Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, May 7, 1999
Sport of the Week
KU club finishes fourth at regionals
Kelly Brulesz, Olathe senior, rounds the corner on the slalom course at McKan Lake. Brulesz has been a member of KU Waterski Team for five semesters and is now the team's captain.
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Kan., senior.
Five men and five women compete in slalom, trick skiing and distance jumping.
Slalom participants ski around buoys and try to get the fastest time with the fewest buoys hit. Trick skipping is scored by certified judges who award points individually. Jumping is judged by distance.
In trick skiing, a skier will hold onto a short rope, typically 15 to 20 feet behind the boat, where he or she will perform jumps, spins, flips, ski backwards and anything else to impress the judges.
"It's hard, they have to plan out their trick run, but it's tough to pull off," Brulez said.
Brulez competes in all three events, mostly because she wants to, but also because she is one of the better skiers, which are hard to find in Kansas.
"All the serious skiers move to Florida where there's awesome lakes. I grew up water skiing, so I guess I'm different that way," she said.
Some members, such as Jorgenson, never water skied before they became a part of the club.
"I think some people think they have to know a lot about water skiing, but they really don't. I'm an example of that," she said.
led to injuries, but nothing more than a few cuts and scrapes.
Some skiers' inexperience has
The team competes in seven tournaments during the fall and two or three during the spring, depending on the weather. It holds one tournament during the spring, one during the fall and Kansas State also
will hold two or three during the year. That leaves a lot of traveling to compete in other tournaments.
Last fall, the team rented two vans and spent three days in Camelot Lakes, Ind., at the Midwest Regional competition, finishing fourth out of 22 teams.
They rent a boat, spend close to $3,000 on new trick, jump and slalom skis throughout the year and have to pay for wet-suits, life-vests, gas for the boat and other miscellaneous items.
They spent $2,000 on two rental vans for the trip to regionals last year, just a portion of their expenses.
"We receive some money from the club budget, but we have to do fund raisers too." Brulez said.
They sell T-shirts, and each member pays $150 in dues including $50 to cover insurance.
But the skiing itself makes everything worthwhile.
"Skiing in general is a rush," Brulez said. "You get up behind the boat and just glide. The toughest thing is just getting your body to do what your mind wants you to."
Edited by Chris Fickett
John Lohrmann, Elkhorn, Wis., saphomore, flips while jumping across the ski boat's wake. Lohrmann has been a member of the Kansas Water Ski Club for two years. Photos by Matt J. Daugherty