Winter wardrobes often include warm, cozy sweaters and big fleece jackets. But for members of The University of Memphis Water Ski Club, skin-tight wetsuits were key in a successful showing at the New Year's Day Ski Freeze held at the Mud Island Harbor.
"I wore a drysuit to keep my entire body except for my head, hands and feet completely dry. As soon as I fell I was shivering, but it was a lot of fun and for a great cause," said junior Kimberly Henrikson, vice president of the ski club.
The Ski Freeze is a fundraising event benefiting the Dream Factory - a nonprofit organization that plays fairy godmother to many 3- to 18-year-olds suffering from a chronic or critical illness. The event is in its 28th year of raising money for the nonprofit group.
This year the Ski Freeze welcomed unusually warm weather that invited some spectators along Riverside Drive to enjoy the event in shorts and T-shirts. Although the mild mid-60s weather made for a pleasant viewing, the 48-degree Mississippi River added a chilly challenge for all skiers.
Former president of the Water Ski Club and recent U of M graduate, Lindsey Keep, said the water was "ice cold." Keep even demonstrated his signature flying dock start to avoid those few bone chilling seconds in the water waiting for the boat's pull. Only about 300 people in the nation are able to execute the flying dock start, according to the Ski Freeze announcer.
As one of the primary founders of the club, Keep said establishing a team at U of M has been a longtime dream of his. He has been skiing competitively for six and a half years and hopes to "make the sport of waterskiing available to all U of M students as well as improve their water safety and awareness skills."
Keep helped establish the Water Ski Club in spring 2004, and is also busy establishing The U of M's name in the rest of the collegiate waterskiing world. In the Tommy Bartlett Collegiate Extreme Championships held Sept. 10 through 12, he placed fourth in the men's barefoot and eighth in the barefoot team.
"All by himself. Not bad," said Jonathan Carter, corporate advisor.Carter, a former sailing instructor and member of the Florida State University Water Ski Team, has lived in Hawaii, California and Florida, an asset that has made him familiar with many popular water sports."I know about water sports and marine safety, which go hand in hand. I do want to instill in the minds of The U of M students that it is absolutely critical that all marine rules be followed," Carter said. "I have already been talking to the U.S. Coast Guard and the State of Tennessee about receiving training, coursework and certification. It is crucial that our members set the foundation for safety on the water."However, water sports are not limited to coastal areas."In reality, water sports depend on 'flat' water. Lakes and rivers are better for water sports than an ocean, gulf or coastal waterway," he said.With Arkansas' Horseshoe Lake just 30 minutes from Memphis, the Water Ski Club is able to conduct practices Monday through Friday during warmer weather. Weekend practices are held at Horseshoe Lake, about an hour and a half from Memphis in Mississippi, on Pickwick Lake, on the Tennessee River.The fall 2004 membership included 30 students, but both Keep and Carter would like to see this number grow.The club would also like to receive official recognition from U of M as a team, not just a club. "We want to have a club for all interested students, but from that club, the best of the best will compete for a spot on the team," Carter said. Eventually he hopes this team will be able to compete and travel around the United States just like any football or basketball team.While The University of Tennessee Water Ski and Wakeboard Team is provided with a new Mastercraft tournament ski boat each year, The U of M's club still needs more sponsors to fulfill equipment needs.A lack of support and the expenses involved with waterskiing has put a hold on their team goal, said current president of the club, sophomore Chris Brown, marketing and management major. For now, the club will focus on making the recreation available to all interested students.
