Skier Recognition Steve Plummer
In 1965, the Plummer family’s summer neighbor on Lake Webster taught Bob, Nancy and Steve how to ski, then signed them up for show skiing with the Ski Bees ski club.  Steve Plummer took that plunge into show and tournament skiing that ultimately led to a career as Bart’s Water Sports Center sales manager.
Steve credits the Ski Bees’ welcoming environment for kick starting a lifelong love for the sport.  Skiers of all age, gender and ability grabbed skis and headed to the dock for hours of fun together.  In 1967 the Ski Bees encouraged Steve to attend his first Indiana State Waterski Tournament, setting in motion a consecutive string of competitive participation that was ended by an untimely surgery in 2020.  In 1983 he began serving as a Regular Judge, achieving Sr. Judge credentials in 1991.  Yes, he attended and officiated at the 2020 State Meet, and loves the interaction between skiers and officials who do their best to assure that skiers have a great opportunity to perform their best.   
Among Steve’s fondest tournament memories is a pre-cruise control Nationals Mens 1 Jump event in Metairie, LA.  On his enthusiastic, pass #1 counter cut at the 500’ buoy the driver throttled him… hard!  It took the safety boat crew several minutes to clean up the ensuing yard sale at the wrong end of the lake!
For 56 water ski seasons, IWSA Hall of Famer and Rollie Williams Service Award winner Steve Plummer skimmed over Indiana waterways.  During that time he ranked at the top of Indiana and Midwest Region 3 event skiing in all age divisions. 
No more. 
Last October Steve and Becky sold the snow blower and moved to Winter Haven, Florida.
The Plummer’s enjoyed an 80 degree high on the day of this interview.  They said that maybe in July they’ll grow weary of the heat.  For now, “wintertime” activity includes Pickle Ball and Steve thinks he may take up swimming and alligator wrestling, both available at their lakefront.  Son Jeremy may want to take a trip south to discourage the latter!
We wish Steve and Becky a great retirement life in FL!
​
John Kniesly

The Indiana Waterski Association Junior Development Program is pleased to inform you that two of our Indiana Juniors have been selected to the USA Waterski National Junior Team.
We are pleased to introduce our States Selections to the USA Waterski Junior National Team,
Julie Mishler:  Milford, Indiana
Samantha Hoops:  Coatesville, Indiana
These two skiers have worked extremely hard to achieve their positions on the Team to Represent the United States n 2021.
Read the full article here:
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Water-Ski/News/2021/January/22/AWSA-Selects-National-Junior-Water-Ski-Team

​Regards,
Kent Hoops
Indiana Junior Development
Indiana Waterski Association

Skier Recognition Dan Reed
Many of you may not know that Dan Reed spent most of his early life on his
feet, waterskiing, playing baseball, football, riding dirt bikes, and even playing in a rock
band.
In his early 20’s, he was badly injured while repairing a warehouse loading
dock and underwent a year of difficult physical therapy until he could walk, then ski,
once again. Twenty years later he broke his leg playing volleyball and the injury
set in motion a formerly benign neurological condition that paralyzed his legs and
left him in a wheelchair, permanently, in 2000.
In 2001, at age 45, Dan was invited to a Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program disabled water ski clinic at Morse Reservoir and was amazed to discover the opportunity to waterski, once again. His first Disabled
Nationals tournament in 2004 began a record that included his receiving the 2007
Royce Andes Award for "A Promising New Nationals Skier". Subsequently, his
selection to four US Disabled Water Ski Teams led him to compete in the bi-annual
World Disabled Waterski Championships, winning Gold with the Team three times, 2009, 2011, and 2015 – he
was hospitalized for 5 months in 2013 with a life-threatening bone infection and
missed the entire season, including the World Championships in Italy.
Dan serves both his national disabled ski organization, USAAWS&WS, as well as the IWSA on their boards
of directors and, until the Indy Skiers ceased operation on a now drained Lake Indy, he was also a Board member in that club.
Last summer Dan was able to finally score his first full tournament pass on the outer slalom course
and, along with friend and fellow IWSA member Jerry Hodges, is helping mentor and coach talented Toby Days toward the same goal, hopefully to his first Nationals, joining Dan at his 11th.
Not one to surrender to adversity, Dan looks forward to performing once again on stage with
one of his best friends of 35 years and fellow Strum Brother, Bob Moore, as soon as Covid-19 blows town.
​Dan is grateful and sincerely thanks his many IWSA friends and Adaptive Team members for all of their support over the years, then and now!

