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If you haven’t been to the beach at Silver Lake Park in Fenton, Michigan, on a Tuesday evening, then you probably wouldn’t know about one of the area’s best-kept secrets that has been making waves since 1960 — water skiing.
Actually, it's more than just water skiing, it's show skiing.
“When I bring it up to many of my friends in college, like, no one really knows. It's not very big in our state,” Silver Lakes Ski Club show director, Lexie Affrica, 19, of Fenton, said about the club that puts on free weekly shows during the summer months.
She has literally grown up with the team, skiing since she was only 2 years old. She said she is following in the footsteps of her father, Sean Affrica, who skied professionally around the world and at Sea World. Her mother also is the announcer for the team during this year’s theme of "Silver Lake Resort and Spa."
“It's huge in Wisconsin, huge in Florida, but not a lot of people know about it here in Michigan,” Lexie Affrica said.
That’s because there currently are only three active groups in Michigan that compete — only about a third of what there once was, says Brenda McLouth, the group's membership and social media chair.
On a hot summer evening, the team switched in and out of colorful outfits between 13 acts before hitting the water, despite the windy conditions, in front of a small crowd gathered along the grass overlooking the beach.
“I didn’t realize they dress up and they perform, and I live right down the road,” said Thea Evans, of Fenton.
“Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the Silver Lake Resort and Spa vacationers,” announcer Patty Affrica, of Fenton, said while being met with a cheer from the crowd.
“The people that know that it has been here love it, and they come out and watch it every year,” said Kristen Stilson, of Fenton. “You'll also find, like, the niche of people that have lived in Fenton, that have no idea that we even exist.
“It's a little bit sad because it used to be such a large sport and it's decreased.”
She says the year-round practice requirements from some high school sports also have impacted the ability for some to perform.
“The team is old. The kids are aging out. They're going on to college and stuff like that,” said Dave Sprague, 60, of Fenton. “Hopefully, there are some families that'll start stepping up and being in the show. We need it. We just need young blood.”
To be a part of the show team takes commitment: There are practices multiple days a week, along with shows and tournaments for the group. Parents are a part of the support team, and there are multiple fathers and daughters involved.
“It’s one of the only sports you can do and actively compete with your kids on a team at any age, and not as a coach,” said Russ Fortin, 42, of Linden, who was a pilot for the U.S. Air Force that once participated with clubs in Kansas and Ohio.
His wife, Ellen Fortin, also of Linden, grew up water skiing and helped him develop beyond slalom and barefoot skiing. They moved to the Fenton area specifically to be a part of the team after looking at lakes around the state to see who had a ski team.
Now, they have brought their 6-year-old and 3-year-old daughters into the sport.
“I’m skiing with her. She’s yelling at me. I’m yelling at her to get better,” he joked about his 6-year-old.
While many members of the club grew up on a lake, for some it was love at first sight.
“I grew up in Ohio, so this is not what I thought I was going to be doing for my sport. But I came here and I watched a show for Fourth of July and I said that’s what I want to do. I think the most challenging part is just getting over your fear of doing it, because it can be really scary,” Eliza Wells, 17, of Fenton, said.
Wells performed in six acts, including being at the top of the prefab pyramid. In this maneuver, the women climb on top of wooden structures to get into formation on the shoulders of the men who make up the base of the pyramid, wearing thicker, heavier wooden skis called show boards, as they wait for the snap of the ropes attached to a boat to launch them from a floating dock.
Wells said, for her, it’s the adrenaline rush — which also can be a little terrifying.
“The way I describe it is, it’s cheerleading on crack. We go out and cheer, and are pulled along the water anywhere from 10-25 mph.”
But sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Wind, waves, a problem with a rope or a slow start from the boat and the whole thing comes crashing down.
“It takes a lot of getting used to it. You put a girl on you and all of a sudden the dock start becomes difficult, especially at four tiers," Fortin said. "For the guys in the middle, it is very heavy: You’ve got hundreds and hundreds of pounds on you.
“You don't move. You lock your shoulders, lock your back, and then it hurts later. But it’s worth it. It’s fun or else we wouldn’t be here.”
Despite the challenges — a lack of practice opportunities for some members, there were a decent amount of falls and the conditions on the water weren't ideal because of wave action — the skiers were applauded as they took to the shore at the end of the show.
“Some days are good. Some days are bad. But we had fun and no one got super injured. That’s all we can hope for,” Erik Petiprin, 20, of Fenton, said.
There is a show skier superstition where it is better to ski a bad show before heading to a tournament (they were preparing for a tournament in Warsaw, Indiana), than none at all, to ensure they get better.
