VALDOSTA —
Chandler Cargile may only be 15 years old, but he is one of the best barefoot water skiers in the world.
Cargile, a sophomore at Valwood, began barefoot water skiing 2 1/2 years ago. Since then, he has picked up and mastered his craft in three events (tricks, slalom and jump) and has become one of the best in the world.
Recently, Cargile represented the United States in the World Championships in Waco, Texas.
Cargile competed against skiers from 15 other countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. He won an individual silver medal in jump.
Overall, the U.S. Junior Team brought home the silver medal.
Cargile also finished the championship fourth overall and he is now ranked fifth in the world in the Junior Boys level.
In August, Cargile competed at Nationals in Waco, Texas where he won a silver medal in both tricks and slalom.
It was about that time he received the news he had made the U.S. Junior Barefoot Water Ski Team and would represent the United States at the World Championships, which were held at the same location of the national competition.
The World Competition is held every two years and this year the U.S. was the host country.
The U.S. was represented by three teams at Worlds — the Junior, Elite and Senior teams. In March 2012, Cargile was notified he was being considered for the U.S. Junior Barefoot Water Ski Team. With the Team Selection Committee picking only six skiers for the Junior Team, Cargile began training even harder in hopes of making the team. He was already a sponsored athlete at World Barefoot Center in Winter Haven, Fla. where he trained with his coach.
Cargile spent the summer between Winter Haven and traveling to tournaments, before becoming completely committing himself to making the U.S. team. Knowing the 10-member Team Selection Committee was reviewing the World Standing List and scores, he had to post good scores at tournaments. That is exactly what he did.
At the Southern Regional Tournament in July, Cargile placed first in Boys 3 Slalom, first in Boys 3 Tricks, first in Boys 3 Inverted Jump and placed first in Boys 3 Overall.
For those not familiar to barefoot water skiing, points are earned according to the difficulty and amount of the tricks done within the 15-second time limit.
In slalom, points are gained according to how many times you can cross the wake back and forth within the 15 seconds. Extra points are awarded for crossing with one foot or skiing backwards.
Cargile’s favorite and stronger event is jump. He is one of the first Junior skiers to jump inverted.
The support and encouragement Chandler has received from his school and the community has been overwhelming. Valwood excused him from a class trip so he could spend that week in Winter Haven with his coach and the teachers are working with him to make up the school he has missed.
“They even let my classmates watch the live stream of me skiing during my trick run,” Cargile said. “That was pretty cool. Some of my friends were texting saying they saw me.”
The next world competition will be held in two years and Cargile will be eligible to compete for the Junior Team.
He plans to continue to work and master his craft so he can compete in the next world championship competition, which will be held in Australia.
Cargile’s parents are Mark and Beth Cargile of Dasher. His grandparents are Bill Cargile formerly of Lake Park and Nick and Mary Brown Whitehurst of Lake City, Fla.
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Chandler Cargile recently won a silver medal in the barefoot water skiing jump competition in Waco, Texas. Cargile, 15, is a sophomore at Valwood. submitted photo
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Cargile wins silver medal at World Competition
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