Lake City Skiers Prepare For National CompetitionLake City Skiers are hoping a spoof on the James Bond franchise will help them improve their standings at nationals this year.
The Warsaw-based team's show theme this summer is "The Filming of James Bomb." According to first-time show director Chuck McLaughlin, "We have a lot of comedy in it."Gary Hawblitzel plays a set gaffer in the show. During the course of the show, Hawblitzel has a lot of antics he goes through, and they are real crowd pleasers, McLaughlin said. Each act of the show is a scene portraying a stunt scene in a Bond movie.
The ski team will compete at Division I Nationals in Rockford, Ill., Aug. 7-9. Early estimates are that about 10,000 spectators will be at nationals.
As for goals for the team this year, McLaughlin said, they include "definitely finishing in the top 10. We hope to be close to sixth or seventh."
In 2008, the team placed 10th. "So far this year," he said, "we've done well." LCS won their own City of Lakes Invitational, and won all the box scores. The Warsaw team placed third at Central Region to qualify for nationals.
McLaughlin said the LCS have 22 skiers. The team that finished second had 70. At nationals, there will be teams that have 40 to 50 skiers on the water at one time. However, McLaughlin said the LCS have the talent and expect to do well.
In competitive show skiing, each club has one hour to present a theatrical performance on water skis. Judges score the acts by awarding points based on originality, presentation and execution. Elaborate costumes and staging intermix with music and fast action on the water as an announcer leads the audience through the show.
The announcer for the LCS this year is Keaton Patrick.
Patrick will announce such water ski tricks as the barefoot slingshot, jumps, multiple barefoot acts, pyramids, strap doubles, trios and conventional doubles. The big highlight, McLaughlin said, is the barefoot slingshot. However, six members of the ski team are working on a more difficult act - the three-tier barefoot pyramid. It's a trick that's rarely accomplished and seldom successful.
There is a lot of music in a show ski performance. The music for the LCS this year is 95 percent James Bond music.
"If you're a James Bond fan, you'll like the show. The music anyway," McLaughlin said.
"This show has less on stage, and more on water. It flows faster. The whole show is a faster-pace show," McLaughlin said.
To catch a LCS show before they head off to nationals, spectators can catch one of their shows Tuesday, Sunday or Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Hidden Lake, behind Smith Tire, Ind. 15, Warsaw. All shows are free, but donations are welcome.
"We just need people to come out and see the show. It's a crowd-friendly show," said McLaughlin.
