DETROIT, Mich. - Several more accolades were handed out to the Lake City Skiers last weekend.

At the 2002 Michigan State Show Ski Championship Saturday and Sunday in Detroit, the team won third place.

"It was a good show," said show director Kevin Hayes. "I think we'll peak at nationals (Sunday)."

Club president Randy Patrick said, "We were disappointed with our performance at (the) Michigan Invitational. We expect to do much better and are capable of doing better and will do better at nationals."

Lake City Skiers received 1,608 points for third place. In second was the show ski team from Silver Lake, Mich., with 1,621 points, and Spray Masters, also a Michigan team, received 1,718 points for first. Coming in fourth was the team from Chippewa Lake, Ohio, while Team Aquatics and Syracuse's Ski Fun-atics tied for fifth with 1,320 points apiece.

Weather was a factor over the weekend. During the Lake City Skiers' show, the wind picked up and the water was very rough. In fact, right after the team's performance, the downpour began. "Before the weather, we had a good show. I think we have a better show coming," said Hayes.

"Overall," said skier Chris Wilson, "everyone did pretty good. We had a lot of falls due to the water conditions and weather."

However bad the weather made Saturday's show, several team members still received additional awards.

Mike Wilson and Dee Patrick won first place for best announcers.

"They had a real good show," said Hayes of the duo. "Mike was really there. It pumped Mike up a lot. He was really ecstatic and I think it will help his performance (Sunday at nationals)."

Each of the six teams at the Michigan invitational had 14 acts in their shows. The Lake City Skiers' opening act won the honors for best overall act. The act included a five-man front barefoot step-off with Mark Skibowski, Keith Farmer, Keaton Patrick, Matt Barr and Nate Wilson; Chris and Jakim Wilson doing a barefoot jump-over; and Gary Hawblitzel doing a flip on the air chair.

"The opening act was awesome," said skier Ginger Shriver.

In individual competition, the Lake City Skiers' jump team of Jakim and Chris Wilson and Gary Hawblitzel took home first place.

"The key thing that helped us win first place in jump competition was going out and simply executing the jumps that we're capable of doing," said Hawblitzel.

To win the jump competition, the jump team first did a double helicopter spin with one skier splitting between them on the landing. Next came a single helicopter spin with a front flip and a third person cutting under both of the jumpers while they were still in the air. Finally, the jumpers performed a triple helicopter spin.

Chris Wilson said he expects the jump team to take first place again at nationals. "We'll repeat this year," he said.

On July 13, the Lake City Skiers took first place at the Central Region Show Ski Tournament, Division II, at Rock Island, Ill. With the first-place finish, the water ski show team will compete this weekend at the national show ski tournament. Six other teams will compete against the Lake City Skiers for the Division II National Title.

Despite the weather playing a factor in the team's performance, team members still knows they've got to work hard to win at nationals. Hayes said the Michigan Invitational opened their eyes.

The Michigan tournament, Chris Wilson agreed, was good in showing the less experienced skiers on the team that work is still needed if they want to win nationals this weekend at Rock Island, Ill. Last year, the team placed third at nationals. Wilson said he wants to win first this year.

The biggest competitor, Hayes said, will be the Five Seasons Ski Show team. He said they have competed in division one before, and in previous years, have had pretty big teams. "Why they're division two, I don't know."

The two-day national competition will feature Bayside Skiers, Waterboard Warriors and Lauderdale Aqua Skiers Saturday; Sunday, the teams will be Muskego Waterbugs, Hartwick Huskees Water Ski Club, the Lake City Skiers and the Five Season Ski Show team.

Hawblitzel said, "I like to have our team's mindset on striving for our personal best when going to a tournament or doing a show. We certainly had high hopes for our team at the Michigan State tournament. It was nice to see Mike Wilson come away with first place in the box score for announcing and having our opening act (win). ... Also, coming away with top honors by having the highest score of any act in the tournament (was great)."

Lake City Skiers' fans will notice one addition this weekend at nationals. Jeff Estes, a crowd favorite, who has been out on medical leave for most of the season, is expected to return.

"I'm thinking it should boost our points by a couple hundred points, maybe," said Hayes.

Chris Wilson agreed, saying Estes, "the Elvis Presley of waterskiing," will add a lot of points for the team at nationals with his jumps, gainers and barefooting.

Besides the team competition, several members of the Lake City Skiers will compete in individual competition. Erika Rainwater and Tracey Patrick will compete in swivel competition. Doubles teams of Ashley Wilson and Keith Farmer and Kim Love and Jakim Wilson are scheduled to compete. And the ski jump team will show off their skills in hopes of claiming the ski jump title again.

Due to the late arrival back from the tournament Sunday, the team was unable to perform Sunday at Hidden Lake. However, Hawblitzel said, they send their formal apologies and said people are welcome to come to any of their remaining home shows. The team's remaining schedule includes: Aug. 11, 18 and 25, home shows at Hidden Lake, Ind. 15, behind Smith Tire, all at 5 p.m.

For more information and photos on the Lake City Skiers, visit the team's Web site at www.homier.com/~lcskiers [[In-content Ad]]