The Midwest is home to abundant lakes and rivers, making it a popular destination for water ski shows, which have been performed by organized amateur and professional teams since the 1940s. Often referred to as “aquatic Broadway musicals,” water ski performances can feature anywhere from several water skiers to dozens. Teams perform choreographed routines set to music and built around a theme to tell a visual story for the audience.
Spring and summer tend to be when most water ski shows are offered. Many performances are free for the public and incorporate crowd interaction, making them a great group activity. From colorful costumes and challenging stunts to impressive displays of athleticism, Midwestern waterskiing teams offer an entertaining and memorable experience.
Waterskiing was invented in Minnesota, also known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” by Ralph Samuelson in 1922, whose early performances on Lake Pepin with homemade skis began to attract crowds, ultimately leading to him performing around the state. The Midwest Ski Otters are a nationally known team from St. Paul that was founded in 1995 with only 13 members. The program has since grown to feature over 200 members and has more than 20 former professional water skiers. This team has developed multiple regional and national champions and has had a team member on every USA Water Ski Show Team since 2012. Shows are free and run from June through August, with shows starting at 6 p.m. on Sundays at Little Goose Lake in the suburb of White Bear Lake.
The Twin Cities River Rats are another Minnesota team with 100 members ranging in age from 5 to 65. Established in 1979, they were originally part of the University of Minnesota Water Ski Club. In 1985, they began performing exhibition water ski shows and now compete at both the regional and national level—this past summer placing second at Midwest regionals. They offer around 19 free shows every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day and are a nonprofit organization. Performances run about 1 1/2 hours long.
“What makes us so special is the group of volunteers that make our shows possible,” says Morgan Williams, marketing director and also a team member. “From skiers to sound personnel, we are 100% volunteer run. We love our Minneapolis community and putting smiles on the faces of fans and skiers alike.”
Credit: Plum Ski-ters
Known as the “show ski capital of the world,” Wisconsin has close to 30 water ski show teams across the state and hosts the largest water ski show tournament of its kind: the annual Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Championships. Founded in 1950, the Min-Aqua Bats water ski show in Minocqua is the longest-running amateur water ski show in the world, and their shows at The Aqua Bowl start mid-June and run through mid-August. They perform a variety of acts, and their two-hour shows start at 7 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Run by student volunteers in middle school, high school, and college, they operate as a nonprofit and the performances are free to attend.
“The club originated in 1950 when a group of local young water skiers were waterskiing for fun and started growing a crowd that grew bigger every week,” says Meghan Meitus, president of the Min-Aqua Bats. “Eventually, they started a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and bought a boat. Seventy-five years later, we continue to amaze crowds every summer.”
Another Wisconsin team, the Plum Ski-ters, was founded primarily by Nick Seegert, whose parents owned a resort and marina on Plum Lake in Sayner. The club’s founding members borrowed towboats and pickup boats to perform along the resort’s shoreline, and it became a popular attraction among locals and visitors. They offer around 24 shows every summer from mid-June through Labor Day, and each show is about an hour long. Shows are free and can be watched from State House Point.
“Beyond the teamwork of group acts, the audience will enjoy thrills of many outstanding individual sensations,” says Alexis Sieg, the team’s marketing and PR manager, “including prestigious swivel skiers, adagio doubles couples that perform dazzling lifts while waterskiing, gravity-defying members going off the jump ramp, and members flipping on wakeboards and trick skis.”
Indiana’s only competitive water ski show team and a nonprofit, the Lake City Skiers were founded in 1989 and have won numerous awards over the years—including multiple Division II national championships. Their themed productions, which include an announcer, music, and costumes, are held on Hidden Lake in Warsaw. Shows are an hour long and are performed on Sunday and Tuesday from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Performances are free, with the exception of one that serves as the team’s annual fundraiser. The youngest member is 3 and the oldest is in their 70s. After shows, attendees can enjoy a meet-and-greet with the skiers.
Though practiced across the country, show skiing is especially popular in its Midwest birthplace. If your itinerary doesn’t take you near one of these shows, you’ll find ski teams in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio as well. Be sure to look one up for a unique experience of summer fun in the Midwest.
By Kamala Kirk
Main Image: Lake City Skiers, Warsaw, Indiana; Credit: Lake City Skiers
