Summer is here and in full swing! Now that school is over, let skiing begin!

Spring Tournament Wrap Ups

Jayna Trotzig Memorial

Written & Contributed by Matt Knafla

Early Saturday morning, the Great Plaines Kicked off their first spring tournament of the 2010 season with Men’s Slalom.  For being so early in the year we saw some outstanding short line skiing. Skiing deep into 28 off Paul Tierney from Missouri State placed 3rd, in Second Tyler Lorenz from Madison ran 1.5 at an impressive 32 off, bring home the gold from Iowa State Matt Knafla skied 3 at 32 off. Next we moved on to the lovely women’s slalom event, with only two women running a complete pass. Maddy Baldwin of the University of Iowa just squeaking by took first with 2 buoys at 32 mph, coming in second place from Missouri State was Jordan Dutro with 1.5 buoys at 32 mph, and rounding out the top three was Sam Guiford with a 3.5 buoys. As the day went on the temperature kept rising and the winds surprisingly stayed calm, making this by far the nicest Iowa State spring tournament ever. It was so nice that there was a hand full of skiers taking lake showers, a very rare sight, reserved for fall weather. Men’s trick made for an exciting event with the top three guys tricking over 1000 points. Placing in third was Dan Shuman from Iowa State with 1120 points, taking second place from Iowa State with 1890 points was Matt Knafla, and placing first with an impressive 2780 points was Tyler Lorenz form UW- Madison.  Moving onto women’s trick, in a three way tie for second place with 410 points was Lauren Sprenger from Madison, Jemma Wahl from UW- La Crosse , and Stephanie Elhoffer from Missouri State. Since time permitted we were able to start and finish women’s Jump on Saturday evening. Leaping 48 feet from Missouri State was Jordan Dutro who placed third, coming in second place with 50 feet was Lauren Sprenger from Madison, and Maddy Baldwin yet again taking first place jumped 63 feet. Saturday night made for an exciting night celebrating a wide variety of holidays from Christmas to Earth Day. Men’s jump rounded out the tournament bright and early Sunday morning. Placing in third place was Paul Tierney form Missouri State with a jump of 97 feet, taking home second place from Iowa State was Paul Ogren with a 119 foot Jump, and Tyler Lorenz with a boot of 139 feet placed first. Yet again another first for the Jayna Trotzig Memorial Tournament, Iowa State did not win the tournament but placed third overall. Taking second place overall was UW- Stout and with a safe margin of victory was the Badgers of UW- Madison.

Dayton Buoy Bash

Written & Contributed by Derek McLachlan

Well Friday was a bit rainy during practice but that didn't stop us for long. Saturday was on the windy side but still let a few post some decent scores. It was apparent though that there is some rust to knock of before spring. One of the big highlights was watching our new recruit Kyle Dammeyer get 2.5 at 32 off. Kyle says hasn't ever jumped much (maybe at all) but looks forward to learning this summer and being ready for the fall. The top scores in the A-team were Kieth Sattler from BSU getting 1.5 at 22 off, Brad Ruff edging me out by 10 points for trick with a score of 750 points. Kayla McClure once again dominated the girls getting 2 at 32 off, and tricking 1270 but couldn't pull off the backflip at the end of her run. Red bull was there with bean bags and a tent, and the tournament was pulled by a new Nautique 200 and new (and one old) tournament team Mastercraft.

Neosho

Written & Contributed by Kindra Grossmeier

Despite the extreme winds and rain the weekend of April 24-25^th the tournament proceeded like always in Neosho, WI.  The tournament was hosted by the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  Friday night started out well with a giant bonfire that provided the teams with warmth in the cold wind and starting of the rain.  Saturday morning started off wet, rainy, and cold but the skiers endured, the plan was then to get all of A team done before the nasty weather was to hit.  The day started off with A team Men’s slalom simultaneously along with A team Woman’s Slalom.  The top two mens slalomers were Matthew Knafla with a score of 69.00 and second was Ryan Brooks with a score of 58.00.  The top two womens slalomers were first Heather Donen with a score of 51.00 and Laura Bernhard with a score of 2.00.  Next the tournament moved right on to A Men’s and Women’s trick and finally squeaked in both A Men’s and Women’s Jump and B Team Jump.   The trick scores were for women being first Laura Sampson with 410 points and in second was Lindsay Frensz with 400 points.  The men’s winners were first place being Tyler Lorenz posting a score of 2,280 points with Matthew Knafla in second with 1690 points.   Even when the jump situation wasn’t looking like it would get finished due to the jump getting off set from the wind some determined men jumped in the cold water to save the day.  Top two Mens Jumpers were Ryan Brooks with a jump of 100 feet followed by Tyler Lorenz with a 99 foot jump.  The top two Women Jumpers were Heather Donen with a jump of 67 feet followed after by Laura Bernhard with a 42 foot jump.  Saturday night included a chilly fiesta of a theme of “Party in the MCWSA”  where there was guest appearances from stars such as Lady Gaga, The Spice Girls, The Beetles, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, and Nick Jonas.  Teams braved the weather again Saturday night and then made strong finishes on Sunday morning completing the B Team line ups.

