Whitney McClintockRini Whitney McClintockRini

At this stage of your career, multiple World Titles, Moomba titles, US Open wins, a World Record, is there anything left you need to accomplish, one last box to check?

The question didn’t hang in the air, no pregnant pause, no contemplation It’s like Whitney McClintock, one of the most decorated athletes in the history of our sport was waiting for the question “Yes, run 41’ ” No explanation, no qualifying prologue Just an assured, confident, excited declarative response

‘Total Assuredness.’ It's not something I can force, it’s something I need to create. It’s about having a complete trust in the process and knowing that I will be satisfied with the result.

“Growing up, I had coaches and mentors attempt to explain to me that skiing didn’t really matter in the big picture, I just didn’t understand what they meant. I probably didn’t want to understand it at the time,” Whitney reflects. As a member of the Canadian National Team since her early teenage years, her pursuit of the sport served as her singular focus, the gravity that kept her grounded. “I used to be such a cutthroat competitor,” she remembers, “keeping my competitors at arm’s length, only letting a select few inside a tightly guarded circle ” From an outsider’s perspective, it served her well She quickly found and maintained a level of success that will leave an historic, indelible mark on the annals of the sport A 7-time World Champion and former World Record holder, McClintock reflects fondly upon her career to this point; but, you can hear the joy in her voice when she states: “waterskiing itself really doesn’t matter I get it now

"This whole journey has been one of personal growth; and, I realize now, it’s the process that I love, the process of trying and failing, working and achieving It has positively shaped my life as a whole; I recognize that now Even if my career hadn’t gone the way it has, if I didn’t see the level of success I’ve enjoyed, I’d still love it all the same ” Finding this level of assuredness has transformed the way Whitney exists within the sport Her circle has grown, its boundaries softened She now finds true joy in celebrating her competitors and is far more comfortable with her own occasional competitive shortcoming When history was made at the 2021 Malibu Open, with the top four women all posting scores into 41’ off, Whitney found herself more absorbed in her competitors achievements than focusing on her own expectations “I had never felt that kind excitement and pride for what someone else was accomplishing on the water before Watching skier after skier run 39’ the excitement grew, but it wasn’t adding any additional pressure on me I honestly knew everything was going to go as it had been planned I knew then, that’s when things had changed for me ”

Whitney has found a new measuring stick for defining success, relating to her ability to find that competitive state of ‘total assuredness ’ “Its not something I can force,” Whitney says of finding her ideal competitive zone, “it's something I need to create It’s about having a complete trust in the process and knowing that I will be satisfied with the result ” In reflection of the 2021 World Championships, finishing 11th in the slalom event after a crash in the preliminary round that left her with a concussion and a severe injury to her eye, Whitney still defines the event as a success

“I had never felt better standing on the starting dock, I felt such a sense of calm on the water I was in the perfect state, but God simply had a different plan for me that day ” Defining success by her trust in the process and her sense of belief on competition day has allowed Whitney to continue to earn titles and crowns, but they no longer consume her Her training, her travel and her successes are now accompanied by her family, Husband and coach Matt, and three year-old son, Zane “This new phase of my life has given me real balance, and an appreciation for what is truly important to me ”

The Women’s World Slalom Record has been on the 41’ off loop since 1996, arduously inching its way forward to the current record of 4 5 buoys, held by Regina Jaquess Whitney held the World Record in 2012 as the mark has moved closer and closer to 43’ off “I know I can do it,” Whitney says of running 41’ off in a tournament “I’ve been running it in practice, so I know my time is approaching ” All it will take is a shift in perspective “ Matt and I have agreed, if this this the most important goal at the moment, it’s time to double-down and make it happen No more laying up, and no more S-turns to be safe ” With the process soundly in place, I would hate to bet against the potential of Whitney McClintock and her calmly stated goal