Aquaskier - Water Sports Resources - Interviews - Pro Waterskier Emma Sheers Interview

Emma Sheers arrived in the U.S. on Tour to finish the Greenville, NC Tour stop in 2nd place by .1m in a Jump off against Britta Llewellyn. She went on to set a new Pro world record of 170 ft, and the new course record at the Masters the following weekend.

She is an accomplished multi-event skier that's constantly pushing her limits and setting some new records along the way.

We caught up with her in Hartford, CT, where she had been training in preparation for the upcoming Hartford Tour stop.

At the Hartford stop the following week, she placed 1st in the Jump Finals and 2nd in the Slalom Finals. Emma offers Aquaskier a glimpse into her world.

AQUASKIER

How did you get started in Waterskiing?

EMMA

My family were always social skiers and we used to camp out at the river over the summer and ski just for fun.

AQUASKIER

When did you become interested in Jumping?

EMMA

There were four of us kids who all began at the same time when I was 9 and my brother Curtis was 7 and it was a big competition for who could ride out a jump first.

AQUASKIER

Have you ever suffered any major injuries?

EMMA

No, I have hurt my shoulder and a knee but nothing that kept me out more than two or three weeks.

AQUASKIER

Do you and Rick ever carry your dog Lucy out in the boat with you while skiing and what does she think of it all?

EMMA

Lucy is not a very good skiing dog she barks if we put her in the boat and won't sit still. She tries to swim out to the skiers and the boat all the time so she is a bit of a nuisance when we are out skiing but she loves it.

AQUASKIER

With you being a multi-event competitor, do you think it helps or hinders your performance compared to concentrating on one event and focusing all your efforts there? Do you have a favorite event?

EMMA

I enjoy Slaloming and jumping just as much but jump has always come easier to me. I think it helps me being a two eventer as I don't get too bored with what I'm doing, it gives me two focuses.

AQUASKIER

Who is your coach and how often do you train?

EMMA

My Coach is Ray Stokes and I train 5 days a week 10 months of the year. I get coached for about a week once a month.

AQUASKIER

Having participated in tournament around the globe, how do the crowds in the U.S. compare with those in other countries?

EMMA

I think the crowds are comparable with the rest of the world, except the Moomba Masters in Melbourne Australia. We get crowds up to 100,000 over the weekend so that is just amazing. No crowd compares to it.

AQUASKIER

Do you make regular adjustment to your ski? How often?

EMMA

I change jump skis once a year and don't make too many changes. But this year I have been messing with my slalom ski at least once every couple of weeks.

AQUASKIER

Do you have any problem areas you are currently

working on?

EMMA

I am working on carrying more speed in my turn in jump at the moment. My greatest problem area is that I can sometimes make too big of an adjustment in jump when I bring my cut down on the 600ft buoy. Working on in Slalom having less body movement.

AQUASKIER

Who are some of the people you admire most?

EMMA

I really admire Susie O'neil (aussie swimmer) incredible determination to smash records and push her limits continually.

AQUASKIER

What's your goal for the 2000 season?

EMMA

To win the World Cup Jump again, and to finish high in Slalom again. To get the World Jump Record up near 180ft by the end of the year. To run 38off in a tournament in Slalom.

AQUASKIER

Any words of wisdom to the newcomers of the sport?

EMMA

Get determined and stick with it, as it is a challenging but very rewarding sport.