​​Now that the 2021 Water Ski Nationals is history, it's time for water skiers to start establishing new scores for the 2022 water ski season.  Both Silent Shores and Timberlake hosted tournaments on August 28th.  After hot weather all week, everyone was ready to get in the water!  The "grassroots skiers"  started the day with 7 skiers not skiing for scores but skiing for fun and the experience to ski in a tournament.  (Except for the Florian brothers from Boondocks Lake.  I think there was a "wager" in place for top score between the two brothers!)  The Conoboy family from Chicago area skied in both the grassroots division and "C" division.  The most family members skiing award went to the McCullough family from Kodiak Lake with 4 family members skiing.  Round #1 provided excellent skiing conditions for all.  Round #2 became a bit "breezy" to the delight of spectators but not the skiers!  The usually top notch hospitality from the Silent Shores group included the famous "pork burger" lunches.  The final tournaments for 2021 in Indiana include Cindonway Shores on Labor Day, Sawmill Lake on September 11th, and Champion Lake on September 12th.

The Morilee U.S. Open of Water Skiing presented by OJ PropsTHE U.S. OPEN IS BACK...AND IT'S BACK AT THE U.S. NATIONALS
The U.S. Open is one of water skiing's most prestigious major events.  The Morilee U.S. Open presented by OJ Props is the second-largest cash prize purse of the 2021 season, and one of only 2 pro events to feature all 3 water ski disciplines for both genders including the only overall cash event of the season.  This event is sure to bring huge crowds and the top athletes in the world.
Waters Edge, south of the city of Chicago, will host the 24th U.S. Open.  We are excited to bring the event back after 5 years but even more excited to be bringing the U.S. Open back to the U.S. GOODE Nationals for the first time in 2 decades!  An event many water ski enthusiasts have missed watching during their nationals competition.
The world's top water ski athletes will compete for U.S. Open titles in slalom, tricks, jumping, and overall during the two-day tournament.
The 24th U.S. Open will feature $81,000 in cash purse.  With $12,000 in both men and women slalom, trick, and jump, and $3,000 in both men and women overall. Preliminary rounds start Thursday, August 12th, and the finals Friday, August 13th from 5 pm-10 pm, including Men's Jump under the lights.
You can watch the action from 5-7 PM, Friday, August 13, 2021 HERE:
https://youtu.be/4tSnBWRMApQ

Elizabeth Chattin is a senior in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. She has been skiing since she was 7 and started competing in Collegiate and Indiana Waterski tournaments her freshman year of college. She is now the President of the Purdue Waterski Club and hopes to keep skiing wherever she ends up after college. 
Congratulations to Elizabeth for being the recipient of the 2021 Barb Miller Scholarship!

​The Liquid Edge Midwest Regionals ended this past Sunday, 8-1-2021.  Throughout the event, people were sharing photos and commentary on Facebook.   The central location contributed to one of the largest Midwest Regionals in recent years, 364 skiers with 700 pulls in 3 days. It is the largest Regionals in the country (We're tired of hearing about a "declining sport!")  The weather was great for the entire three day weekend. Numerous "PB's" and some new records were set. A big congrats to Charlie Cross, Alexis and Julie Mishler, Samantha Hoops, and Colton Bucher for being selected to the 2021/2022 Midwest Jr. Development team!  Mens 5 slalom with winner Scott Tynan, Chris Clark in fifth, as well as former Indiana, now Ohio skier, Brad Beerman in fourth. Mens 7 slalom with Kim Contos and John Kniesly.  Cool story regarding John. He skied his first Regionals in many, many years, skiing all three events. John won Overall, placing second in Jump, as well as fourth in Tricks and Slalom. He will ski his first Nationals in decades on Sunday and Monday, once again competing in all three events!  A shout out to Dave Jarrett for a fourth place podium finish in Mens 8. Also, one of the most interesting events was the "OM" (Open Mens Slalom) held on Saturday.  Former Hoosiers Cale Burdick and Nate Smith competed against each other for the two top places on the podium with Nate winning the top step. Perhaps "competed" was not an appropriate term as Cale and Nate are long time friends, having grown up together on Champion Lake, near McCordsville, Indiana.  We think all of us who have seen both mature into fine young men have a little love/respect for both.  Here's wishing Cale, Nate, and all of Team Indiana the best and good luck in the Nationals this next week.
GO HOOSIERS!