Lake Saint Louis Water Ski Club News

The Lake Saint Louis Water Ski Club will hold a membership drive on Sunday, Feb. 27 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lake Saint Louis Community Association, 100 Cognac Ct. 

Members must be Community Association members, but skiers from outside the C.A. are welcome to inquire about the club's competitive team.

Heather Reiter, membership coordinator for the club, said, "As a general guideline, most skiers who join the club are comfortable in the water but not proficient skiers. The three lines (that’s what we call each type of skiing, also an “act” in the Home Show — basically a recital to demonstrate what one learned) most beginners start with is junior line, kneeboard line and wakeboard line. In all three, the most important attribute is to be able to swim and not afraid of the water.  As skiers progress beyond this, there are opportunities for ballet skiing, swivel skiing, jump, barefoot, around-the-boat, pyramids, etc."

Membership fees for 2011 will be $75 per family (within the Community Association boundaries) to join the ski club plus $50 per participating skier. The fee is $225 per family (outside the Community Association boundaries) to join plus $50 per participating skier. $25 of the club fee is waived if the member joins and pays prior to April 1.

The ski club is an all-volunteer organization and the membership fees provide about 40 percent of the money the club receives, which is used to cover equipment costs, gas for the boat drivers and similar expenses.

"Practices will run about seven weeks, starting in late May and running through the Fourth of July weekend," Reiter said. "The different lines practice at different times."

Junior Line practices on Monday-Wednesday-Friday from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Kneeboard is Sunday mornings from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wakeboard is Tuesday or Thursday evenings. In all cases, the boat and boat driver will be a volunteer from the ski club. The Junior Line members need to provide their own skis, Kneeboard Line their own kneeboard and Wakeboard Line their own wakeboard. Everything else is provided.

"It’s truly a family club," Reiter said. The club teaches the youngest to ski and continues through adulthood to improve skills and just have fun. "We also give back to our community through projects such as Operation Clean Stream and landscaping at community entrances. We put on Community Nights, where we perform the show and provide barbecue meals for all to enjoy."