“We’ll do it again next week and hopefully it goes better.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Silver Lake Ski Club's water show is Fenton's best-kept secret
Continue reading...
Actually, it's more than just water skiing, it's show skiing.
You must be registered for see images attach
“When I bring it up to many of my friends in college, like, no one really knows. It's not very big in our state,” Silver Lakes Ski Club show director, Lexie Affrica, 19, of Fenton, said about the club that puts on free weekly shows during the summer months.
She has literally grown up with the team, skiing since she was only 2 years old. She said she is following in the footsteps of her father, Sean Affrica, who skied professionally around the world and at Sea World. Her mother also is the announcer for the team during this year’s theme of "Silver Lake Resort and Spa."
“It's huge in Wisconsin, huge in Florida, but not a lot of people know about it here in Michigan,” Lexie Affrica said.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
That’s because there currently are only three active groups in Michigan that compete — only about a third of what there once was, says Brenda McLouth, the group's membership and social media chair.
On a hot summer evening, the team switched in and out of colorful outfits between 13 acts before hitting the water, despite the windy conditions, in front of a small crowd gathered along the grass overlooking the beach.
“I didn’t realize they dress up and they perform, and I live right down the road,” said Thea Evans, of Fenton.
“Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the Silver Lake Resort and Spa vacationers,” announcer Patty Affrica, of Fenton, said while being met with a cheer from the crowd.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
“The people that know that it has been here love it, and they come out and watch it every year,” said Kristen Stilson, of Fenton. “You'll also find, like, the niche of people that have lived in Fenton, that have no idea that we even exist.
“It's a little bit sad because it used to be such a large sport and it's decreased.”
She says the year-round practice requirements from some high school sports also have impacted the ability for some to perform.
“The team is old. The kids are aging out. They're going on to college and stuff like that,” said Dave Sprague, 60, of Fenton. “Hopefully, there are some families that'll start stepping up and being in the show. We need it. We just need young blood.”
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
To be a part of the show team takes commitment: There are practices multiple days a week, along with shows and tournaments for the group. Parents are a part of the support team, and there are multiple fathers and daughters involved.
“It’s one of the only sports you can do and actively compete with your kids on a team at any age, and not as a coach,” said Russ Fortin, 42, of Linden, who was a pilot for the U.S. Air Force that once participated with clubs in Kansas and Ohio.
His wife, Ellen Fortin, also of Linden, grew up water skiing and helped him develop beyond slalom and barefoot skiing. They moved to the Fenton area specifically to be a part of the team after looking at lakes around the state to see who had a ski team.
Now, they have brought their 6-year-old and 3-year-old daughters into the sport.
“I’m skiing with her. She’s yelling at me. I’m yelling at her to get better,” he joked about his 6-year-old.
You must be registered for see images attach
While many members of the club grew up on a lake, for some it was love at first sight.
“I grew up in Ohio, so this is not what I thought I was going to be doing for my sport. But I came here and I watched a show for Fourth of July and I said that’s what I want to do. I think the most challenging part is just getting over your fear of doing it, because it can be really scary,” Eliza Wells, 17, of Fenton, said.
Wells performed in six acts, including being at the top of the prefab pyramid. In this maneuver, the women climb on top of wooden structures to get into formation on the shoulders of the men who make up the base of the pyramid, wearing thicker, heavier wooden skis called show boards, as they wait for the snap of the ropes attached to a boat to launch them from a floating dock.
Wells said, for her, it’s the adrenaline rush — which also can be a little terrifying.
“The way I describe it is, it’s cheerleading on crack. We go out and cheer, and are pulled along the water anywhere from 10-25 mph.”
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
But sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Wind, waves, a problem with a rope or a slow start from the boat and the whole thing comes crashing down.
“It takes a lot of getting used to it. You put a girl on you and all of a sudden the dock start becomes difficult, especially at four tiers," Fortin said. "For the guys in the middle, it is very heavy: You’ve got hundreds and hundreds of pounds on you.
“You don't move. You lock your shoulders, lock your back, and then it hurts later. But it’s worth it. It’s fun or else we wouldn’t be here.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Despite the challenges — a lack of practice opportunities for some members, there were a decent amount of falls and the conditions on the water weren't ideal because of wave action — the skiers were applauded as they took to the shore at the end of the show.
“Some days are good. Some days are bad. But we had fun and no one got super injured. That’s all we can hope for,” Erik Petiprin, 20, of Fenton, said.
There is a show skier superstition where it is better to ski a bad show before heading to a tournament (they were preparing for a tournament in Warsaw, Indiana), than none at all, to ensure they get better.
“We’ll do it again next week and hopefully it goes better.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Silver Lake Ski Club's water show is Fenton's best-kept secret
Continue reading...
