Local Skier Hoping to Win at Pan Am Championships
Water skiers from all over the U.S., Central and South America are converging on South Walton county this week.They're coming for the Pan Am Ski Championships.
Among those competing a local skier who mixes speed on the water with running a local business.
Though originally from Georgia, Regina Jacquess knew South Walton was the place to be if she wanted to pursue her dream of water skiing.
"I actually grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and skied growing up in Jefferson, Georgia and all throughout and all throughout the Atlanta area and then at the age of around 14 I came down here and went to Freeport Middle School and Freeport High School".
It is safe to say that the decision paid off. She has been named America's athlete of the year 5 times. She was a part of 4 world champion USA teams and a two time world record holder for both slalom and world overall.
But when it comes to the Pan Am Games, Regina is after one thing.
"The last time we had the Pan Am Championships the U.S. won. So, we have to defend our title and you also want to compete well so that you can win the individual events as well because that's a huge title for us in the water skiing world"
Despite performing at an elite level, water skiiing for Regina is just a hobby. From 9-5 she is a pharmacist and co-owner of Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy.
"I get up, I ski before we open up the store. I come home and I ski when the store closes and then on the weekends as well"
Those Pan Am Championships begin Wednesday and run through the weekend at Shortline Lake Estates in Santa Rosa Beach.
News Channel 7
Cory Pickos Ski School
The Pickos Ski and Wakeboard school and Camp, located in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, has one of the finest and most complete ski facilities anywhere in the world. Privately owned by the Pickos family, the ski lakes were designed specifically for water-skiing and wakeboarding.
Water skiers from all over the U.S., Central and South America are converging on South Walton county this week.They're coming for the Pan Am Ski Championships.
Among those competing a local skier who mixes speed on the water with running a local business.
Though originally from Georgia, Regina Jacquess knew South Walton was the place to be if she wanted to pursue her dream of water skiing.
"I actually grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and skied growing up in Jefferson, Georgia and all throughout and all throughout the Atlanta area and then at the age of around 14 I came down here and went to Freeport Middle School and Freeport High School".
It is safe to say that the decision paid off. She has been named America's athlete of the year 5 times. She was a part of 4 world champion USA teams and a two time world record holder for both slalom and world overall.
But when it comes to the Pan Am Games, Regina is after one thing.
"The last time we had the Pan Am Championships the U.S. won. So, we have to defend our title and you also want to compete well so that you can win the individual events as well because that's a huge title for us in the water skiing world"
Despite performing at an elite level, water skiiing for Regina is just a hobby. From 9-5 she is a pharmacist and co-owner of Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy.
"I get up, I ski before we open up the store. I come home and I ski when the store closes and then on the weekends as well"
Those Pan Am Championships begin Wednesday and run through the weekend at Shortline Lake Estates in Santa Rosa Beach.
News Channel 7
Cory Pickos Ski School
The Pickos Ski and Wakeboard school and Camp, located in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, has one of the finest and most complete ski facilities anywhere in the world. Privately owned by the Pickos family, the ski lakes were designed specifically for water-skiing and wakeboarding.
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