The Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Perpetual Trophy is a prestigious award in memory of Barbara Bolding, who passed away in 1992 after a five year battle with cancer. Barbara was introduced to the sport and its athletes by Jim Grew, her fiancé at the time of her passing. She felt an affinity with the skiers who had to face and were continuing to face so many challenges. Between bone marrow transplants, she attended several Disabled National Championships in Michigan and the 1989 World Disabled Championships in Perth, Australia. She felt at peace in such a cohesive community, as if embraced by a large, energetic family. 

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Barbara was a skilled pen and ink artist. Athletes awarded the Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Award receive a certificate with her last drawing, used in a fund raiser, based on the photo of a single tree taken in Megeve, France where she and Jim were vacationing in winter. The motto of this award is "Dare to Soar", one which not only represents who Barbara was but is as fitting as the trophy housed in the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Museum depicts a 14" high, specially crafted crystal eagle emerging from a granite cylinder placed on a plain 4 foot wooden base that narrows from bottom to top. Athletes winning this award have their names added to a plaque next to the trophy. 

This prestigious award is given to the youngest athlete placing 1st at the National Championships to encourage continued participation and passion for adaptive water skiing.