They say Lake 38 is a stage, but on Sunday it was a canvas — and Rob Hazelwood painted a masterpiece. Again.
It was his third professional title, his second in a row at the Lake 38 ProAm, and if you think that sounds routine, you probably think Michelangelo just did a little doodling on that ceiling.
Hazelwood doesn’t ski so much as he composes. The man is a symphony in boardshorts, a conductor with a handle. While others are out there trying to stay upright, Rob is bending physics into performance art.
This time, he took the win the hard way — two runoff rounds against friend and Masters Champion Cole McCormick….high drama, the kind of pressure that makes most knees knock and most hearts hiccup. Rob? He barely blinked. Just grinned that wiry English grin and sent another pass to the moon.
But here’s the kicker: Hazelwood isn’t just a skier. He’s a renaissance man with purpose and passion. He trains like a professional, coaches like a sage, edits video like Christopher Nolan, and still finds time to ski like its his only purpose in Life. If water skiing had a Mount Rushmore, they’d better start carving.
He’s only 25 but skis like he’s been doing it for 50 years — He’s part athlete, part artist, and all heart. And the scary thing for the competition? He’s just getting warmed up.
At a time when the sport is clawing for relevance in a TikTok world, Rob Hazelwood is a reminder that greatness doesn’t need a filter — just a slalom course, a lake, and a Dream.
So raise a glass, or a ski, or both, to the man who turned Lake 38 into his own backyard. And with that, the next stretch of European Pro Water Ski Tour stops got a lot more interesting.
Next stop: Monaco