A new student organization wants to make a splash at TheUniversity of Memphis by encouraging students to get their skion.
Water Ski Club creator and president Lindsey Keep said evenstudents who have no water-skiing experience are invited to learnabout the sport.
The club allows participants to train and compete in numerouswater sports during the summer and fall, including water-skiing,tubing and the more extreme wakeboarding.
"It's both a club and a team, and anyone can participate as longas they pay their dues," said Keep, a U of M senior. "The club isfor everyone, while the team will be for the best competitors."
Keep, who has competed in many water events, decided to bring aski club to his school.
"This is my sport. It's what I love to do. What better than todo it at school," Keep said.
The U of MWater Ski Club begins its first year this summer.There are 13 members, but Keep hopes for at least 30 members bysummer.
Practice will take place at Horseshoe Lake, Ark. And there areplans to compete in the National Collegiate Water Ski Associationtournament in Wisconsin, which will include colleges from acrossthe country including the University of Tennessee and theUniversityof Mississippi. The U of M team will also participate inlocal competitions sponsored by Memphis businesses.
The team's adviser is Jonathan Carter, former member of FloridaState University's ski team and owner of software company Xquizit,which is also a team sponsor. The team is attempting to attractmore sponsors with advertising ranging from logos on the team'sboat to banners on its Web site.
"We're trying to get corporate sponsors and as much exposure onand off campus as possible," Carter said.
Members must pay a fee that covers their insurance, equipmentand tournament fees, as well as a team boat and scholarships forthe best competitors.
Freshman Chris Brown, avid water skier and club member, hascompeted in water sports for many years but said it isn't difficultto participate in the sport.
"It's like any other sport -- it's easy to do, but to exceltakes a lot of work," Brown said.
The Water Ski Club will hold an open meeting tonight at 7:30 onthe second floor of the University Center. Further information isavailable at www.skimemphis.org.
