This page is part of the Watertown Riverfest 2007 website

 

 

Saturday and Sunday

August 4 and 5

1:30, 4 and 6 p.m.

Must-Skis website

 

The Beaverland Must-Skis water ski show team will be making a return splash in the Rock River when they perform for two days during the Watertown Riverfest celebration.

 

The Must-Skis were formed about 12 years ago when Erich Zellmer, formerly of Watertown, and four other skiing enthusiasts got together at a marina in Beaver Dam. “We all had a common interest in skiing and an interest in show skiing and decided it would be a good place to start a team,” Zellmer said.

 

The ski show team is based in Beaver Dam with Tahoe Park on Beaver Dam Lake their home base.

 

Zellmer is one of the original organizers of the group that was formed in 1995. “About five of us got together at a marina in Beaver Dam and we all have a common interest in skiing,” he said.

 

“We usually do two off site locations a year,” Zellmer said. The Must-Skis perform anywhere from 16 to 20 shows a season, he added.

 

The group performed at the 1998 Riverfest Celebration at Riverside Park, Zellmer said. “We have definitely grown and are a much better team,” he added.

 

Last year the team was named the Division II Wisconsin State Champions following competition in Wisconsin Rapids. The members participated in a world record 48 person pyramid at the competition in September of 2006.

 

 

The year before, in 2005, the club finished second at the competition, Zellmer said. “We are on an upward climb,” he added.

 

For the competition, the Must-Skis performed its theme show within 60 minutes, which included its best 13 acts, he added. “Last year we skied almost flawless,” Zellmer said. “We had a few falls in the pyramid acts, but it was a clean show and that is what it takes,” he added.

 

This year’s theme is “Monty Skithon and the Quest for the Holy Grail.” It is based on a Monty Python movie,” Zellmer said.

 

The performances will include pyramids, barefoot acts, and double skiing, Zellmer said. The show includes about five different acts. The performance begins and concludes with a pyramid, he said. “We also plan to bring a jump this year and perform from that,” he added.

 

“We will set up a main dock, or stage near the Division Street bridge,” Zellmer explained. There will be bleachers erected near the walkway at that location, he added. The announcer and sound system will be set up on the water by the lily pads, he added.

 

Zellmer is familiar with the Riverside Park as he was raised just down the street from the park. “I grew up 200 yards from the park,” Zellmer said. “My parents live on Park View Lane and I skied on the river for many years, through high school and college,” he said. “I am really looking forward to the Riverfest show,” he added.

 

The team is composed of about 50 skiing members and 40 non-skiing support members and parents, Zellmer, who is a boat driver for the team, said. “Our skiing members range in age from 7 to 52,” he said. “That really shows skiing is a family sport,” he said.

 

Most of the skiers begin between the ages of 7 and 10 and continue with the show through high school and college. The team practices three times a week.

 

The Riverfest performances will be between 30 and 40 minutes each, depending if there is a fall and if there will be a rerun of an act, he added.

 

The performances are set for 1:30, 4 and 6 p.m. on both Saturday Aug. 4 and Sunday Aug. 5 in the family entertainment area.

 

 

Adam Tobias of the Watertown Daily Times staff