Foundation Announces 2025 Award Of Distinction Recipients

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of the Foundation’s Award of Distinction: Bob Archer, Mike "Mack" Makridichian, Mike Mckelheer, Jeff Surdej and Geno Yauchler.

These five recipients will be honored with Hall of Fame Inductee Scot Ellis on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven, Fla.  For more information on the Ceremony, go HERE. Tickets to the event go on sale Jan. 1, 2025.

Bob Archer (Industry)

For more than 30 years, Bob Archer has been a dedicated and innovative equipment supplier to the water sports industry. Beginning as a life jacket supplier (Kent Sporting Goods) and private label vendor to the sport's biggest brands, Archer's products have touched nearly every towed water sports enthusiast.

Bob Archer’s vision and commitment to the industry are best exemplified by his investment in numerous struggling waterski and towable manufacturing firms that supply equipment globally. His business acumen maintained the brand heritage and unique identities seamlessly, which likely ensured the survival of product dealers and retailers worldwide in an industry crisis. His willingness to support athletes and athletic events is unparalleled.

Today, Bob Archer and partners own HO Sports, Connelly, O'Brien, Liquid Force, Aqua Glide, Barefoot International, and more. None would be thriving today without Archer's guidance and commitment. Archer's dedication to the brands we know and love keeps people enthusiastic about being on the water, generating growing participation in towed water sports and forming an industry.

Mike "Mack" Makridichian (Water Skiing)

Mike Mack learned to water ski on the Colorado River when he was five years old, and seven decades later, he has passed his love of all water sports and water to generations at his water ski school.  Mike is credited with inventing the body slide, the ultimate cool move on a water ski, and he has been featured on the covers of Water Ski, Hot Boat, and Power Boat magazines and on numerous posters. 

Mike mastered water skiing, barefooting, trick skiing, show skiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, air chair, and hydrofoiling... he can do anything on the water. He organized and choreographed years of water ski shows on the Colorado River beginning in the 1980s. Promoting the sport he loved was his passion.  Mike also traveled the world performing in water ski shows, tours, and competitions from Australia to Russia. He invented water ski tricks with Tony Klarich, Mike Murphy, Lori Dunsmore, and Banana George Blair. 

Mike also helped advance water ski technology. The ultimate trendsetter, he helped design the Vertical Air Ski with Herb O'Brien and the HO Kids Club Trainers.  He participated in producing water ski instructional videos to help everyone pass the handle. Mike invented the foil board and tested and consulted in the development of Astrodeck. 

While becoming well-known in the water sports world, being inducted into the Hydrofoil Hall of Fame, and winning championships, Mike has always said the real honor was encouraging and teaching thousands of people to water ski and realize their dreams.

Mike Mckelheer (Industry)

Mike Mckelheer is a well-known personality in the water ski industry. He was a competitive skier in the Pacific Northwest, but he made his mark as an innovator, promoter and pioneer.

Mike was one of the earliest employees of Herb O'Brien at O'Brien Water Skis. He was both a promotional skier and marketing manager and a leader of grassroots and professional water ski teams. Mike also brought the 1970 US Nationals to Green Lake in Seattle. In the 60s through the 90s, he was an integral support agent for professional skiers and a liaison between skiers and product developers.  Mike was an essential part of supporting water skiers for decades.

Mike was instrumental in promoting water skiing across the country and throughout the world. Mike supported the U.S. Coast Guard and King County Public Safety, developing safety procedures for competitions, ski shows, ski races, and coordinated demonstrations and shows for nationally known events such as the Seattle Sea Fair.

Jeff Surdej  (Water Skiing, Collegiate Water Skiing )

Jeff Surdej is a 12-time national water ski champion who has won four individual world medals and three world team gold medals.  Yes, he's a fantastic water skier, but his work outside the binding sets him apart.

As a tournament director, he has organized three AWSA Nationals, 18 regionals, the Malibu Open, and the NCWSA Nationals.  Incredibly, he led two USA Water Ski Sports Divisions simultaneously: Chairman of the NCWSA and President of AWSA.  

In the NCWSA, Jeff served as Midwest Chairman from 1995 to 2006, Nationals Vice Chairman from 1999 to 2006, and Chairman from 2006 to 2021. He is also an inductee into the Midwest and Nationals Hall of Fame. In the AWSA, Jeff served on the Skier Rating and Rules Committee from 1998 to 2006,  Midwest EVP from 2006 to 2011, President from 2015 to 2021, and served as Elite Team Coach in 2008, 2011,2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.  On the USA Water Ski level, Jeff served on the Executive Committee from 2012 to 2016, a Board of Directors from 2006 to 2020, and the Membership Task Force in 2016.

Geno Yauchler (Show Skiing)

Geno Yauchler began his journey into the Water Ski Hall of Fame in 1976 when he learned to water ski.  By 1988, he was recognized as the most valuable skier on the USA Water Ski Show Team, and has never looked back. Geno, the ultimate showman, has had a long and storied career on the water.  He can ski on or with anything. He's a hydrofoil athlete, wakeboarder, barefooter, freestyle jumper, and this guy is truly "off the chain" in promoting all aspects of towed water sports.

1993-Present Water Ski/Wakeboard/ Hydrofoil Instructor – Lake Alfred, Lakeland & Winter Haven, Florida

Water Ski Clinics in Multiple US States and Globally, including Show Skiing, Hydrofoil, Slalom, Barefoot, Wakeboarding, and More

2004-Present Founder/Owner Pro Action Sports, LLC online Water Ski Equipment retail, Professional Water Ski Shows, Wakeboard/Hydrofoil Tournaments, Water Ski National and Guinness World Record Events

2006 USA Water Ski - Innovator of the Year Award

2006 USA Water Ski - Ambassador of the Year Award

2015, 2017, 2021 Founded Chain of Records Record Event with multiple World Guinness Records broken for multiple sports disciplines. 

Geno started show skiing professionally in 1990 in shows from Texas to Belgium to Germany and Cypress Gardens. He competed and won on the Freestyle Pro Tour and has won hydrofoil, wakeboarding, freestyle, and show skiing championships. Geno has been honored with the Cypress Gardens Male Skier of the Year and  the Skip Gilkerson Award at Show Ski Nationals (Best Male Athlete).

For more information on the Host Hotel and the weekend schedule, go HERE.

Established in 1968, the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation celebrates the history of all towed water sports and promotes these sports through our Scholarship Programs and the Water Ski & Wake  Sports Hall of Fame.