Beth Leboff is the only Canadian to win a world elite title in barefoot water skiing. She accomplished this in 1992 at Thurrock, England placing first in women's jump soaring 13.7 metres, which was a Canadian record. She helped Canada to the team bronze and was also seventh overall. Leboff grew up in Montreal and her family had a home on a lake in the Laurentian Mountains. ''All I ever wanted to do was water ski,'' she said. ''I learned to barefoot initially with some friends and I found it exciting and challenging. My parents hooked me up with a proper coach so I would be safe.'' She won the national slalom title in 1991 and swept gold in overall, jump, slalom and tricks at the 1992 nationals. She was the Quebec Water Ski Federation's athlete of the year in 1991 and 1992. After the 1992 worlds she went to law school and today is a practicing attorney in Fort Lauderdale. She and her husband Scott McCullough have two young children. |
Beth Leboff grew up in Montreal. Her family had a home on a Lake in the Laurentians where they spent our weekends, and is where her Waterskiing began. Also, she attended summer camps as a child where all she wanted to do was Waterski. Beth learned to barefoot with some friends initially off a kneeboard with none of the right equipment.
Beth found Barefooting exciting and very challenging. At the time (mid 80's) it seemed to be a daredevil/extreme sport. Once her family realized she was not going to give up on the pursuit of learning to barefoot, and that Beth was quite serious about it they felt that a proper coach might be the way to keep Beth safe.
Her first coach was Steve Merritt. Steve taught Beth the foundation which led to many successes. Steve also showed her that to be a success it is not only about talent. She had to be prepared for hard work, training, dedication and focus which was imperative to accomplishing the goals that they mapped out together. Beth would travel back and forth to Florida to train when not in school in Montreal.
Eventually Beth learned to jump with the coaching of Mike Siepel and Casey Scalise. Jumping to Beth, was the ultimate although she never lost respect for the ramp and the danger it presented.
Career Highlights:
Beth Leboff competed predominantly in the US Southern region and in Canada. Her years of competition where 1989 - 1993 at which point she had graduated from McGill University and was living in Florida skiing full time. After the 1992 World Championships she decided to go to law school, but wanted to remain in Florida so as to continue skiing. Beth then started law school in 1993 in Ft Lauderdale where she met husband, Scott McCullough. Still living in the Ft Lauderdale area, Beth is a practicing attorney, wife, and Mother of 2 year old Matthew and 7 month old Jordyn.