Teen ski champion heads to Chile

BY

Thirteen-year-old Kendra Nathan is at the top of her game when it comes to skiing. At the 2018 National Water Ski Championships, Kendra won first place in slalom, jump and overall in the Girls 2 division.

Kendra was recently selected to the U.S. Under 14 Water Ski Team. Her team, along with six other teams, will compete in the 2018 Pan American Water Ski Championships Nov. 12 through Nov. 18 at Largo Los Morros in San Bernardo, Chile. The teams were selected based on a pre-determined selection criteria approved by the American Water Ski Association’s International Activities Committee and board of directors. In Chile, Kendra will compete against kids in the Under 14 division from around the world.

Kendra started skiing at the young age of eight. “She nailed it her first time,” said her dad Tom Nathan. She started competing locally that same year. The following year, at age nine, Kendra competed at the Regional Championship where she placed first in slalom, trick and overall.

At the age of 10, Kendra repeated her performance at the Regional Championships and again won first place in slalom, trick and overall. She also went also went on to the National Championships that year and won third in slalom, fifth in trick and second overall.

Kendra has participated in every Regional Championships tournament since she started in 2013 and has been a medal winner each year.

Kendra is the daughter of POA Director Tom Nathan and the granddaughter of Canyon Lake City Councilwoman Dawn Haggerty, a former mayor of Canyon Lake.

Tom shares his daughter’s love of skiing. He’s been skiing competitively for the past 25 years. The two practice on the water in Canyon Lake as much as they can. “Now that Kendra is going to Chile, we will maintain a high level of practice in preparation for that event,” said Tom.

Over the course of this year, Kendra has trained with professional water-skier Rhoni Barton Bischoff, a former Canyon Lake resident. Kendra and Tom traveled to Rhoni’s home in Orlando, Florida, where Kendra trained for two weeks.

Now, in the 2019 season, Kendra will be competing in the Girls 3 division. She looks forward to more competitions and competing in Chile in November.

Kendra also excels in school. The freshman is a straight-A student. She’s also involved in ASB and is currently running for freshman class president.