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High Sierra Water Ski School
Watersports Lessons, Boat & Jetski Rentals
Paddleboard and kayak rentals
Meet Our Captains 2022
This List is Alphabetical Order
Aaron "Govy" McGovern
Bio: My name is Aaron McGovern aka “The Gov” now just Govy. I started skiing at the age of 2 and by the age of 8 the T-Bar was my Babysitter. I moved to Tahoe in 1994 and became a professional Freeskier, competing and shooting ski movies for Matchstick Productions and Teton Gravity Research. Though the 90’s and 2000’s I water skied, Wakeboarded and wake skated on Lake Tahoe. I spent years Windsurfing and Surfing in the Ocean. I now am the Head Freeski Coach for the Olympic Valley Freestyle Team. On August 18, 2008 I moved away from Lake Tahoe to Marina Del Rey to surf and become sober. When I moved back to Tahoe in 2010 I wanted to be on the water. I started with High Sierra water Ski School and have developed my craft in teaching water sports at High Sierra over the last ten years. I believe that there is not a sport I have not done that I cannot teach you how to do. Wakesurfing is my favorite water sport for the technical balance, body control and reward that comes with it. The low impact is an added plus. Come ride with me and I’ll teach you how to lay down turns, flip over the wake, float on water, snow and air!
Andrew Carrier
Bio: With us since 2020, Andrew was born in Auburn in 1995. His presence has been known in the Tahoe basin for the last 10 years. Andrew's Passion for watersports came from his love of snowboarding in the winter. Andrew was quick to pick up the ways of wakeboarding and wakesurfing from his background on the snow but loves to teach water skiing as well.
Billy Miller
Bio: With us Since 2021, Billy was born in San Diego in 2000. Billy is a 3 event water skier on the Cal Poly water ski team. Billy started his career in watersports at the age of 4 being coached by Dean Cherry. Billy loves to get people ripping as hard as possible behind the boat. Billy is known at the ski school as "Master of Air" on the Hovercraft. In Billy's leisure time he loves to shred the surfboard and hang out with friends.
Jehren Bohem
Bio: Jehren has been with us since 2017. Jehren was born in 1990. Originally from the Lake Tahoe area Jehren has been in and around boats since he was a pipsqueak. Ask him about the trees, the lake, the clouds and the water! You won't find anyone who love Neature (Yes neature because nature is so neat) than Jehren. Just be sure when you hop in the water behind his boat you yell HIT IT!!!!!!
Lee Schmidt (Owner/Founder)
Bio: Born July 16th 1954, Lee Founded High Sierra Water Ski School in May 1978 and has been running operations ever since. Lee started off his career in watersports in 1964 at the age of 10 competing in all 3 water skiing events (Slalom, Trick, and Jump) till the age of 23 in 1977. Lee has won 7 National Titles in Slalom and Jump. Lee began his teaching career in 1970 at Mike Suyderhoud ski school in Lake Shasta for 2 years and then moved to Modoc Pond Water Ski School till 1977 before finally moving back to Lake Tahoe and has been here ever since.
Liam Bourke
Bio: "Captain Leemo" has been with us since 2018. He grew up wakesurfing the dirty Delta waters and decided he needed a Lake Tahoe detox. He proved that you don't have to know how to read to be a great coach. Not only does he coach all the water sports but he also coaches the U14 North Tahoe Lacrosse team. Don't be scared to throw him a shaka, he'll be sure to send one right back!
Nate Cherry
Bio: Nate has been with us since 2020. Nate was born in 2001 in San Diego. Nate grew up skiing with Captain Billy Miller being taught by the Infamous Dean Cherry. Nate started competing in 3 event waterskiing at the age of 6 earning many medals in regional and national titles. Nate is currently attending Rollins College in Orlando, Florida competing collegiately. Nate finds himself wakesurfing most days training hard earning the title of Open Men Masters Wakesurf Champion. Nate loves teaching people of all ages to get up for their first time but is also equally stoked getting people to land tricks they never thought were possible.
Ryan Conner
Bio: Ryan has been with us since 2020. Born in Tahoe Forest Hospital in 1997, Ryan has his roots right here on the west shore of tahoe staying in the Tahoe City area throughout his youthful years and into his young adult life. Ryan grew up sailing Tahoe and many other places. He started skiing on both water and snow at a young age continuing these passions to the present day. In the winter Ryan is a snow ski coach at Palisades Tahoe for the race program. His average day starts with him waterskiing in the morning and surfing in the evening.