BASIC INFO:
Name: Brian Detrick
Discipline: Slalom Water Skiing
Birthdate: February 27, 1989
Birth place: Mountain View, California
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Home Site: Shortline Lake
Brian grew up in a Northern California city that was a farming town but quickly turned into a populated urban city by the time he was a teenager. His parents skied on the delta and at other bodies of water in Northern California and eventually got into tournament water skiing. This is when they first discovered private man made water ski lakes and quickly realized that they wanted more of a quality of life instead of spending a number of hours a week traveling to get a ski ride. They pursued their dream of living on a private man made water ski lake as they moved their family to Elk Grove, California when Brian was 18 months old.
Brian was 2 years old when his parents first got him out on the water. They taught him how to kneeboard and he soon began running the mini course. At 4 years old, Brian tried double skis tied together and before he knew it, he was competing in his first tournament. Since then, Brian has spent many hours skiing, being around lakes and now coaching. He won his first tournament at the age of 4 (1994) and by the time he was 9 years old, he had won more than 30 tournaments and was ranked #1 in the country. He was ranked #1 his last 2 years in the Boys 1 division (10&under). In his last year, he was able to set the Best of the West, Regional Tournament and National records and won the Regional and National Championships; all at 10 year old.
Brian’s parents always taught him to keep a balance in life. Brian was fortunate to play both team and individual sports growing up. During childhood, he played baseball, soccer and basketball. It was easy for him to go from one sport to the next and still be able to ski at a high level. Things quickly changed, as he got older and all of the coaches wanted him to play their sport year round. Brian played football, basketball and ran track in high school so it was difficult for him to keep his skiing at a high level as he quickly dropped in the rankings.
Once Brian graduated from high school in 2007, he was able to put 100% of his focus back on skiing. Brian quickly started to make a comeback and within two years of being back to 100% skiing, he obtained his open (professional) rating at the age of 20. He also won the 2009 Collegiate Western Regional Championships, was voted 2009 NCWSA Male Leader of the Year, won the 2010 Collegiate National All Star Championships and was named Collegiate All American in 2010. While achieving those honors on the water, Brian was also getting it done in the classroom. Brian was able to finish college in 4 years and in 2011, Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology Sport & Recreation Management from Saint Mary’s College.
In September of 2011, Brian was selected to the six member 2012 United States University World Water Ski Team. In January of 2012, the team traveled to Santiago, Chile to compete in the FISU Water Ski World University Championships. The United States team went on to win the gold medal. In doing so, Brian became a University World Champion along with his 5 teammates. Brian said, “It was an honor to be selected to the U.S. team and have the opportunity to represent my country. To bring home the gold was a huge accomplishment and to become a world champion is something I had only dreamed of. It was an amazing way to end my collegiate career.”
At the 2012 Australian Open, Brian made the podium for the first time in a pro tour event. This was a huge milestone that Brian reached early in his career. He has started off the 2012 season strong and Brian is looking to continue his success as the Northern Hemisphere season begins.
STATS
Age: 24
Height: 6’4
Weight: 190
Shoe Size: 14
College: Saint Mary’s College of California
Home Lake: Shortline Lake
Stance: Goofy – Right Foot Forward
Best Performance: Tournament – 1 1/2@41
Boat of Choice: Centurion Carbon Pro
Ski of Choice: HO Syndicate A2
Hobbies: basketball, crossfit, cycling, slackline and traveling
Fun Facts
• 3x National Record Holder
• 2012 University World Champion
• 2012 United States University Team Member
• Former AWSA Regional & National Champion
• Former Collegiate Regional and National All Star Champion
• In 1994 – was the youngest skier to ever compete at the Western Regional Championships (4 year old ski year)
• In 1996 – was the youngest skier to ever compete at the U.S. National Championships (6 year old ski year)
•3 Sport High School Varsity Athlete (Football, Basketball, Track)
