There are few places in water skiing where history feels as alive as it does at Sunset Lakes.
What started as an orange grove more than 50 years ago has become one of the sport’s most iconic destinations. Built by the vision and work ethic of the Travers family, it’s a place where world champions are made, lifelong friendships begin, and generations of skiers discover what this sport is all about.
For Jon Travers, that legacy isn’t something he simply inherits. It’s something he earns.
Growing up at Sunset Lakes, skiing was always part of life. So were the early mornings, long days, and countless hours of work required to keep a world-class ski site running. Today, as a father, competitor, and the next generation of the Travers Ski School, Jon is stepping into a much bigger role. That means far more than chasing personal bests.
He’s installed ski courses and ramps all across the Globe, overseen the biggest tournaments in water skiing (world championships), become a master technical controller, and helped create the kind of experience that skiers from around the world have come to expect at Sunset Lakes. It’s the work most people never see, but without it, the sport simply doesn’t happen.
The best tournaments feel effortless. The water is perfect. The course is straight. Everything runs on time. None of it happens by accident.
Behind every great event are people willing to do the unseen work, constantly solving problems before anyone notices and creating an environment where athletes can perform at their best. Jon is learning that side of the sport while continuing to chase his own dream of becoming one of the world’s best slalom skiers. Balancing competition, family, fatherhood, and the responsibility of carrying forward a name that means so much in water skiing isn’t easy, but that’s exactly what makes his story compelling.
A legacy isn’t preserved by standing still.
It’s built one day, one tournament, one skier, and one generation at a time.
That’s where the Soul of Skiing lives. Not only in the passes we remember, but in the people who quietly dedicate their lives to making those moments possible.
And at Sunset Lakes, that story is still being written.
