The 16-year-old is ranked number one overall in the world for junior boys in barefoot skiing, having won an abundance of titles during the past two years.
He said it was an awesome feeling to be crowned the junior Sportstar, adding the award came as a surprise.
“It feels good, I wasn’t expecting it to be honest,” Ball said. “I’m pretty happy.”
“I was pretty surprised, I had no idea. I didn’t think I’d won it, but I thought I did pretty well.”
Ball said his dad Stuart broke the news he had won the award, and initially he thought he was joking
“I was told by Dad and I didn’t know if he was playing around or not, and then a few people messaged me and from then on it sunk in, it’s awesome,” he said.
Ball said there were four people in particular he wanted to thank for helping him throughout his career.
“Pete O’Neil and Brett Sands are my coaches, they have gone out of their way to help me over the years and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them and especially my parents Andrea and Stuart, they have made it all possible for me.”
Ball competed at the virtual World Junior (video) Tournament in 2020, placing second, just a miniscule 1.78 points behind the winner.
Ball said the virtual tournament was a strange experience, with competitors filming their run independently before submitting it to be judged, but one he was certainly proud of.
“I wasn’t as nervous because nobody was watching, but it felt weird, it didn’t feel normal,” he said.
“That would be one of my biggest achievements, being able to compete in one of those high categories against those people.”
Ball said winning at nationals and getting one of the top spots in the world were also two of the accomplishments he was most proud of.
Part of what makes Ball so exceptional are his skills across the three categories of waterskiing — slalom, tricks and jump.
Ball competes in all three categories and his success across the board has helped him claim multiple “overall” titles.
But he said there was one category he enjoyed the most.
“I do have a personal favourite, and I would say it is jumping,” he said.
“I love flying through the air and I love the crowd that’s there.
“There is always a crowd at the jumps, it’s awesome.”
Ball finished first overall at the Australian Barefoot Championships in 2021, having finished second overall at the Australian National Titles in 2020.
He also finished first overall at the Victorian State Titles in 2020 and 2021, placing first in the tricks, jump and slalom in 2021.
Among his other accolades, Ball was selected to the Australian team for the 2020 World Barefoot Titles in Sydney.
Looking towards the future, Ball said he was excited to compete in world’s next year in February.
“Hopefully it won’t be over the screen like it was last time,” he joked.
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