Experience, Learn, and Excel with the Show-Me Skiers
Sophie Dattilo
Coach, Show-Me Skiers
Lake St. Louis Water Ski Club
The Show-Me Skiers are the largest and most diverse group within our club, bringing together skiers of all ages and experience levels. Whether you're just stepping onto the water for the first time or you're a seasoned performer, this group is designed to help you grow your skills, build confidence, and enjoy the camaraderie of water skiing.
By joining the Show-Me Skiers, you’ll embark on a comprehensive journey through the essentials of water skiing. From mastering the basics of skiing techniques to understanding critical safety practices on and off the water, this group provides a well-rounded education.
You'll learn about water safety, boat safety, dock safety, and rope handling, ensuring you're fully equipped to handle any situation that arises. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to explore a variety of water skiing disciplines, allowing you to find your passion—whether it's trick skiing, jump skiing, or being part of synchronized performance acts.
The Show-Me Skiers not only focus on skill development but also foster a sense of community. You'll be part of a supportive environment where both young and experienced members share their expertise, cheer each other on, and create lifelong memories on the water.
SHOW-ME SKIER SKILLS
PYRAMIDS
Coach: Sophie Datillo
Pyramids are the greatest act in show skiing as it is very impressive to see and popular with the crowds! Being on a pyramid teaches teamwork as everyone on that team is important for success!
Skills Needed
To be on a pyramid you must be a good base skier or climber. Generally, the climbers are fearless young folks, and the bases are accomplished skiers, able to start off the dock with a person on their shoulders.
JUMP
Coach: Brad Mclaughlin
If you are one of those so-called crazy people, who have consistent strong skiing skills, you may want to consider Jump. Youth can learn to jump as part of the 3-Event show Ski Team. In jump, safety comes first, and a tremendous amount of practice goes into the timing and coordination of the boat and the skier that make the jump look so wonderful.
Skills Needed
Advanced level skiing skills are needed to consider Jump… A little courage doesn’t hurt either.
BAREFOOT SKIING
Coach: Jesse Lepich
Barefoot skiing is a total adrenaline rush! We learn to barefoot from the boom attached to the boat, as young as eight years old.
Skills Needed
A skier should be comfortable skiing on two skis. That skier should also be a morning person, we ski every weekday at 6 AM when the water is the most still.
AROUND THE BOAT (ATB)
Coaches: Kyle Hopping & Vincent Gramolino
Around The Boat can be done as an individual act or with a whole flock of skiers. In this act, a skier on one ski follows the boat at a very high speed. The boat turns very sharply in one direction, and then 180° back in the other direction. The first turn pushes the skier out far to one side with the ropes tight. The second turn results in the skier passing the front of the boat, and then the teamwork of the skier and the boat driver brings the skier back into line to applause.
Skills Needed
ATB requires the skier to be able to deep-water start on one ski, strong skiing ability, and strength is needed to be able to cut the ski hard outside the wake.
HANDLES
Coach: Dave Cross
Skills Needed
The base should be able to ski on two skis comfortably with a seated dock start and someone on their shoulders. In handle doubles, the top should just be comfortable to climb on her base. Strap double partners have usually worked together on handles and are confident in one another’s abilities to take it to the next step.
STRAP DOUBLES
Coach: Dave Cross
Strap Doubles is the next step after handle doubles. However, instead of holding the ski rope handle, the base skier will clip the ski rope into their waistband clip, thereby freeing the hands for a much larger selection of tricks. Several Lake Saint Louis skiers have participated at the regional and national levels in this act.
Skills Needed
The base should be able to ski on two skis comfortably with a seated dock start and someone on their shoulders. In handle doubles, the top should just be comfortable to climb on her base. Strap double partners have usually worked together on handles and are confident in one another’s abilities to take it to the next step.
TRIOS
Coach: Dave Cross
Trios is a combination of show skiing, gymnastics, and ice-skating. Trios combos are made up of two skiers, each on two skis. A bar may be used to add to the bevy of tricks that the third person, the climber, can do while supported by the two base skiers.
Skills Needed
Bases must be strong skiers, and comfortable with the climber. Climbers must be relatively fearless and strong enough to use the apparatus to enhance the beauty of the act.
MEN & LADIES LINES
Coaches: Pat Mongoven & Jill Hegarty
These are the acts each year that will be sure to bring a tear to your eye! (Or not!) These amazing groups are looking for fellow skiers who want to perform and still be a part of the show. There are always great costumes and advanced choreographed moves as well.
Skills Needed
All levels of skiers participate in these lines. Advanced skiers will perform a flying dock start on the ladies line. The only requirement is that you bring good attitudes and fun!
JR. & TEEN LINE
Coach: Joe Datillo
Junior line is the beginner act for youth skiers age 6 and older. Children learn to perform seated dock starts and are pulled on lines of 4-7 behind a single boat. The kids are typically grouped based on size and skill level. As the children become masters at skiing on two skis, they will also learn to drop a ski and slalom as part of the act. Junior line is the basic prerequisite for most all other acts as it ensures the basic art of skiing is completed.
Teen Line is composed of all the teen skiers who have graduated from junior line and are ready to start performing other acts chalked full of showmanship.
Skills Needed
Each child should be able to follow directions as well. Also, skiers should be comfortable if they were to fall into the water to remain calm until the safety vessel arrives.
JR. BALLET & SHOWGIRLS
Coach: Madisen Dattilo
Junior Ballet skiers will learn flying dock starts, ropes between the knees, and coordinating line kicks. This is a great act to learn how an entire act works together to be successful. In showgirls, we work with both flying dock starts, as well as the occasional standing beach start as we continue to build on the skills learned in junior ballet. The girls also learn heel holds.
Skills Needed
Junior Ballet is for young girls that have mastered junior line and are ready for the next challenge. They should be able to comfortably ski on one ski. To advance to Showgirls, a skier must be 13 years old and proficient in junior ballet.
KNEEBOARD & WAKEBOARD
Coaches: Tom McAliney, Doug Woods & Jerks & Riutzel Families
Kneeboard is a beginner act for children five years and older. Knee boarders start in groups of 4 to 6 and take off from the beach as the skills of boarding are mastered, some kids begin taking off backwards from the beach as well.
Wakeboard teaches you a basic dock on a wakeboard. For advanced riders, we also work on flying dock start and specialty acts.
Skills Needed
Each skier should be able to follow directions as well. Also, skiers should be comfortable if they were to fall into the water to remain calm until the safety vessel arrives. Wakeboarders need to be old enough and strong enough that they can remove their wakeboard in the event of a fall.
SWIVEL
Coach: Ellary Mclaughlin
Swivel skiing is the most graceful, artistic act on the water. Common components include the 180, 360, and even more involved turns all the way up to 1080—three full turns! These maneuvers are achieved because of a swivel ski, which has a different type of binding that allows for the foot to rotate without turning the ski. Quite a few of our swivel skiers compete, both regionally and nationally.
Skills Needed
Advanced skiing ability on one ski.