In their first year competing in Division I, the Lake City Skiers also will serve as host team to the Central Region show ski regionals Saturday and Sunday."We're definitely very excited to host the Central Region, being we're bringing 10 teams" to Warsaw, said tournament director Gary Hawblitzel. It's the most teams ever represented in Central Region, he said.
The Lake City Skiers won Division II nationals back to back in 2006 and 2007. With the double win, the team had to move to Division I competition this year.
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 host site for this weekend's regional competition is Hidden Lake, behind Smith Tire, Ind. 15, Warsaw. The Lake City Skiers perform their show every Tuesday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on the lake so it's a lake the team knows well.
There is no admission cost to get into the tournament, which begins Saturday at 7 a.m. with individual swivel competition. In individual swivel, each skier has 10 minutes to perform a routine on the water.
Following individual swivel is the doubles competition, then the jump team competition.
Once all the individual competitions are completed, the first Division II team takes to the water to perform a one-hour show. Hawblitzel estimates that may begin at 11 a.m. Saturday. Five Division II teams compete Saturday, with the sixth Division II team competing at 8 a.m. Sunday.
After the last Division II team finishes Sunday, the Division I competition begins. There are four teams competing in Division I this year at regionals.
Hawblitzel said the Lake City Skiers should be performing their show by about 2 or 3 p.m. Sunday.
"We're very excited about venturing out into new challenges," Hawblitzel said.
Teams come from Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Missouri for regionals, Hawblitzel said. He estimated the teams alone may bring 1,000 to 1,500 people into the community.
The show for the Lake City Skiers this year is "Robin Hood of Warsaw: Prince of Skis," according to skier John Conley. The show is a spoof of "Robin Hood: Men in Tights."
"It's a lot of work, a lot of work," said Conley. "It's going to be a funny show."
Conley plays Robin Hood.
Some of the featured acts in the ski show include the barefoot slingshot, bigger pyramids and a wakeboarder backflipping off the jump ramp.
Ty Patrick, show announcer, said, "The Lake City Skiers are very excited to be hosting the Central Region regional ski competition."
For information on the Lake City Skiers, visit their Web site at www.lakecityskiers.org or call 574-267-3718.
