It’s “The Best Little Ski Show in Town”, and the public is invited to the last Lake City Skiers show before the team heads to Wisconsin for national competition. The free ski show is Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on Hidden Lake, Ind. 15, behind Smith Tire, Warsaw. Division II Nationals are in Tomahawk, Wis., Aug. 6-7, and will be hosted by Kwahamot Water Ski Club Inc. According to show co-director Randy Patrick, the show is about a ski show team in a quiet little town. No one knows too much about it, but the skiers seem to be having way too much fun. If it’s that much fun, it has to be illegal, right? One television anchor thinks so, so he sets off trying to prove the skiers are doing something illegal. Audiences who remember the Dolly Parton movie on which it’s based, the show is a spoof of it and they will get some of the jokes and gags in the ski show, Randy said. Co-show director Tracey Patrick said the acts in the show include barefoot pyramid, sky ski, ballet line, barefoot line, jump, wakeboard, pyramids, doubles, the back breaker and a four-tier pyramid for the final act. Show announcers this season are Ty Patrick and Mike Wilson. The team hopes the public will come to Sunday’s show to help cheer the team on before they head to nationals next weekend. The local ski show team competed at regionals July 9-10 in Rockford, Ill. In that competition, the Lake City Skiers placed sixth out of seven teams. “Our number of skiers are way down this year,” said Randy. “A lot of people have moved on, went to school, gotten married, having kids. We’re rebuilding.” To get more people interested in skiing and the team, the Lake City Skiers will host at least two “learn to ski” clinics later in August. “It’s free family entertainment,” said Lake City Skiers club president John Good. “Family participation, family gatherings. That’s what we want to talk about. Getting families out here and getting everyone involved. ... It’s been family since the conception of it and it continues to be family. “Four nights a week we can entertain you between practice and shows. You’re never too young to start and never too old.” Club vice president Scott Burish said multiple generations participate in the club, and that’s what makes the team so special. “The Patrick family has put their heart and soul in this for over 20 years. It’s work, but it’s fun,” said Good.He said there are 52 total team members this year, including skiers, boat drivers and other support personnel. Team members don’t have to ski, they can work concessions, repair boats, make costumes or provide other help. Sponsors also help the Lake City Skiers, Good said. “Smith Tire treats us so well. Staffords, Clark’s Marina, our other sponsors. The sponsors treat us so well,” Good said. Local hotels provide the team with rooms when they host a competition, he said. Evinrude E-Tec is the motor sponsor for the team. “It’s nice the community is there to support us,” said Burish. “Wherever you go, the Lake City is respected because of Randy and Tracey Patrick and what they’ve done for the show ski world,” said Good. After nationals, the team’s remaining shows of the season will be Aug. 9, Aug. 21, Sept. 4 and Sept. 10, all at 6:30 p.m. For the Sept. 10 show, the Lake City Skiers will have a combined show with the Chippewa team. For more information on the show ski team, visit its website at http://www.lakecityskiers.org/