John Kniesly

Virtual AWSA Judges/Scorers Clinic on 2/20/2021
A virtual AWSA Judges/Scorers clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 via Zoom. If you are interested in participating, please contact Lisa Fitzgerald-Fuerst at lisa@doortodoordriving or (414) 349-9027 and provide her with your name and membership number. Lisa will provide you with any technical requirements/instructions.
Clinic Fee Payment: All clinic participants must pay a $10 clinic fee to USA-WSWS. Payment can be made via PayPal to [email protected] with member's name, membership number and clinic sanction number (21CL010) included in the Notes section.
Clinic Credit: The virtual clinic fully meets the clinic requirement for rating maintenance, upgrade and reinstatement credit and is approved by the AWSA Judges and Scorers Committee.
Clinic Schedule: Use the link below to view a listing of currently sanctioned clinics. Check back often as this list is updated as new clinics are sanctioned.
https://www.teamusa.org/.../For.../OfficialsClinics.pdf...
Thanks again for volunteering your efforts for our great sport!
MELANIE HANSON
Director of Membership Programs
Officials' Program Coordinator
USA WATER SKI & WAKE SPORTS (USA-WSWS) | MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICIALS PROGRAMS
2701 Lake Myrtle Park Road, Auburndale, FL 33823-9360
OFFICE: 863-324-4341 Ext 115 | DIRECT: 863-508-2096 | FAX: 863-325-8259
#WeAreWaterSki

Skier Recognition Jerry Hodges
This week's Skier Recognition Honoree is a "behind the scenes" IWSA member and water skier.  I think the most significant attribute is "he loves water skiing!"  Jerry Hodges is an Indiana transplant from Oklahoma/Kansas from roughly 20 years ago.  He is a life long recreational skier that caught the disease of skiing the course when he appeared at the Fairland Monday Night Ski series in 2005 and then became active with the White River Indy Skiers when they formed.  You could find him and his boat on White River nearly every weekday evening and weekend, skiing and pulling skiers. The Indy Skiers did organize several Community Water Ski events promoting water skiing and, are dearly missed since White River became un-skiable. Maintaining a ski course in the river was a challenge and many times the course and supplies ended up downriver in Martinsville after several significant floods.  Jerry quickly appeared with air tanks, mask and flippers, ready to reinstall anchors, main line, and buoys. Then came the opportunity to join some others and he became a co-owner of Brewski Lake on the Southeast side of Indianapolis. His water skiing abilities improved enough for him to appear and ski in several State Championships.  He didn't set any records but that didn't diminish his enthusiasm for the sport.   Jerry had knee replacement a couple of years ago which kept him off the ski for only a few months!  In present times, you can find Jerry at Brewski Lake pulling skiers, giving coaching pointers to able body and disabled skiers, water skiing, on a mower or tractor, and of course, drinking a "cold one!"  

*We would like to see more suggestions for the Water Skier Recognition series.  Nominees can be anyone associated with water skiing in any degree.  
Dave Jarrett

Skier Recognition Megan Lambert
This nomination for Water Skier Recognition makes me feel ancient!  I have personally watched Megan Lambert grow and mature from childhood into adulthood.  The Lamberts have all been involved in water skiing for years, installing portable courses in public lakes and then, joining ski clubs and most recently being members at Silent Shores near Thorntown.  We watched Megan become a first class competitor and also volunteering as a rated driver and judge. She has also been seen coaching and assisting in recent Monday Night Ski Leagues.  You may also have seen her articles in the Water Skier Magazine.    As for all of us, 2020 has been challenging for Megan.  She lost her job early in the summer as a personal trainer.  She packed up her suitcase and ski and headed for Coble Ski School and hired on as a counselor teaching youngsters to water ski.  She took time to ski in the Southern Regionals, earning the top award  in Women's 2.  In the Nationals, she tied for first place then.....lost in an exciting "double runoff"  for second place in Women's 2 slalom.  Then she returned home, emptied out the apartment and headed for Seth Stisher's and worked as a driver in the fall term.  Looking towards the winter months, Megan applied for and received a job offer to work the ski slopes at Vail Colorado for the 2020-2021 season teaching snow skiing to youngsters.  I think she is "living the dream!"   We all look forward to seeing Megan back at Silent Shores and Indiana events  in 2021.

We need more nominations with accompanying information.
Dave Jarrett
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