Hawkeye Hypothermia

Written and Contributed by Tom Stelzer

Friday afternoon was looking grim for Hawkeye Hypothermia 2010. Storms brewing throughout the state of Iowa threatened the viability of Friday practice and safe camping for the night. Luckily, the ski gods smiled on Northeast Iowa, and there were sunny skies as far as the eye could see by 6pm. After the early arrivals got in their practice sets, the evening’s shenanigans could begin. There was a bonfire, beverages, and much rejoicing with regards to the weather and being reunited with our MCWSA brothers and sisters. But of course, everyone was safely tucked away in their tents by 10:30 ish pm.

On a warm cloudless morning, boats were being put in the water by 6:50am. The shanty town alongside Eagle Lake in Evansdale, IA, was nearly lifeless. However, after a couple quick course mappings for the beautiful 2009 Mastercraft Prostar 197 and the 2009 Ski Nautique 206, Men’s Slalom was ready to being. Before our 8am start time, most of men’s round 1 was already down to the dock with only minor, gentle coaxing required to draw skiers from their tents. Teams came off the dock swerving well with buoy counts into the 50s in the first round. After a fiery start, the winner’s final buoy count was 78 by Ryan Brooks of Wisconsin Stout. The only skier to run 15 off, 36mph. Second place went to Matt Knafla of ISU with 68 buoys, and Jon Bice took 3rd with 65.

Men’s B Team Slalom followed Men’s A with the winner, Chris Musset of The University of Iowa, capturing 2 buoys on his sideways-double-booted-slalom-ski-with-goofy-extra-fins-thingy (I believe they’re called wakeboards).

Up next was Women’s Slalom. It was a 1-2 buoy total shootout until along came Brittany Lynch of Iowa State University. She tore through the course on one of those wakeboard things raking in 20 buoys over 4 passes; consequently landing her in second place for the event. Maddy Baldwin came along a couple skiers later and grabbed 2.5 buoys at 22’ off, 34 mph to put her into first place. Laura Bernhard of ISU and Brigid Burke of Wisc-Madison tied for 3^rd with 2 buoys each.

After the conclusion of Women’s Slalom, it was trickin’ time. The gents came off the dock with two skis, one ski, and the increasingly popular, wakeboard. Despite some stellar 2 ski trick runs and inverts galore from the shredders (wakeboarder term), the solo trick skiers took the top spots. Matt Knafla of ISU took 3^rd with his toe pass, Craig Planton of Milwaukee took 2^nd place, and none other than Daniel Shuman of ISU took first with a tremendous performance throwing down 1120 points worth of tricks.

Men’s B trick was a close battle with only a 160 point spread from top to bottom. Shane Burke of Iowa State managed to edge out Chris Mussett of the University of Iowa for the top spot.

Following the gentleman again came the ladies. Just like the fellas, the women proved that two trickers or a wakeboard are no match for the elite few that can tame the wild beast known as a single trick ski. Those rogues atop of the leader board spun like crazy and etched their names in the history books with Brigid Burke and Lindsay Frensz of Wisconsin-Madison nabbing 3^rd and 2^nd place, respectively. Maddy Baldwin of Iowa rocked her toe pass accumulating 1710 points in less than 20 seconds.

The women barely had enough time to towel off before they were in their jump suits and headed over the beautiful 5ft red wedge. Women’s A jump landed Andrea Tragos of Marquette in 3^rd place with a 38 foot leap, and Brittney Lynch of Iowa State squeaking into 2^nd with a 39 footer. Maddy Baldwin took home the gold with a 70 foot boot.

