Show Skiing… It’s a Sport for the Whole Family June 17, 2009
Posted by eric in : News , add a commentThere are many sports that a whole family can attend together, but there are not many sports that an entire family can compete in together. Show skiing is truely unique in this fashion and one of the local news channels, Channel 3 WISC-TV, did a story on one of the families involved with Mad-City. Follow the link below to view the story on their website.
Mad-City Ski Team Honored at USA Water Ski Annual Awards Reception January 26, 2009
Posted by eric in : News, Press Release , add a commentIn 2008, Mad-City won both the Wisconsin State and Division 1 Show Ski National Championships for the third consecutive year and fourth time in the past five years. To further honor their achievements, the team was selected for two awards at USA Water Ski’s Annual Awards Reception, held in Winter Haven, FL on Saturday, January 24. Not only was Mad-City selected as the National Show Ski Association’s 2008 Team of the Year, but it was also chosen as USA Water Ski’s 2008 Team of the Year. This is the first time that the latter award was given solely to a show ski team. Mad-City was USA Water Ski’s Co-Team of the Year in 2007. It really exemplifies the growing community of show skiing and brings to light the tremendous effort put forth by all teams in the creation of their shows.
Kristen Block & Matt Baumler Accepting the Award for
USA Water Ski’s 2008 Team of the Year for the Mad-City Ski Team
Serving as the 2008 Co-Show Directors, Kristen Block and Matt Baumler had the privilege of representing the team at this year’s event. Held at the Admirals Inn, directly across the street from Cyrpess Gardens, they were truly in a skier’s paradise. The evening began with a slide show highlighting the various water ski events of the past season and was followed up with a full buffet style dinner and finally the awards presentation. “It was an incredible honor to be representing show skiing in a room otherwise filled with 3-event, collegiate, wakeboard, kneeboard, ski racing, barefoot and hydrofoil athletes,” said Baumler. Block noted that there was definitely an air of curiosity surrounding show skiing. Several of the athletes were full of questions about what they do and how they do it. Show skiing is truly a team sport, as was illustrated by their tales of 36 person pyramids, 21 girl ballet lines and 50 person big acts, all being pulled together with top notch boat driving, sound, costuming, pick up boats and dock crews.
Awards were first given out by the individual sport discipline’s organization. It was here that Mad-City was named the National Show Ski Association’s Team of the Year. After each discipline named its respective individuals, teams and honorees, the awards selected by USA Water Ski were then given out. Signifying it’s prestige, USA Water Ski’s Team of the Year was the final award given for the evening. Being chosen as Team of the Year from amongst all other sport disciplines brought to culmination for the team a year’s worth of hard work, dedication and a ton of fun. Winning both Wisconsin State and Nationals has made a name for Mad-City within the show skiing world, but now they are being recognized by the larger population of water skiing in general. Congratulations to the entire team and best of luck in 2009!!!(Story by Kristen Block & Matt Baumler)
Kristen Block and Matt Baumler with Sandy Schraft,
Sherm Schraft and Tom Ghiloni
Mad-City Named USA Water Ski’s 2008 Team of the Year November 20, 2008
Posted by eric in : News , add a comment
The Mad-City Ski Team was just named the 2008 Team of the Year by USA Water Ski. In the announcement, USA Water Ski mentions that Mad-City won the Wisconsin State and National Show Ski Championships in 2008, has won the tournaments for the past 3 years and 4 out of the past 5 years. At Nationals this year, Mad-City won awards for pick up boat crew, towboat driving, sound crew, showmanship, overall show, high individual club act, ballet, barefoot, jump and swivel.
2008 was a challenging year for Mad-City. In early June, Lake Monona, where the team skis, was flooded and made slow no wake due to the extremely high water. The team was able to find a site to ski on Lake Wisconsin, 35 minutes north of Madison. The new site, although it offered good water conditions, also offered challenges as it was really not set up for show skiing. Also, in the middle of summer, the site experienced a blue-green algae bloom so the team was not able to ski due to the toxic conditions. Eventually, the water in Lake Monona did go down and the team was able to ski a couple practices immediately prior to Nationals at their home site.
This is the 2nd consecutive year that Mad-City has won this award. In 2007, Mad-City was co-team of the year with the US Elite Ski Team. It is also only the 2nd time the award has been awarded to a show ski team.
