2010 has been an incredible spring and summer with more great guests and memories than we could imagine! Time has passed so quickly, that here we are it's the first of August and there are only 3 more months left in our 2010 season! We have been so busy with all of our guests there just has not been enough hours in the days to get our blog posts out! We finally did it...another awesome lesson from Terry a relevent pro skier and coach(and now neighbor) that spends everyday thinking about our sport and ways to improve his water skiing and ours! Those of you who have been here know exactly what I'm taking about...
MISHAWAKA — Jared Sharkey, 19, of Mishawaka has 10 Indiana state water skiing titles and holds three state records. He is presently ranked #1 in the state and #11 in the country in trick skiing.
"Jared has the desire," said his father, Randy. "And desire outweighs talent any day of the week."
And Jared is a very talented water skier. But all of his success didn't just happen. Jared was groomed for greatness. Randy started him on skis at the age of three.
"Just him holding me," Jared said. "Eventually he got me worked out to the back of the boat. And if you look at the pictures, you can see me crying back there. I did not like it at first. But as you can see now, I'm kind of into it."
"I wasn't sure they were going to like it," Randy said, "but I was sure hoping they were going to like it."
Three-year-old Kimberly Westover of Mesa, Ariz., will be the youngest competitor to ever participate in the GOODE Water Ski National Championships when the 68th annual event takes place Aug. 8-14 at Waters Edge in Wilmington, Ill. Kimberly, who turned 3 in April, qualified in the Girls 1 (ages 9 and under) division based upon her performance at the 2010 Western Regional Water Ski Championships, July 21-24, in Caldwell, Idaho. A top-five placement at the Regionals earns an athlete a berth in the Nationals.
Kimberly placed second in tricks (80 points) and third overall (361.6 points) at the Western Regionals. Kimberly’s older sister, Katelyn, 5, also will be competing at the Nationals. Katelyn won the Girls 1 tricks (950 points) and overall (1,278.3 points) titles at the Western Regionals.
Kristen Baldwin of Windermere, Fla., currently holds the distinction of youngest athlete ever to compete in the Nationals. She was 5 years old when she competed in the 2007 Nationals in Arvin, Calif. Lucille Borgen, who was 94 years old when she competed in the 2007 Nationals, holds the mark for oldest competitor.
More than 800 of the nation's top water ski athletes from across the United States are expected to compete for national titles in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall in respective age divisions and two Open divisions at this year’s Nationals. Advancement to the national championships is primarily earned through placement on the national rankings' list for respective divisions.
Simply put, this is one of my favorite skis in a long time. Marketed under the HO brand as opposed to the more prestigious Syndicate brand, the Coefficient-X may not be on every skiers list of top skis and that is a huge mistake. This is an easy to ride shortline super ski. This ski is distinct from every other high end ski on the market, and it does things I wish every other ski did.
A part of Makayla Haw wants nothing more than to spend time this summer with her friends, going to the movies and the mall and on day trips.
The other part knows that if the 16-year-old wants to remain one of the world's top junior water-skiers, she must spend her free time training in the man-made lakes behind her Rio Linda home. That's the part that usually wins.
"I love the sport way too much to quit," she said. Right now, she's at the pinnacle.
Haw is the world's top-ranked water-skier for her age group in the slalom – similar to the Olympic skiing event – and No. 3 in the jump.
She was featured on Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" page in the magazine's July 19 issue. From Aug. 5-8, she will represent the United States at the 2010 Water Ski Junior Worlds in Brescia, Italy.
"I'm gonna be stressed out that week," she said. Not that that's out of the ordinary.
Haw's passion for water-skiing is like an addiction, she said. She likes the individual aspect of the sport because – water and weather conditions aside – she controls her fate. She feels at home in the competitive water-skiing community, which is like a big family.
Milwaukee – July 15, 2010 – Milwaukee’s lakefront Veteran’s Park Lagoon will host its first ever waterskiing event when the Malibu Open makes its debut on August 6-7. The world’s top professional water ski athletes will compete in traditional slalom and long-distance jumping events for $50,000 in prize money. Free-style jumping and barefoot skiing demonstrations round out the exciting 2-day program, which is open to the public with free admission.
The Malibu Open is enjoying a whole new popularity with the range of athletes from Will Asher, World Slalom Champion, to Freddy (“Nightmare”) Krueger, currently World Jump Champion and World Record Holder. Similar events have been held in California, Michigan and Alabama.
