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Meet Our Captains 2023

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

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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

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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.

Grady Barrett

Bio:Grady Barrett (aka. The Grom) has been with us since 2018 with 2023 being his first as a Captain. Grady was born and raised in Tahoe City and first learned to conquer the waters right here on the west shore. Although he is the youngest captain we have he is a well know face around these pirated waters. Grady has a special affinity for the outdoors being a product of these mountains, he spends his winters charging the slope of the neighboring mountains. His favorite season of the year is spring since he can spend half the day on the slopes and the other half in these deep blue waters. You won't find a better captain for Surfing, Skiing, or Tubing than "The Grom"

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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!!!!!!

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JT Faust

Bio: JT has been with us since the start of the 2023 Summer. San Diego native, JT grew up wakeboarding and waterskiing on a Southern California stretch of the Colorado River. In 2017 he began instructing wakesurfing, wakeboarding, and waterskiing as a Coast Guard Certified Captain for San Diego State University. JT Decided to move to Tahoe in the Spring on 2023 to teach watersports on the grandest alpine lake in the United States. When he's not wakeboarding he is rock climbing, backpacking, and high lining in the mountains. The outdoors are his calling and he will find a way to get you to love them too!

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!

Mason Schmidt

Bio: Second Son to Owner Lee Schmidt, Mason has nothing short of perfect affinity for any and all watersports. Growing up at "Daycare Water Ski School" gave Mason the edge for boat driving with him being able to solo park boats before he could complete full sentences. After growing up living the lake life Mason graduated from North Tahoe High and decided to test the ocean waters. He attended SBCC where he not only excelled at school but also at surfing. He brought this newfound talent back to Tahoe transitioned it to Wakesurfing and has pushed clients, employees, friends, and family to engage in the sport and has been able to lift them into new ability levels.

Ralph Castillo

Bio: Ralph has been with us as a captain since 2023. He was born In Visalia California. He moved to South Lake Tahoe after spending a few years in mammoth lakes. You’ll most likely find him in a terrain park during the winter months at the iconic Sierra at Tahoe where he works in their terrain park department. He’s on the slopes every day in the winter shredding his snowboard with a smile and on the water in the summer where over the years wake surfing has become a passion for him. Ralph loves his time on the water and will give you all the stoke you need to excel behind the boat!

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.

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