In addition to competing at show ski tournaments, Mad-City offeres free weekly shows during the summer at Law Park in Madison, WI, hosts the Clean Lakes Festival to raise money to help clean the Dane County Lakes and raise awareness of the need to clean up the lakes, and runs a learn to ski program with the Madison School & Community Recreation Program for children of all ages.
A Summer Tradition August 27, 2008
Posted by eric in : News , add a commentThe Capital Times has a great article about the us currently posted on their website. Shawn Doherty, one of the papers reporters, came down this past Sunday and watched our show, interviewed some of the skiers and members of the crowd.
Here’s a short excerpt of the article:
The Mad-City Ski Team’s weekly shows at Law Park near Monona Terrace are a beloved family tradition, and Sunday brought crowd of close to 150 people sitting on bleachers, blankets, lawn chairs and the muddy rocks along Lake Monona.
Stephanie Engelhart-Olson has been coming to shows as long as she can remember, and now the Madison resident’s children and grandchildren come as well for picnics and fun. “This is our Madison,” she said. “It’s where we’re from, and it’s what we know!”
Dave Hesthaven was bringing his two boys to the show for the first time. “Hey, it’s Sunday at Madison,” he said. “It’s summer and it’s a low-stress thing to do with the kids — as long as there’s a Porta Potty.” (There were six.)
Go check out the rest of the article by following the link below. Also, be sure to check out the accompanying pictures.
Links:
Capital Times: Mad-City Ski Team shows a Summer Tradition
Our First Show of 2008!! May 27, 2008
Posted by bugsy in : News, Ski Show , add a comment
Despite the threat of rain, chilly weather and rough water conditions the Mad-City Ski Team kicked off our 2008 season on a positive note May 25th at Law Park.
Following last seasons dissapointing end to the season, that saw torrential rains and flooding put a premature end to our year, we were all ancy to get back on the water, in front of a very nice crowd, and begin our summer long journey to provide great entertainment!!
We have FREE ski shows every Sunday at Law Park at 6:00, all summer long!! We are expecting and looking forward to a great summer with a bigger and better show, even better then last years National Championship team!
We are very lucky to welcome some great new members to the Mad-City Ski Team and the return of the majority of our best skiers who are yearning to show their wares on the water.
Please make sure to check out Jimsphotos.org for a complete recap of our show and keep checking in throughout the season to see his fantastic photography!
Mad-City To Be Named “Water Champion” May 15, 2008
Posted by bugsy in : Clean Lakes Festival, News , add a comment
On June 19th the Mad-City Ski Team is to be recognized by the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission as the 2008 Water Champion!
This award is for Mad-City’s efforts with the Clean Lakes Festival, to be held this year June 7th at Olin Park.
Their will be an awards ceremony on June 19th at the Madison Club plus special recognition by Dane County!!
We are all very pleased to be receiving this special honor and have worked very hard to raise money and organize this very special event to help out our most precious of resources, our local lakes.
Please remember to attend the Clean Lakes Festival on June 7th, for more information please visit the Clean Lakes Website, or the Watershed Commission Website.
Waters Champion
The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission has announced its 2007 Dane County Waters Champion Award recipients. The awards are given annually recognizing individuals, organizations, businesses, and youth that have made outstanding contributions towards the protection and improvement of Dane County’s water resources. Their work has made a positive impact on water quality as well as the scenic, economic, recreational and environmental value of those lakes and streams.
Paul O’Connor Spotlighted in USA WATERSKI Magazine!! February 5, 2008
Posted by bugsy in : News , add a comment
Paul O’Connor, who won the biggest individual award at last years National Tournament, has been profiled in the latest issue of “The Waterskiier”, which is a publication from USA Waterski, the sports governing body.
Those of us within the Mad-City family are already well aware of Paul’s talents on and off the water, including his incredible devotion to the sport, desire to push the boundaries of what is possible on the water and his devotion to his family off the water.
“Show skiing has been a big part of my life for a long time,” he says. “I truly love this sport that has brought me friends, experiences, taught me drive and perseverance, and has shown me my own strengths and weaknesses It has given me ore wonderful memories out on the water that anyone could ever ask for. But most importantly, it led me to my beautiful wife Joey, which is why I will forever be grateful to this sport.
