To mark the occasion, we caught up with Xavier Garni, the Federation ‘s Events Communications Manager, for an exclusive interview.

The Fédération Française de Ski Nautique et de Wakeboard was founded in 1947. It comprises seven disciplines: Classic Water Ski (Slalom, Jump and Figure), Wakeboard and Wakeskate Cable and Wakebord Bateau, Barefoot (Slalom, Jump and Figure), Speed Race, Para-Ski Nautique and Para-Ski Wakeboard and finally Babyski.

• The organization of the French Championships (July and August 2021). You can follow them online on the FFSNW social networks.
• Support for high-level athletes through follow-up training courses organized this summer. The aim is to take as many athletes as possible to the various international championships.
• The “Club Support” project, which includes various types of subsidy to help clubs with their projects.

In fact, the French have gone abroad less and have discovered the activities around them. The same applies to all outdoor sports, such as horseback riding.

However, structures have had to be more vigilant in terms of barrier gestures and safety protocols to enable the practice of sports in complete safety. The Federation supported its clubs with a kit of equipment donated for the occasion, and worked hard with the Ministry of Sports to prepare for the reopening of activities.

For the athletes, the difference was made and is still made this year in the start of the season, which is slightly delayed. The way we train has also changed somewhat, with athletes training more locally, as group courses are no longer possible.

The year 2021 is synonymous with hope for the French Water Ski and Wakeboard Federation, which is due to inaugurate its brand new National Technical Center at Choisy-le-Roi at the end of the summer. Currently under construction, the center will house the Federation’s offices and a water-ski lift, construction of which has just been completed(read more here). A great turning point for the development of the FFSNW and the sport.

First came the digital version of the Salon Nautique: the Virtual Nautic last March. Both FFSNW and Spotyride were present!

Another major event of the year is the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021. No water-skiing or wakeboarding yet, but for the world of water sports we’ll be featuring sailing, rowing and a newcomer, surfing! However, encouraging news for Wakeboarding, which was on the shortlist for the Paris 2024 Olympics and will be bidding to be present at the 2028 Olympics.

Coming soon, the French Championships organized by the Federation. They’re all listed on Spotyride!