CHARLTON, Mass., July 13, 2026 – The 2026 Massachusetts State Slalom Championships will take place on Wednesday, July 15, at Buffumville Dam and Lake in Charlton, bringing 33 of the top water ski athletes from across the Northeast together for a full day of championship competition.

This marks the first time in roughly 10 years that Massachusetts has hosted a state water ski tournament for slalom skiing, making it an exciting milestone for the sport in the Commonwealth. The event is also part of the North East Slalom Series Championship Tour, a nine-stop series that stretches from New Hampshire to Virginia and features many of the region’s top skiers.

Spectators are invited to attend and experience a day of high-level tournament skiing up close. The best place to watch the action and meet the athletes is at the boat launch, located at 229 Oxford Road, Charlton, MA. Additional viewing is available from the dam and along the shoreline near the ranger station at 48 Old Oxford Road, Charlton, MA.

Christina, a Collective Member competes in Slalom at a tournament held in Pangea, NY on July 4thFans will have the opportunity to watch some of the best skiers in the region, including competitors capable of skiing at 39 off, a rope length considered near professional level. The event will also showcase the technology used in modern tournament skiing, both in and out of the boats. Staff from the New England Water Ski Collective, along with senior staff from the North East Region, will be on site throughout the day to answer questions and help educate spectators about three-event skiing.

The event also reflects the New England Water Ski Collective’s “All Abilities, One Passion” philosophy. The Collective’s tournament team regularly supports its Adaptive Division through volunteer service, while the Adaptive Division helps shine a broader light on the sport as a whole and encourages the community to come out and support not only the fun that skiing brings, but also the good that comes from it. Together, both sides of the organization help grow awareness, inclusion, and opportunity in water skiing across the region.

The New England Water Ski Collective is thrilled to help bring three-event competition skiing back to Massachusetts. This event is designed not only for dedicated skiers, but also for anyone interested in learning more about the sport and seeing championship-level competition in person.

The New England Water Ski Collective wishes to give special thanks go to the Army Corps of Engineers for allowing the event to be held at their beautiful site and facilities at Buffumville.

S-Lines USA, Zmetra Clear Span Structures, and New England Boat Company of Webster are serving as lead sponsors of the competition. S-Lines USA will be providing skier ropes and additional safety gear for the event, Zmetra Clear Span Structures is providing the tents and athlete setup areas, and New England Boat Company is supplying boats for event safety as well as for the scorers and judges.

Additional sponsors supporting the New England Water Ski Collective’s Adaptive and Competitive Divisions this season include The Mark Fidrych Foundation, the Massachusetts Department of Outdoor Recreation, Move United Sports, The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Arbella Insurance, author Karen Michalson, Hazard Marine, Team Hoyt New England, Reardon Insurance, Awning Cleaning Industries, Ski-It-Again.com, Pakachoag Acres Day Care Center, Doug Russell Marine, The Hanover Insurance Group, Foxy Travel and FTI Coach, Howe Lumber, Swissturn USA, as well as many personal supporters.

The following is the official running order of participants for the event:

Group 1

  1. Mia Tiller (W1)
  2. Sydney Zmetra (W1)
  3. Christina Fluckiger (W2)
  4. Janet Pearl (W6)
  5. Donna Jenks (W7)
  6. Scott Behner (M4)
  7. Steven Kreft (M4)
  8. Derrick St. Laurent (M4)
  9. Dana Hinman (M4)
  10. Ali Smith (M5)
  11. Jeff Sargent (M5)
  12. Patrick Morrill (M5)
  13. Liam Menard (M1)
  14. Jack Decker (M1)
  15. Rui Afonso (M8)
  16. Thomas White (M9)
  17. Dennis Jenks (M9)

Group 2

  1. Levi Hinman (B1)
  2. Theodore Ervin (B2)
  3. Aaron Kline (B2)
  4. James Ervin (B3)
  5. Ryan Ervin (B4)
  6. Kristina Kreft (G5)
  7. Jared Bushnell (M2)
  8. Douglas Leenhouts (M3)
  9. Neal Kline (M3)
  10. Raymond Newmark (M6)
  11. Paul Myers (M6)
  12. David Allen (M7)
  13. Stephen Kristo (M7)
  14. Allan Peterson (M7)
  15. Jim Largess (M7)
  16. Mike Tilton (M7)

Spectators are encouraged to come out, meet the athletes, and enjoy a full day of championship water skiing in Central Massachusetts.

For Media –  contact
Ryan DesRoches
508-944-9793
Adaptive@NewEnglandWaterSki.org