The sun was on its way down, but we weren’t done yet! Men’s Jump was a race against time, or at least daylight. Very respectable scores from the 50s-70s were being posted until the big guns came along in the final round. Craig Planton of Milwaukee took himself into the century club with a 101ft leap on his second jump, putting him in 1^st place until Jon Bice of Wisconsin-Stout slipped into his team’s D3’s and catapulted himself 104 feet. However, there was one more man to come. Knowing the score to beat and lucky enough to be last off the dock, Tim Camodeca of Wisconsin-White Water took a mean cut to the ramp and turned it into a first place worthy 109ft jump on his second attempt.

Men’s B team and officials managed to get their jumps in before dark as well. The B team top spot was determined by a mere .1 meters. Chris Mussett, on his wakeboard, yet again, beat out David Southwick, both gentlemen from the University of Iowa jumping 39 feet. Chris’ 11.9mtr leap nipping David’s 11.8mtrs.

The overall winner’s of the day are some familiar names from each event. Women’s Overall went to Maddy Baldwin of Iowa, followed by Brittney Lynch of Iowa State, and Brigid Burke of Wisconsin-Madison. Men’s Overall winner was Dan Shuman of Iowa State, followed by Ryan Brooks and Jon Bice of Wisconsin-Stout, respectively. Men’s B overall went to Chris Mussett of Iowa.

As you’re all probably getting slightly bored with my excessive wordage by now, I’d like to thank all participants in Hawkeye Hypothermia 2010, and especially thank you to all who helped out in any way during the weekend! We couldn’t have gotten the tourney done in one day without everyone’s help and cooperation. Thanks again and happy skiing!

Love,

Tom

The Midwest Welcomes a New Ski School

Kevin Melnuk, a collegiate skier for Arizona State University, has started a ski school in Jerseyville, IL. A prime location for Midwestern skiers. I asked Kevin to give us some information about his new ski school and how it got started.

I decided to start a ski school for a couple of reasons.  First, I have always enjoyed coaching my friends and helping others improve in the sport andsecondly, collegiate skiing has really made me want to do more coaching.  I've really enjoyed coaching every level of waterskiing at ASU from beginners to world - class skiers.  ASU and collegiate skiing has given me more exposure to more beginners and it’s a great opportunity for me to give back to the sport I love.

The ski school will be hosted at a private lake in Jerseyville, IL, which is just outside of St. Louis, Mo.  The camps start June 7th and run until July 23rd.  Skiers can book by the set, day, week or whatever they prefer.  Room and board are included when a student books for the week.  Anyone who is interested can

check out my website www.kevinmelnuk.com where they will find pictures of the site, info about me, rates, and much more.

Miss South Dakota…a former MCWSA skier!

Written and Contributed by Ashley Colburn

What do water ski tournaments and beauty pageants have in common? Duh…The swim suit competition of course. Emily Miller is currently Miss South Dakota and an alumnus of the Missouri States water ski team.

When Emily was a freshman at Missouri State her parents encouraged her to join a club. All throughout high school she had been involved in a number of clubs and various community organizations. College was no different she went to a career fair and discovered the water ski team. That’s where her love for skiing began. Emily quickly learned to slalom ski, wake board, and jump ski. Though skiing became a passion that Emily loves, her life long dream has always been to become a Radio City Rockette. Emily’s parents urged her to get serious about pursuing her dance career. So she transferred to University of Nevada Las Vegas, were she is majoring in dance and performance, and is minoring entertainment and accounting. When she made the transfer to UNLV she really had to start all over and make a whole new set of friends. This was another experience of creating new bonds, and really focusing on what most important to her, which is her future in dance. Emily will be graduating in December and then moving to Los Angeles, California to pursue opportunities as a professional dancer.

On May 16^th Emily will be competing in the Miss USA pageant at the Planet Hollywood hotel in Las Vegas. Her ultimate goal is to make the top five, which would be a major accomplishment since South Dakota has not made the top fifth teen in the last thirty-seven year. Emily said “It’s a new year and that she has been training really hard with some really great coaches so right now she is comfortable and confident, the nerves have not set in justEmily said her experiences participating in collegiate water skiing are very similar to participating in her pageants. “You get to travel all over and meet new people and it is constantly changing and exciting.” She described the feeling of going into a pageant like going into a jump, “you don’t know if you are going to land or if you are going to crash and burn.”

Emily’s experiences in the  water ski world prepared her to expect the unexpected. So far her favorite experience of being Miss South Dakota is getting to go into schools and inspire children, explain to them that they should pursue their dreams and always take opportunities to learn and grow. With that said let’s support Emily while she makes her dreams come true and set a new personal best of making the top five in the Miss USA pageant.

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________