Elizabeth Montavon

Elizabeth Montavon (born January 4, 1994) is a professional water skier from the United States. She competes primarily in slalom events and is noted for her success on the Waterski Pro Tour, as well as her contributions to the sport through advocacy for gender equity and content creation.
==Early life==
Montavon was introduced to water skiing at a young age, as she comes from a family with a strong background in the sport. She began competing when she was 7 years old and found early success in the tricks discipline, winning the Girls 1 national tricks title at the 2002 GOODE Water Ski National Championships. She also set several regional and state records in tricks during her early career. Montavon continued to compete throughout her youth, with her achievements earning her recognition in the water skiing community.
==Professional career==
In 2017, Montavon shifted her focus from the tricks discipline to slalom skiing. This pivot marked a significant change in her career, as she worked to "catch up" in a discipline that was relatively new to her professional repertoire. With the guidance of her coach, Chet Raley, Montavon established herself in the slalom discipline, climbing the ranks on the Waterski Pro Tour.
Her persistence was rewarded in 2021 when she won her first slalom Pro Tour Stop at the Miami Pro, a notable achievement in her career. Montavon has continued to compete at the professional level, placing among the top competitors in events such as the MasterCraft Pro, Travers Grand Prix, and the Monaco Slalom Cup. In 2022, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease following a serious injury sustained in practice, but she has continued to compete at a high level despite these challenges​.
==Advocacy and impact==
Montavon is also recognized for her efforts to promote water skiing and elevate women's sports. In addition to her athletic career, she serves as the Director of Athlete Marketing & Social Media at Parity, an organization dedicated to increasing financial opportunities for women athletes. Through Parity, she has been involved in initiatives aimed at improving visibility for professional women athletes, such as Parity Week, a celebration of women's sports.
Montavon has also engaged in entrepreneurial ventures, co-founding the lifestyle brand "Ski or Die" with her husband, fellow water skier Stevie Island. The brand promotes a culture of resilience and dedication within the sport of water skiing​.
==Competitions and rankings==
Montavon has competed in several major competitions on the Waterski Pro Tour, where she has been ranked as high as No. 7 globally in slalom. Some of her notable finishes include:
* Third place at the 2024 Moomba Masters
* Third place at the 2024 K1000 Marrakech Pro
* Third place at the 2024 Monaco Slalom Cup
* Fifth place at the 2024 Botaski Pro Am
* Eighth place at the 2023 IWWF Waterski World Championships
* Fifth place at the 2023 MasterCraft Pro​
* Fifth place at the 2023 Travers Grand Prix
* Sixth place at the 2023 Kaiafas Battle Pro Am
* Sixth palce at the 2023 Lake 38 Pro Am
* Fifth place at the 2022 Hilltop Lake Pro Am
* Sixth place at the 2022 Miami Pro
* First place at the 2021 Miami Pro
* Eighth place at the 2021 IWWF Waterski World Championships
* Fifth at the 2021 Hilltop Lake Pro Am
==Podcast and media appearances==
Elizabeth Montavon has shared her personal and professional journey through various media outlets. In a two-episode series on The Waterski Podcast, Montavon discussed her transition from trick skiing to slalom, detailing the mental health challenges she faced during college and how committing to slalom skiing under coach Chet Raley helped her navigate that period. She reflected on the hard work required to catch up in the new discipline and the emotional toll of balancing her academic and athletic pursuits.
On The Water Skier Magazine’s Hit It! Podcast, Montavon offered insights into the challenges of promoting the sport of water skiing. She spoke about the role of social media in raising the sport’s visibility and the efforts required to streamline tournaments for better exposure and engagement. Montavon also shared her experiences competing in recent professional tournaments, including the Waterski Pro Tour.
==Personal life==
Elizabeth Montavon lives in Florida with her husband, Stevie Island, who is also a professional water skier. The couple is involved in various creative projects, including a docushort that documents a day in Elizabeth’s life as a professional athlete. They also host a podcast where they discuss the intricacies of professional water skiing and share insights into the sport.
==Honors and awards==
* Nine-time National Champion
* Three-time All-American
* US Open Champion
* Pan American Champion
* '2021 Miami Pro Slalom Champion
* Named to Palm Beach Illustrated's "30 Under 30" list in 2022
* 2024 SurveyMonkey Curiosity Award for innovation and impact in sports
Category:1994 births
Category:Water skiers
Category:American people