FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charlton, Mass. – July 6, 2026 – The New England Water Ski Collective is proud to host the Massachusetts State Slalom Championships on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Buffumville Dam and Lake in Charlton, Massachusetts.
With the tournament now just over a week away, the Collective is preparing to welcome athletes, officials, families, and spectators for a major return of championship water skiing in Massachusetts. The event marks the first time in many years that the Massachusetts State Championships will be held as a sanctioned tournament, and follows the Collective’s initial spring announcement that it would bring the event back to Central Massachusetts.
“This is a big moment for our club and for competitive water skiing in Massachusetts,” said a representative of the New England Water Ski Collective. “We are incredibly excited to welcome everyone to Buffumville next week for what we believe will be a memorable day on the water.”
The tournament is an AWSA East Region sanctioned event and is also part of the Northeast Slalom Series (NESS) Tour. The competition will feature approximately 30 of the top slalom skiers in the Northeast Region, who will be competing not only for Massachusetts State Championship titles, but also for important NESS standings points and qualification opportunities for the AWSA Regional and National Championships.
“This event represents everything we love about the sport: competition, community, and the chance to grow water skiing here in New England,” the Collective said. “To bring the State Championships back, especially at a site like Buffumville, is something our members and volunteers are very proud of.”
Slalom skiing is one of the most popular and recognizable disciplines in water skiing. Competitors ski on a single ski through a course of six buoys, with the rope shortening after each successful pass. As the rope gets shorter and speeds increase, the challenge becomes more demanding, requiring strength, precision, timing, and control.
All Abilities – One Passion
The New England Water Ski Collective is best known for its Adaptive Water Ski Program and Veterans events, but the organization has also been steadily growing its Competitive Division over the past several years. Guided by its mission of “All Abilities, One Passion,” the club’s Adaptive, Competitive, and Recreational divisions work together to make water skiing more accessible, welcoming, and sustainable across the region.
Many members of the Collective’s competition team are also key volunteers and supporters of the Adaptive Water Ski Program, helping teach, drive, spot, organize, and create opportunities for athletes of all abilities to experience the sport.
“Our divisions may serve different parts of the water ski community, but they are all connected by the same purpose,” the Collective said. “All Abilities, One Passion is more than a motto for us. It is how our members show up for each other, whether they are competing at a championship, volunteering at an adaptive clinic, helping a veteran get back on the water, or teaching someone to ski for the first time.”
Despite being a young organization, the Collective already has members who have qualified for the AWSA Regional and National Championships, reflecting the growth of its competitive program and the dedication of its athletes and volunteers.
In addition to its Adaptive and Competitive divisions, the New England Water Ski Collective offers recreational and learn-to-ski programs at its primary sites in Webster and Charlton, Massachusetts, helping skiers of all ages and abilities experience the sport.
“Our goal is to build a water ski community where everyone has a place,” the Collective said. “Whether someone is chasing a personal best, preparing for Regionals, joining an adaptive clinic, or getting up on skis for the very first time, we want them to feel supported and excited to be part of the sport.”
About the New England Water Ski Collective
The New England Water Ski Collective is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to making water skiing and water sports accessible to all. Through its Adaptive, Competitive, and Recreational ski programs, the organization works to remove barriers to participation, support athletes of all abilities, and grow the sport throughout the New England region.
As a nonprofit, the Collective relies on the generosity of donors, community partners, sponsors, and volunteers to help expand programming, host events, and provide opportunities for skiers of all ages and abilities.
For more information about the Massachusetts State Slalom Championships or the New England Water Ski Collective, please contact:
New England Water Ski Collective
(774) 495-0165
comp@newenglandwaterski.org
www.NewEnglandWaterSki.org
Wher is the best place to watch? Time it starts? Admission fee?
No admission fee. The event will start at 8am on the Dam side of the lake, and the Dam is probably the best place for people to view the event.