Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The Club de Skinautique waterski team, made up of both Canadian and American team members forms a 3-tier pyramid.
Located in the Turtle Mountain area, Lake Metisgoshe is a natural lake on the border of the United States and Canada and is home to the Club de Skinautique. Skinautique is a French word for "club of waterskiing and is pronounced "ski-noh-teek."
The Club celebrated their 60th season last year. With a history going back to the late 1950's, the club's first performance occurred in 1958, when the Lake Metigoshe Improvement Association (LMIA) asked the club to perform as entertainment for their annual meeting.
Although the club website says that only a few people attended the LMIA annual meeting, there were several hundred pople on the nearby hillside to watch the waterskiing show.
The hill, now known as Skinautique Hill, was purchased by the LMIA and has become the home of Club de Skinautique shows and practices and the crowd still lines the hill as they watch the show.
After performing its first show in July of 1958, the group became an official water ski club in 1959, and was designated a non-profit corporation in 1961.
About 15 years ago, the club's membership dropped to about 10 members. However, with over 850 homes and cabins on Lake Metigoshe today, the membership is once again growing every year. There is no age limit for membership; the only requirement is that you are able to water ski. The current membership includes both American and Canadian citizens, with members ranging in age from under 10 to over 60 years old.
Club de Skinautique performs water shows on Lake Metigoshe each year, including shows scheduled near the Fourth of July, which are held in conjunction with LMIA's annual fireworks show. On July 3, the largest Skinautique show of the season will precede the traditional fireworks show at Lake Metigoshe, giving fans the opportunity to see the performance at 7 p.m. and then stay to see the fireworks at dusk.
Additional Club de Skinautique shows are tentatively scheduled for July 7, July 28 and August 11 at Lake Metisgoshe. A special travelling show is planned at Fort Stevenson State Park, near Garrison, on August 4. The shows all start at 7 p.m., and last about an hour and a half. Club de Skinautique prides themselves on giving a memorable show, as the only water ski club in North Dakota. Watching their stunts isn't something we'll see everyday.
"Skier pyramids are always a crowd favorite," says Neil Albright, Club President, "with the Club consistently doing two and three-tiered pyramids on skis." He notes Club members also work on a four-tiered pyramid, but adds that the safety of Club members is of utmost importance. All participants are required to wear floatation devices. "We sometimes push the envelope a little," Albright noted, "but we make sure safety is the top priority."
Ski jumping, and barefoot skiing with boats and skiers reaching speeds up to 40 miles per hour are very popular. Another crowd favorite is the ballet line, which entails 12 skiers in a line performing synchronized arm and leg movements. It really is quite the sight to see the collective skills of Club de Skinautique in action.
To stay informed on the show schedule or to see a sample of their incredible abilities, follow them on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ClubdeSkinautique/.
