Wv Grad Makes A Splash With Arizona State

When Bonny Britton’s West Valley High schoolmates learned she had received an athletic scholarship from Arizona State University, the general response, she said, was something like, “Huh? What sport did she do?”

None at WV, as it happens.

Britton, however, is a nationally ranked water skiier. She is rated eighth in jumping in her age category of U.S. Girls Water Skiing Nationals and, as such, was asked to compete with the ASU-affiliated club team.

“When you go to national tournaments,” said Britton, “the guy in charge kind of watches out for people he wants to recruit. This last year they sent me a message that they wanted me to go there.”

There are 45 colleges throughout the United States with water ski teams, including the University of Washington and Western Washington University.

She chose Arizona State for a number of reasons, including favorable weather.

“They had a pretty good team,” said Britton, “and they have all year to practice.”

In Spokane, she and her younger brother Trevor, also nationally ranked, feel fortunate to get on the water wearing wet suits in May.

Britton’s father Terry said she has been water skiing since age two.

“When I was littler my dad would take me out on the water and put me on his shoulders,” Bonny said. “As I got older I’d stand on his skis or I’d ski next to him and he’d hold me up.”

Her dad, a 1974 graduate of East Valley High School, is a long-time water skier who channeled his children’s interests that way.

“I was never really that good so I figured I’d get them into it as soon as I could,” he said.

As they progressed, the siblings attended a summer camp in Rexford, Mont., to hone their skills.

By the time she was 8 or 9, Bonny was skiing competitively.

“She’s probably the best girl jumper in Spokane and the second best ever from the state as far as I know,” said her father.

The first time she jumped, said Bonny, was the hardest.

“Being up in the air the first time is kind of frightening,” she said. “After you’ve done it for awhile it kind of comes naturally.”

A fall shattered her confidence for a time, but her dad convinced her to try again. National recognition and a college scholarship was the result.

Jumping is just one of three disciplines in water skiing competition.

The others are slalom and tricks. In slalom, skiers try to negotiate as many buoys as possible at increasing speeds up to a maximum of 34 miles per hour. Thereafter the 75-foot rope’s length is shortened. Trick skiers perform various maneuvers for points.

Jumps and slalom are what Bonny concentrates on. Her preference varies depending upon how she’s practicing on a particular day.

She jumped a distance of 94 feet nationally last year by zooming up a floating 5-foot high ramp to become airborne.

She has done four buoys with 28 feet taken off the rope. That is also national qualifying criteria.

Women’s collegiate records through 1995 were 123 feet and 6 buoys at 38 off.

“This summer I want to jump at least 100 feet,” she said. “In slalom I want to take up where I left off (last year). That’s probably my first goal.

Competitive water skiing, she pointed out isn’t as easy as some might believe.

“When people think of water skiing they think, ‘I can do that,”’ Bonny said. “I don’t say anything. I let them believe it.”

The scholarship to Arizona State, a product of hard work and dedication, is all that matters.

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