Waterhawks Ski Team takes audience on a 'Vacation'
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier Online -
Waterhawks Ski Team takes audience on a 'Vacation'
By KELSEY HOLM, Courier Staff Writer
EVANSDALE - Who knew Clark Griswold was so talented on a pair of water skis?
With its new season, the Waterhawks Ski Team will share Clark's "talent" with the Cedar Valley. The 2004 season, titled "International Cruise Vacation with the Griswolds," is a play on the "National Lampoon's" movie franchise, which features Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a man whose family vacations become hilarious adventures.
In the Waterhawks' version of a Griswold vacation, Clark and his colorful cast of characters visit Florida, Jamaica, Fiji, Hawaii and Australia on a cruise. Incorporated into the skits and dialogue are plenty of water-themed stunts.
"It's not just people skiing and doing pyramids," says Deb Landau, public relations director for the Waterhawks. "The show comes along with it. It's quite a production."
The Waterhawks have been going strong since 1958, and membership now numbers at about 100, with 60 of those performers. The nonskiing members have plenty to keep them busy, both on- and off-season.
"We worked all through the winter time getting costumes ready and ski acts and scripts," says Landau. "We've been busy since October, but we start dry land (practice) in January."
As the show director, Shannon Beasley is involved in every aspect of the Waterhawks season, from the theme to costumes to dances.
"This year I had a tremendous amount of help. Some people were really good at making props and using their artistic abilities," says Beasley. "The announcer is fantastic at writing scripts for the show. She and I do it together. We do a lot of group stuff. Everyone gets a good feeling out of it; they feel like they're part of the show."
Beasley has skied since she was 5 years old and skied professionally at Sea World for nine years. She says being a skier helps her write a realistic script. She knows how to order things to make the show go smoothly.
"You have to make sure what you're writing allows the skiers, boat drivers or water to be ready for the next act," explains Beasley.
For example, if someone has to ski barefoot, they require very calm water. So if the previous act involves boats and a lot of waves, Beasley incorporates an on-stage dance number before the barefooting begins to give the water sufficient time to calm down.
Each Waterhawks show lasts approximately an hour, in part because with each performance, the team is practicing for tournament events, which usually have a 60-minute time limit.
The Waterhawks took first place in the categories of pick-up boat crew, showmanship, barefoot skiing, jump and overall show in last year's Division II Nationals competition. This year, the Waterhawks will host the competition Aug. 7-8.
As a nonprofit organization, the Waterhawks Ski Team doesn't charge for the entertainment-packed, hour-long shows. Any income generated from the club's annual Haunted Hayride and show donations is put back into the club for maintenance and expenses. Beasley believes it's part of what makes the club so unique.
"You sit down for an hour and a half and get fully entertained by something you're not able to see in any average place. Going and watching a ski show is definitely a unique thing," she says. "And you can't even go to the movies for free."
Waterhawks Ski Team takes audience on a 'Vacation'
By KELSEY HOLM, Courier Staff Writer
EVANSDALE - Who knew Clark Griswold was so talented on a pair of water skis?
With its new season, the Waterhawks Ski Team will share Clark's "talent" with the Cedar Valley. The 2004 season, titled "International Cruise Vacation with the Griswolds," is a play on the "National Lampoon's" movie franchise, which features Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a man whose family vacations become hilarious adventures.
In the Waterhawks' version of a Griswold vacation, Clark and his colorful cast of characters visit Florida, Jamaica, Fiji, Hawaii and Australia on a cruise. Incorporated into the skits and dialogue are plenty of water-themed stunts.
"It's not just people skiing and doing pyramids," says Deb Landau, public relations director for the Waterhawks. "The show comes along with it. It's quite a production."
The Waterhawks have been going strong since 1958, and membership now numbers at about 100, with 60 of those performers. The nonskiing members have plenty to keep them busy, both on- and off-season.
"We worked all through the winter time getting costumes ready and ski acts and scripts," says Landau. "We've been busy since October, but we start dry land (practice) in January."
As the show director, Shannon Beasley is involved in every aspect of the Waterhawks season, from the theme to costumes to dances.
"This year I had a tremendous amount of help. Some people were really good at making props and using their artistic abilities," says Beasley. "The announcer is fantastic at writing scripts for the show. She and I do it together. We do a lot of group stuff. Everyone gets a good feeling out of it; they feel like they're part of the show."
Beasley has skied since she was 5 years old and skied professionally at Sea World for nine years. She says being a skier helps her write a realistic script. She knows how to order things to make the show go smoothly.
"You have to make sure what you're writing allows the skiers, boat drivers or water to be ready for the next act," explains Beasley.
For example, if someone has to ski barefoot, they require very calm water. So if the previous act involves boats and a lot of waves, Beasley incorporates an on-stage dance number before the barefooting begins to give the water sufficient time to calm down.
Each Waterhawks show lasts approximately an hour, in part because with each performance, the team is practicing for tournament events, which usually have a 60-minute time limit.
The Waterhawks took first place in the categories of pick-up boat crew, showmanship, barefoot skiing, jump and overall show in last year's Division II Nationals competition. This year, the Waterhawks will host the competition Aug. 7-8.
As a nonprofit organization, the Waterhawks Ski Team doesn't charge for the entertainment-packed, hour-long shows. Any income generated from the club's annual Haunted Hayride and show donations is put back into the club for maintenance and expenses. Beasley believes it's part of what makes the club so unique.
"You sit down for an hour and a half and get fully entertained by something you're not able to see in any average place. Going and watching a ski show is definitely a unique thing," she says. "And you can't even go to the movies for free."
posted by DP at 8:13 PM
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