Oxbowski

I was able to catch some of the water ski tournament going on at the Oxbow this weekend, getting there just as the individual act competition was wrapping up with this talented young lady, showing her stuff...



It was a decent crowd on the bleachers and grassy slope of the Oxbow's viewing area, and I found myself a spot close to the water, and near the announcer's stage.





There was a brief delay as the Oxbow's new ramp, (fresh from Sea World and 'Jaws' fame), was inspected before the show.



An issue with the water not being turned on slowed things down for a few minutes. Apparently there's supposed to be water running over the ramp to make it slipperier. Team Holland, the first team on the roster, eagerly called out that they were ready to go, with or without the water...



...but the officials wouldn't have it; The Water Must Be On. But soon enough the issue was resolved, and Team Holland was under way...





They were natural crowd-pleasers, and the audience clapped and cheered enthusiastically at their stunts...







Their jumping was great, although there were a couple slight mishaps that didn't diminish the overall excitement of the performance, at least from this spectator's perspective.



However, the sterner judges had their own opinions...



Next up was a red-shirted troop, who similarly wowed the audience with their own repertoir of tricks and daring-do.



...and finally came the Oxbow's own team; a contingent of nine skiers, all in bright DPW green...



It took three boats to haul them around the Oxbow, as each group took turns at the ramp.



They were definitely the most polished of the three competing teams, and the judges scored them accordingly...



...but after all, this is their home field.



This portion of the tourney wrapped up with an unusual, and world-famous, act for the benefit of a Team Oxbow member who suffered a major tragedy earlier this year. This guy on a hydrofoil ski stunned the crowd with the apparatus' ability to launch out of the water at will, sans-ramp.



The man is good. He's a world champion and has performed all over, doubling the world record for consecutive flips, and even making appearances on tv shows like 'Baywatch'.



A good wrap up to an enjoyable show.



I suspect the new ramp will contribute to a local rise in the popularity of this sport in the coming years, both in competitors and in spectators. It was my first time checking it out, and I'll be back...