Click the link below for the full article (opens in .PDF)
Modest O’Connor Winner of Gilkerson Award
Mad-City Named 2007 USA Water Ski Co-Team of the Year December 13, 2007
Posted by eric in : News, Press Release , comments closed
The Mad-City Ski Team of Madison, WI was named co-team of the year for 2007 by the USA Water Ski Association on December 11, 2007. The team is made up of dedicated individuals who perform water ski shows weekly in the summer at Law Park on John Nolen Drive on Sunday nights. The team qualified for the Team of the Year award by being named Team of the Month for August shortly after winning the 33rd Malibu Division 1 Show Ski National Championships. It was their 2nd consecutive championship and 3rd in the past 4 years.
The team also won the Wisconsin State Show Ski Tournament in 2007. Like the National Championship, it too was their 2nd consecutive Wisconsin State Title and 3rd title in 4 years. The state tournament was held in Wisconsin Rapids and is the largest water ski tournament in the world.
Commenting on this award, Senior Judge Tom Ghiloni (who was one of the judges at Nationals) said “This is a first for NSSA (National Show Ski Association) to have a team honored by USAWS as team of the year and to be co-team with the U.S. Elite Team I think is a great honor and recognition of Show Ski. Thanks, and congratulations.”
In addition to competing in tournaments and providing free weekly shows, the team also hosts a disabled skier clinic and offers a learn to ski program in conjunction with the Madison School & Community Recreation department.
Links:
Mad-City Press Release
USA Water Ski Press Release
US Olympic Team Press Release
USA Waterski Article on our Championship! October 9, 2007
Posted by bugsy in : News, Tournaments , add a comment
In the most recent issue of “The Water Skier”, the magazine for all USA Waterski Members is a great article about Mad-City and our National Championship!!
Click on the link below for the article in PDF format.
Earning Their Stripes - The Water Skier
Mad-City Ski Team Named USA Water Ski Team of the Month for August 2007 August 30, 2007
Posted by eric in : News , add a comment
Following our second straight National Title, the Mad-City Ski Team was named USA Water Ski Team of the Month for August 2007!!! We also also received this honor last year in August. The full press release shown below.Link: USA Water Ski Press Release
August Athletes Of The Month Selected
* Posted by: usaws
* On: 08/30/2007 14:53:36
* In: USA-WS
USA Water Ski has selected Keith St. Onge (Winter Haven, Fla.) and Brittany Greenwood (Little Rock, Ark.) as its Male and Female Athletes of the Month for August. The Mad City Ski Team (Madison, Wis.) was selected as Team of the Month. St. Onge, Greenwood and the Mad City Ski Team will now be eligible for the United States Olympic Committee’s Athletes and Team of the Month honors.
St. Onge won the Open Pro Men national overall title for the second consecutive year and for the sixth time in the past nine years at the 30th annual Lake Elmo Sports Barefoot Water Ski National Championships, Aug. 14-18, in Alma Center, Wis. St. Onge also won the national slalom and tricks titles during the five-day event. His winning score of 18.6 points in slalom was just two points shy of his current world slalom record, while his winning score of 10,150 points in the tricks event was just 730 points shy of his current world tricks record.
Greenwood won the Girls 2 national overall and jumping titles at the 65th GOODE Water Ski National Championships, Aug. 13-18, in Arvin, Calif. Greenwood, who also placed fifth in tricks and sixth in slalom, finished with 4,217.3 overall points. Her winning leap of 106 feet in the jumping event is a pending Girls 2 national record. It was the second time in the month of August and fifth time this season that Greenwood has set or tied the Girls 2 national jumping record.
The Mad City Ski Team won its third national title in the past four years at the 33rd Malibu Division 1 Show Ski National Championships, Aug. 10-12, at Shorewood Park in Loves Park, Ill. Mad City earned top awards for ballet line, freestyle jumping, swivel skiing, showmanship, overall show, dock and equipment crew, pick-up boat crew, towboat driving and sound crew in finishing with a tournament-high 2,184.5 points in the 14-team field. Mad City’s Paul O’Connor (Madison, Wis.) was named the tournament’s top male performer.
