World record-holder. World champion. World's greatest water skier.
Those are just a few of the titles often used to describe ASU communication senior Jimmy Siemers.
In August 2003, Siemers jumped 236 feet off a 6-foot ramp at the preliminary round of the U.S. Open, breaking his previous best of 233 feet, which he recorded as a freshman at a tourney in Baton Rouge, La. At the same time, he broke the world record of 235 feet.
"My initial thoughts after breaking the record weren't good," Siemers said. "I was a little upset that I didn't go 240 feet, because that was my original goal. But, after a few seconds I realized that I had the world record, and I was pretty ecstatic."
But Siemers was not done yet.
The following month he was named the overall world champion at the World Water Skiing Championships in Claremont, Fla., a feat he calls his proudest moment. Siemers had to compete in the jump, trick, and slalom events.
"I slalomed the worst I had all year," Siemers said. "But I came back and tricked better than I ever had. I had to outjump the other guy by 4 inches to win overall, but I outjumped him by close to 7 feet.
"I always had a goal to be the overall world champion. For everyone it is the pinnacle. World records are nice, but to go to the world championships and win with everyone present, that is the greatest feeling."
Siemers began to water ski at a young age. He first went out on Lake Ponderosa as a 4-year-old in Iowa. He started competing at age 7 and began intensive training after his family moved to Round Rock, Texas, when he was 10.
When the time came to choose a college, Siemers said the choice was clear.
"I needed to be at a place where I could ski with other people at a high level," he said. "There were only three schools that offered that, and the other two were in Louisiana. I didn't want to live in Louisiana."
In 2001, Siemers' freshman year, the Sun Devil water ski team won its first, and only, national championship. Siemers won the tricks event and took second in jump.
After winning the championship, ASU has consistently ranked in the top three in the nation.
Siemers said his time at ASU has continued to be very positive.
"I've had a lot of fun here at ASU," he said. "We spend a lot of time together, not just at official practices. Our team camaraderie is so high."
ASU water ski team captain Jimmy Townsend said that Siemers is a tremendous asset to the club.
"He's a great recruiting tool," he said. "It's great to ski with a world champ. It's great having him on our team."
ASU water skiing coach David Phillips said that Siemers has helped others improve.
"He has a great insight on what it takes to be a winner and, as a result, he instills that on the team," he said. "His scores are huge, but he also brings a lot of respect to the team.
"Other people recognize that if ASU is good enough for Jimmy Siemers, it is good enough for them."
Siemers competes in both collegiate and noncollegiate events. Siemers said the collegiate tourneys are more for trophies and bragging rights, while the noncollegiate events are for money and prizes.
For the 22-year-old, the competitive atmosphere makes going out on the lake all the more enjoyable.
"My competitors aren't really my competitors, they are my friends," he said. "We hang out. I know their families and a lot about them. When there is a paycheck on the line we are going to compete, but it's an individual sport. We're not going to beat each other up over things."
Siemers also makes a living through sponsorships. In addition, he started coaching children three years ago.
"Just seeing the kids improve and succeed is a real thrill," he said. "I get more excited about their tournaments than I do about my own now."
Siemers participates in traditional water skiing tournaments that consist of three events: trick, slalom and jump. The skier with the highest point total after the three events is crowned overall champion.
Each event brings a different challenge, Siemers said. He doesn't have a favorite; it simply depends on the mood he is in when the skis hit the water.
"If I'm looking for a good time relaxing, I go out and do tricks," he said. "If I feel like I need a big rush I go jumping. Jumping gives you a runner's high times 10, but there are prices to pay."
Siemers has definitely paid his dues, as he will be sidelined from competition until October.
In early June he broke his right arm when he hit it on a ski during a jump. Then, on Aug. 14 at the MasterCraft Pro Water Ski Championships he tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee while executing a jump. He is going through physical therapy every day, trying to get in condition to return to competition, but it isn't his idea of a good time.
"All of the injuries are frustrating," Siemers said. "Especially when I know I can compete with the best of them out there. I just keep getting hurt at all the wrong times. But, I am working my butt off to get back out there."
Staying healthy isn't the only challenge that water skiers face. The scheduling might be even harder, especially when it comes to participating in tournaments.
"The biggest challenge is missing school and praying professors are cool with it," Siemers said. "Sometimes I miss a week or two of school straight. It's tough to do it all."
In fact, Siemers plans on missing school for the first three weeks of October to compete in the portion of the World Cup of Water Skiing that is held in China Oct. 1-3. Then he will compete in the West Palm Beach, Fla., portion.
In November, Siemers also plans on going to Qatar, a country that borders Saudi Arabia, to participate in the final leg of the World Cup.
In between the Florida and Qatar portions of the World Cup, Siemers will take part in the Collegiate Nationals in Baton Rouge, La., from Oct. 13-16. He said his goal is to help the team win its second national championship.
For the average person, all of the events and pressure might be too much to handle, but Siemers revels in the high expectations people have for him.
"I am one of the younger guys around," he said. "Most of my competitors are 28-30, so being 22 and being where I am at is great. A lot of them are starting to wear down. They figure that I am supposed to be the next dominating figure in the sport."
When in good health, Siemers does four sets a day, about an hour and a half, on the water. As a child, his practice routine consisted of nine sets.
"Four sets a day is normal for people," he said. "When I was a kid, I worked so much harder and got used to it. Even the hard stuff is a piece of cake now, because I've done it for so long."
After college Siemers plans on moving to Orlando, Fla., to get into real estate and land developing. He also wants to continue coaching. He said that with all of this going on, his own water skiing career will still be priority No. 1.
Reach the reporter at jeremy.a.cluff@asu.edu
