Williams Lake’s Conley Pinette soared to a gold medal this past week, Jan. 5-8, at the IWWF World Junior Water Ski Championships in San Bernardo, Chile.
Conley was competing as a member of Team Canada and jumped 190 feet (58 metres) in the prelims at the international event, setting a new Canadian record in the process. It was also the third-longest jump ever at the World Junior Championships. He went on to jump 55.9-metres in the final to become the world champion.
“I was very proud to be representing Canada and Williams Lake,” Conley told the Tribune. “It was a goal of mine since I was young to win the Worlds. The tournament site was fantastic and the people of Chile were very friendly and hospitable.”
Members of Conley’s family were by his side in Chile cheering him on, and said they couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments.
“When you have that moment as a parent that you are so proud of your child that your heart literally bursts,” said his mom, Leigh, on Facebook following her son’s feat. “My heart is so full and proud … You deserve this, Conley, as you have worked so hard to achieve your goal.”
Conley’s gold medal in jump helped Canada to the overall title, competing in a field of 21 countries and 91 waterski athletes.
In preparation for the event, Conley trained in Florida with Canada’s national team throughout the fall and told the Tribune in December his favourite, and best event, is jump and he was hoping to score well in Chile.
“I’ve always enjoyed it the most and figured it out pretty easily,” Conley said.
As for having the opportunity to be a part of Team Canada, Conley said it was an honour to be one of just six Canadians to represent his country.
In November, Conley also competed as a member of Team Canada at the 2016 Pan American Championships, held in Chapala, Mexico, where they also won the overall title.
There, Conley, in the under-17 boys division, set a new Pan American Games record and won gold in jump with a 176-foot jump. He was also fifth in tricks and seventh in slalom, winning the overall silver medal.
Conley has also qualified for the Junior Masters as one of the top five in the world, which will take place in May of 2017.
In 2015 Conley was the open men’s Canadian national champion and the 2015 junior men’s jump, trick and overall Canadian champion.
Conley added he’d like to give a special thanks to Scott Nelson for his generous sponsorship, which he used towards training for the World Junior Water Ski Championships.