Shortline Lakes History

Shortline Lakes

Shortline Lakes was developed in the early 1990s as one of the world's first competition water ski communities. The three man made competition lakes are built to exacting specifications, with 12:1 or greater slopes on all banks, turn around islands on every end, a perfectly flat bottom ensuring wake uniformity, and fed by crystal clear fresh spring water. The lake bottom and banks are made of naturally occurring white sugar sand.

Shortline Lakes is located just 1/2 mile from the Gulf of Mexico and the famous beachs on the Emerald Coast. Santa Rosa Beach is less than four miles from Destin and about 25 miles from Panama City Beach.

The Pickos World Ski Center owns Lake Adam & Lake Alexis, the two primary competition ski lakes. Lake Adam, which is the larger lake, has a world record certified Slalom, Jump, and Trick Course. A new Duggan steel frame & fiberglass surface jump ramp was installed in 2007. Lake Alexis has a world record capable Slalom Course.

The site has been home to many of the top tournaments in the World over the past several years, including two USA National Water Ski Championships, several AWSA Southern Regionals, the U.S. Open (1992 & 1993), U.S. Elite Team Trials (2007), Pan American Championships, U.S. Junior/ Under 21 Team Trials, Junior U.S. Open (2006 & 2007), and the Pickos Superstars for the past four years.

The tournament site is about as perfect as you can get for world class skiing. To attest to that fact, their have been six World Records established at Shortline Lakes, including Sammy Duvall posting the first jump over 220' and Mandy Nightingale's 2006 World Trick Record. The site claims not only World Records in all three events, but so many National, Regional, and Foreign National Records that it is impossible to tally.

The Pickos World Ski Center is led by Cory Pickos, 24 time World Record Holder and a legend in the sport. Other athletes that are permanent members of the coaching staff include many time world champion Regina Jaquess; world class Overall/ Trick skier Javier Julio; and the 2007 Under 21 World Trick Champion Adam Pickos.