National champion flying on water

Bryce Alderton

She began water skiing at 9 years old.

Now, six years and several awards later, Marlo Sciarra is a 2002

national water ski champion.

The 15-year-old Newport Harbor High sophomore took first place at

the National Water Ski Racing Association 2002 Natioanal

Championships in the girls 13-16 age division Oct. 13-14 on Mission Bay in San Diego.

Sciarra’s average speed for the two-day, two-heat, four-mile

course was 93 mph, and she is in line to qualify for the

International Water Ski Racing World Championship held on Lake Como

in Italy next summer.

“This was my hardest race because I faced stiff competition and I

moved up an age class,” Sciarra said. “When I won in (1999) it was

not as competitive.”

Sciarra won the 1999 girls 10-12 United States and Australian

championship when she was 12. She then won silver medals in the girls

13-16 age division in 2000 and 2002, on four-mile courses, and took

home the bronze in 2001 and the silver in the 2002 international

championships on Mission Bay.

Marathon races cover 60 miles over two-days with one heat each

day.

Sciarra is in the driver’s seat to qualify for her first

International Water Ski Racing World Championships after her most

recent win.

Two junior girls qualify for the championships each year based on

points gained from races. Sciarra would qualify for the international

championships if the races began today.

“I worked real hard hoping to go to world,” Sciarra said. “You

have to be physically fit.”

Sciarra skis twice a month, and grew up boating and water skiing

on Lake Arrowhead for the Lake Arrowhead Water Ski team.

Her family that includes mom Colleen, father Joe and 20-year-old

brother Joseph, water ski but do not race. They leave the racing up

to her.

“They do it for fun and I compete,” Sciarra said.

She is constantly training for water skiing by rowing for the

Sailors’ rowing team and for the Newport Aquatic Center’s rowing

team.

She just started rowing this year and said it helps her gain

endurance for when she water skis.

“(Rowing) helps me get fit for (water skiing) and has greatly

improved my balance on the water,” Sciarra said. “You have to be

physically fit and concentrate while on the water. You have to want

it enough to beat the other person.”

Sciarra stands at 5-feet-6, weighs 130 pounds, and keeps up on

academics with a 3.75 grade point average.

Her favorite subject in school is English and she wants to be a

television anchorwoman.

But she wants to keep water skiing for as long as she can.

“I really don’t get anything out of (water skiing), just the joy

of sport and I’m going to continue doing it,” Sciarra said.

Those interested in joining the National Water Ski Racing

Association can visit the association’s Web site at www.nwsra.net.