In slalom skiing, athletes navigate through a six-buoy course at constant speeds of 36 mph at a initial 13-meter line. After completion of each pass, the rope is shortened to increase difficulty. In the breathtaking long-distance jumping, skiers race toward a 6-foot high ramp reaching speeds of 70 mph. World Champion Freddy Krueger, known as the “Michael Jordan of Long Distance Ski Jumping,” recently jumped a phenomenal 236 feet at the Global Invitational night finals held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
According to event organizer Dana Reed, “Professional waterskiing events are usually held on private lakes, so we are very excited about the perfect venue that Milwaukee offers the Malibu Open. People might be surprised to learn that the lagoon meets the minimum width and length requirements. Finals will be held Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., with 18 light towers lighting up the lagoon so it resembles an airport runway.”
The Malibu Open is a free event for family, friends and all to enjoy. The event is produced by Pro Slalom Events and sponsored by Malibu Boats. Concessions and parking will be organized by the Milwaukee County Parks Department.
VISIT Milwaukee markets Greater Milwaukee to tourists, convention and meeting planners nationally and internationally and is dedicated to ensuring our guests are
warmly welcomed and enjoy an enriching experience in this jewel of the Great Lakes. VISIT Milwaukee has more than 750 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services and area businesses. Tourism generated $2.3 billion in spending in Greater Milwaukee in 2009 and supported about 58,000 local jobs. The City of Wauwatosa, Frontier Airlines, Potawatomi Bingo Casino and the Wisconsin Center District are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs. For more information call 1-800-554-1448 or visit www.visitmilwaukee.org.
Waterskiers held on tight as powerboats pulled them across the 26-mile channel from Long Beach to Catalina Island and back again, during the 62nd annual Catalina Ski Race, July 17.
Each year, large crowds of spectators -- on shore and on the water -- gather to watch the heated competition. This year, spectators lined the docks of Pier J, Queen Mary to see which skier would be the first to cross the finish line. On the water, boaters had a front seat to the high-speed race that had 77 entries this year, an increase over last year.
“It went very well, with one of the closest finishes in history,” said Ken Vaughn, race director for the 2010 Catalina Ski Race.
Todd Haig of Riverside County was out to defend his record of 50:13, but came in second to Australian racer Peter Proctor -- by one-half second. Nine-time winner Haig came in at 55:55.26, and Proctor took the event with a time of 54:54.39.
LAKE WASHINGTON — Jacob Vasquez is blind — and an excellent water-skier.
Such uncommon pairings, however, are not so uncommon when the Mankato Area Adaptive Ski Program hits the shores of Lake Washington.
Vasquez is one of a handful of individuals with disabilities who regularly attend the program’s summer skiing events. There were five events scheduled throughout the summer with two remaining on Aug. 3 and 10. (The program also coordinates twice-weekly downhill skiing events at Mount Kato in the winter).
Margo Druschel, program coordinator, said the water events can accommodate up to six people — and there are spots available for the final two events.
The 19-year old Vasquez, who graduated recently from Madelia High School, acknowledged that jumping on skis for the first time is a bit scary. But, he said, fear quickly gives way to more empowering emotions.
“After you get started,” said Vasquez, who has attended skiing events both on snow and water for three years, “the freedom is the reward. The freedom of lake air and water splashing in your face.”
CALDWELL -- Four-hundred of the best water skiers in the region were out on the water today in Caldwell.
The 2010 Western Regional Water Ski Championships attracted skiers of all ages from 13 western states.
They will compete for regional titles in Jump, Slalom, Tricks and overall events.
Skiers pulled out their fanciest moves to impress the judges and the crowds.
Organizers say there has not been an event of this kind and size before anywhere in Idaho.
"We bid on the event two years ago. The Western Region Council just like any other large event, they take the bids into consideration, different sites. Whether they think the event best be held. They obviously like our site. And so we had about two years to prepare and get ready for it and it's here now and hopefully we could host it again in future," said organizer Mike Young.
If you want to catch some of the action, the championships continue Friday and Saturday.
They start at 7:30 a.m. at the Broadside Harbor in Caldwell. It is free to the public.
MISHAWAKA — Jared Sharkey, 19, of Mishawaka has 10 Indiana state water skiing titles and holds three state records. He is presently ranked #1 in the state and #11 in the country in trick skiing.
Three-year-old Kimberly Westover of Mesa, Ariz., will be the youngest competitor to ever participate in the GOODE Water Ski National Championships when the 68th annual event takes place Aug. 8-14 at Waters Edge in Wilmington, Ill. Kimberly, who turned 3 in April, qualified in the Girls 1 (ages 9 and under) division based upon her performance at the 2010 Western Regional Water Ski Championships, July 21-24, in Caldwell, Idaho. A top-five placement at the Regionals earns an athlete a berth in the Nationals.
A part of Makayla Haw wants nothing more than to spend time this summer with her friends, going to the movies and the mall and on day trips.
LAKE WASHINGTON — Jacob Vasquez is blind — and an excellent water-skier.