also honored to receive the award.

“When I found out it was a shock to me as I had no idea, but it’s definitely an honor to receive the award to know who has received it in the past,” said Taryn .

A regular at the competition, Taryn has represented Canada at international events and in May recorded a 48.2-meter jump at the US Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament held in May.

And having now achieved two podiums as a professional skier, Taryn hopes for a lot more in her career. Her passion for water skiing, as well as that of her brother, dates back to childhood, when her family spent time in their cabin and on the lake. His parents are also both involved in sports.

“Growing up, as a young skier, having him as a family helped me enter, and it created a passion for me,” said Taryn.

“Now I love being a part of the water ski community and I love the people involved in the sport. Everyone knows each other, and while you are sometimes competitors, you are also friends. It is a special community that has allowed me to travel the world. I embrace the sport with my mind, body and soul, and it’s also having Cole by my side. ”

“Water skiing has been my life and my passion, and I volunteer, referee and help organize events when I can. I try to encourage participation, and it can be a sport for everyone. you don’t have to be young to start, ”she added.

Taryn is looking forward to competing at the next world championships, which will be held in October in Florida – and potentially maximizing the home advantage: “If it’s a lake you know you can have an advantage if you train there. . ”

The two siblings were a key part of the water ski team at Lafayette University, which they attended after leaving high school in Winnipeg.

Cole is a graduate of Linden Christian School, which Taryn also attended before graduating from the University of Winnipeg Collegiate.

Go online to wswc.ca for more information.

Simon fuller
Community reporter The Lance

Simon Fuller is The Lance community reporter. Canstar’s senior reporter, he joined the team in June 2009 to write for The Sou’wester, which was then the new Canstar family newspaper.

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