50 Years of Waterskiing to be Remembered

For the 50th time young water skiers from the Lake Metigoshe area will take to the water this week for their annual show But in honor of the silver anniversary of Club de Skinautique the young skiers will be joined by alumni of the club - dating back to its first show in 1958 Skiers young and less-young were getting in their final practice runs today Jim Olson reports from Lake Metigoshe Jim Olson KX News For almost 50 years this little patch of water has launched local water skiers to opportunities even careers on the water That was the case for Brad Henry who skied here from 1978 to 1983 before getting hired at Sea World Brad Henry Orlando I just applied for a job water skiing at Sea World in the mail and they hired me over the phone From there about 23 or 24 of us have skiied there since Jim Olson KX News But for every skier who started on Lake Metigoshe and went on to skiing professionally there are dozens who simply skiied their way into lifelong friendships Jerilyn Parks Gillette Wyo I was asked this past week if I had to choose between a high school reunion and a ski club reunion which one would I choose And when I told one of my high school classmates that I would choose the ski club reunion she didn t understand Jim Olson KX News Jerilyn Parks s father was instrumental in getting the ski club going back in the 1950s and 60s Her whole family was involved including Burdette Parks Burdette Parks New York Skiing then was much less common than it is now so a lot of people then had not really seen very much skiing Sandee Watne Wiedrich It s been 20 years since we ve been up on skis And we re going to try it Jim Olson KX News The Watne sisters now live in Phoenix Boat Driver You guys ready Jim Olson KX News But they re happy to be back on the water How was it Candess Watne Hunter It was great to be back up on skis It was like Oh my God even at this age it brings back all those memories of all our fun times out there Amazing Jim Olson KX News It s the kind of excitement the current president of Club de Skinautique hopes new members of the club appreciate - and realize the kind of opportunities that can arise from this little bay Johna Pritchard Club President One person went to Europe It s taken people places from a little lake in North Dakota Jim Olson KX News And when the show gets going for real both on Tuesday night and Saturday night at seven this hill will be filled with people enjoying the show And they hope you re part of the crowd At Lake Metigoshe Jim Olson KX News The Club de Skinautique 50th Anniversary Show is Tuesday and Saturday night this week beginning at seven each night The ski area is located on the northwest part of the south lake at Lake Metigoshe