BaySide Skiers add four-tier pyramid to competitive repertoire&lt!—-&t;.

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

BaySide Skiers add four-tier pyramid to competitive repertoire

When Albert Lea’s BaySide Skiers head to the Midwest Regional Water Ski Show Tournament this weekend, they’ll be sporting a newly acquired skill.

Just two weeks ago, the club successfully built its first-ever four-high pyramid.

&uot;It feels great,&uot; said Jim Koch, BaySide’s show director.

Koch said the team has been building three-high pyramids for many years, and has been trying to build four-highs for at least three years – as long as he’s been with the club.

&uot;Four-highs are rare, even among the professionals,&uot; he said.

Koch attributes the success to a number of things, including the girls climbing faster and everyone working together as a team.

At the tournament, the BaySide club will perform its show, &uot;BaySide Gameshow Extravaganza,&uot; which it performs each Thursday at 7 p.m. in Edgewater Bay. The local shows are free, but the club does pass the hat during intermission to help defray the cost of gas, equipment upkeep and other expenses.

In the show, three contestants answer water ski-related questions while club members perform water ski acts, including swivel, ballet line, conventional doubles, strap doubles, trios, pyramids, wakeboarding and jumps. The contestant answering the most questions correctly &uot;wins&uot; a trip to the &uot;M Ski M Grand&uot; Hotel in Las Vegas. The show is hosted by &uot;Savannah Pink&uot; (Neda Johnson).

The show was developed by Gretchen Gubbrud, and modified by club members. Koch said the club liked the game show theme because of the current popularity of television shows like &uot;Who Wants to be a Millionaire?&uot;

In addition to Koch, show personnel include Ruth Koch as show coordinator, Neda Johnson as stage coordinator, Brian Zogg and Doug Edwards as preshow coordinators, and Karla Nelson as dock coordinator.

This year’s captains are: Amber Edwards, ballet line; Doug Edwards, barefoot acts; Deanne Zogg, boat drivers; AliRae Weisert and Matt Levorson, conventional doubles; Curtis Clarambeau, final pyramid; Brian Zogg, pre-built pyramid; Mike Johnson, strap doubles/ trios; Jill Otterson, swivel; and Matt Levorson, wakeboard/ kneeboard/jump.

This year’s tournament is the 10th annual. It will be held in Waterloo, Iowa, Saturday and Sunday. There are 10 teams competing, including Albert Lea; Delhi, Iowa; Rochester; Minneapolis; Aberdeen, S.D.; Wonder Lake; Waterloo, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and New London, Minn. The BaySide Skiers compete from 2-3:20 p.m. on Saturday.

In addition to the team competition, Mike Johnson and Jackie Schrad will compete in the strap doubles category. Doubles competition begins at 10:45 a.m. Saturday.