Rock Aqua Jays prep for first tourney of 2012
Photo
Clockwise from bottom left, Tyler Dessent, Bob Panter, Dave Rezin and Jamie Kumlien land a quad front flip during an Aqua Jays show at Traxler Park. The Aqua Jays host the Mercury Open this weekend.
JANESVILLE — Water ski shows are all about action and adventure.
That's why Dave Rezin, Rock Aqua Jays show director, chose "Raiders of the Lost Rock" as this year's show theme. It's a take-off from the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," featuring archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones hunting for the Ark of the Covenant.
"We're fairly good at comedy and know we have a pretty dynamic show," he said.
Rezin and club members want to create an entertaining show they hope will score well in the season's first tournament—the Mercury Open this weekend in Janesville.
"We're trying to step up the props and special effects," he said.
Those are the responsibility of club member Matt Wilson, designer of special effects for the club's annual Fright Factory, which has become known as one of the premier haunted houses in Wisconsin.
So far, dust guns, toppling podiums and four fire machines have been worked into the show, Rezin said.
Veteran announcer Brian Cullen, portraying Indiana Jones, will open the show by riding onto the beach in a 1946 Jeep, waving at the crowd. His backdrop will be five barefoot pyramids and side-by-side triple flips off the jump.
"The opening keeps getting bigger and bigger," Rezin said.
Having a show theme that people are familiar with is a great way to kick off a show, Rezin said.
In an effort to win the 2012 Triple Crown—winning the Mercury Open, state show ski tournament and national show ski tournament—Rezin said acts would grow even bigger.
Last year, the Aqua Jays won all three.
The team plans to focus on one tournament at a time.
"So our total focus is on the Mercury Open and putting on a good performance. That's the first thing and key right now," Rezin said.
The team's biggest challenge, he said, is keeping an edge. Rezin reads his team a quotation from John Woodman: "To win a championship takes talent, but to repeat as a champion takes character."
"We've got tons of talent, and last year there was a lot of excitement surrounding last season with the 50th anniversary, but that's over. Now, we have to move on," he said.
Rezin knows any team is beatable, including the Aqua Jays. So the winning team will have to bring a high level of difficulty to its show and execute well, he said.
If the Aqua Jays win the Mercury Open, Rezin said "that will get the ball rolling" for the Wisconsin Water Ski Show State Tournament in July at Wisconsin Rapids.
"We still have room for improvement," he said, "but we're working out the bugs and doing a great job."
RUNNING ORDER
Saturday, June 23
Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team, Wonder Lake, Ill.
Lauderdale Aqua Skiers, Elkhorn
Muskego Water Bugs, Muskego
Beaverland Must-skis, Beaver Dam
Chetek Hydroflites, Chetek
Five Season Ski Team, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Sunday, June 24
Rock Aqua Jays, Janesville
Mad City Ski Team, Madison
Aquanuts Water Shows, Twin Lakes
Brown's Lake Aquaducks, Burlington
Minneiska Show Ski Team, Whitewater
Badgerland Water Ski Show Team, Waukesha
(The first team will ski at 9 a.m. each day. Concessions open at 7 a.m. The beer tent opens at 10 a.m.)
Jun 20, 2012 at 10:21 a.m.
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Where does it say that this is a youth event? The ski teams aren't all made up of youth, so whats the big deal? Someone always has to find something to complain about...
Good luck Aqua Jays this weekend!!
Jun 20, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.
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I thought this was a young youth show, so why are they selling beer at a youth event? Janesville does not let any other organization sell beer in the park system. Why are these folks so special? Must be politics and who knows who.
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