Ski Show Team returns to Water Fest

Absent from the Beaufort Water Festival for the past four years, the Gatorland Water Ski Show Team didn't miss a beat on Saturday.

About 25 members of the Gainesville, Fla., club took to the water with flags, sequins and some serious upper body strength to perform for a crowd lining the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

Some men hoisted female members above their heads, while the girls and women being lifted had acrobatics skills of their own, from posing upside town to leaning back with their hands skimming the water.

All of the participants are unpaid hobbyists, and many have family members who get involved in the sport by making costumes, preparing props and driving the boats, said Samantha Pinkerton of Gatorland.

"It's the greatest amateur family sport I can imagine," she said.

Some of Saturday afternoon's spectators had been in the water themselves that morning for the 60th Water Festival's annual Raft Race.

A team of Southern Tree Services employees, #limbwalkers, took first place overall and in the commercial division.

Decibel Church's Look at that Aft came in second overall and won the nonprofit division.

The Lowcountry Seabees won third place overall and first in the military division.

And Beaufort Memorial Hospital's Paindemonium came first in its division, the hospital group.

The Raft Race had a slow start as two of the rafts popped before the competition began, said Commodore Bill Damude. However, that didn't deter the competitors.

When asked how they won the event for the second year in a row, the #limbwalkers team members said they don't have much of a technique, aside from some thoughtful weight distribution.

"All year, we strategize and strategize, and then we never practice, and come out and have fun," team member Ronnie Reiselt said. "It's all about having fun."

The Gatorland Water Ski Show Team seemed to be enjoying themselves as well, despite occasional hiccups.

When the rare skier would fall into the water, he or she would emerge a moment later, waving to the clapping crowd.

Most, however, pulled off twists, flips and lifts with seeming ease.

"Gentlemen, get your cameras ready, because they're bringing out the pretty girls now," the announcer boomed as a line of female skiers glided in unison over the water, kicking like Rockettes.

On their way back to the dock, all arms were in the air as they gripped their handles with their feet.

One woman in the crowd, Tiffany Odom of Beaufort, told her two young boys that the ski show was a highlight of the Water Festival when she was a child.

She pointed out the way the boats swung back around so team members could take another pass at the ramp, and the way they flung their handles away and leapt onto the dock when they were done.

In her arms, Hudson Odom's eyes where wide behind his miniature sunglasses.

"Ooh, there they go again!" he yelled. "That was awesome."

Follow reporter Rebecca Lurye at twitter.com/IPBG_Rebecca.

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Ski Show Team returns to Water Fest."