BAREFOOT- Barefooting is an act of extreme skill. You need strong feet, no fear, and a fast boat.
o Barefoot Pyramid- Unlike the common misunderstanding about barefooting, girls can do it too. On the Chain Skimmers the girl barefooters are constantly outdoing the boys. They take it to the extreme performing one of the only all girl barefoot pyramids in the world. The average age of this pyramid is only 17, but watch out because these girls are flying by at speeds of over 40 miles an hour and they are tough!!!
o Harness Barefoot Line- This act is a Chain Skimmer original!! The front two footers are holding onto tow lines connected to the boat and each one of them is pulling 2 other barefooters behind them at racing speeds. Please don’t try this at home!!
o Dock & Beach Starts- To perform the dock start skiers start by standing on the dock with the handle in their hands while the boat driver takes up the slack. When the line comes tight the skier kicks up their heels, lands on their butt and back, and is pulled away and then stand up to their feet to barefoot around the lake. The beach start is much the same as the dock start but the skiers begin by lying on the beach and are dragged off on their backs when the rope comes tight.
o Tower Start- The barefoot tower start can only be performed by our bravest skiers. Plunging from a 10 foot towner to ski away on nothing but their bare feet takes quite the daredevil making this act a great crowd pleaser.
o 2-Ski- Jump-Outs- This is one of the most impressive barefoot starts and often takes the audience by surprise. The skier begins right on two normal water skis and as the boat speeds up the skier is able to jump clear out of their skis onto nothing but their barefoot. This is definitely a hit or miss act that’s not to be missed.
o Backwards Barefooting- This act is by far one of the hardest acts in the show and only a handful of Skimmers have ever attempted to barefoot backwards. The skier starts by either holding the line on the dock or by lying on the beach on her stomach. When the line comes tight from the dock she spins while jumping into the air and catching her feet on the line. She lands on her stomach and is pulled away to plant her feet and stand up backwards. From the beach she is pulled out as the line comes tight and then plants and rides away backwards. Don’t attempt this without lessons and a well-trained boat driver. This act requires extreme coordination between the skier and the driver.
JUMP
o Spread Eagle- After riding up the 6 foot jump the skier launches into the air in what looks like the splits.
o Helicopter- The skier begins this trick by wrapping the rope around their waist. While going over the jump the rope unwinds pulling the skier in a 360˚ helicopter spin.
o Front Flip- As the skier flies over the jump he does a head over heels front flip in the air to land on his feet.
PYRAMIDS
o All Girl Pyramid- You may have seen pyramids before but this one is testosterone free. 3-tiers of all girls. The girls all start out on their own skis and then the girls who climb drop their skis to build the 2nd and 3rd tiers. But that’s not all, when the girls are finished they all come in on their own slalom ski! How do they do it you ask? Well that’s what we like to call “Chain Skimmer Magic!”
o Pre-Fabricated Pyramid- This pyramid unlike any other is built right on the dock for you to see. The trick of this act is getting it off the dock. It is truly all in the driving; the driver has to tighten the line and take off at just the right time for the skiers to make it.
o Grand Pyramid- This is the most photographed act in show skiing and is truly a sight to see. Standing 4-tiers high our Grand Pyramid is the pinnacle of team unity.
TRICK SKIING-Half the length of regular skis and no bottom fins allow tricks skiers to turn 180 and 360 degrees.
SHOE SKIS-Shoe skis are a mere 12 inches long also with no bottom fins that allow the skier to turn, flip, and step over the rope. This act takes many hours of practice to perfect.
WAKEBOARD- Wakeboarding is one of the hot new acts to take show skiing by storm. Wakeboarding is a hybrid of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding. The young boarders are constantly inventing and naming new tricks. The Chain Skimmers are proud say that we have some of the best wakeboarders in the Northwoods. Ladies keep your eyes peeled these boys are hot!
ROPE-BRAID/ 360 AROUND THE BOAT- This act consists of 4 slalom skiers each on a different length rope. This allows the skiers to cut back and forth weaving under each other’s ropes. But that’s not all these slalomers can do, they like to up the ante and ski 360˚ around the boat.
BACKWARDS 360 AROUND THE BOAT- This act is relatively new for the Chain Skimmers. The skier begins forward but then truns to the back and on the driver’s signal takes a hard cut to ski 360˚ around the boat backwards. Only with the very close driver-skier coordination and hours of practice is this act possible.
DOUBLES ACTS
o CONVENTIONAL DOUBLES- This act is the essence of grace and beauty on the water. The line of guys hold their ladies gallantly on their shoulders while the ladies perform synchronized movements through the show course.
o STRAP DOUBLES- An act of extreme skier coordination. The guy in this act is connected to the boat by a tow harness. This allows him to lift his girl high over his head to perform beautiful ballet moves. This is much harder than it looks and requires the skiers to be very trusting of each other. Don’t worry though the guy on the bottom is connected to the boat with a safety release, for if he should fall he would be released by our safety spotter in the boat and drop harmlessly into the water.
o DOUBLE- DOUBLES- This act is performed by multiple groups of 2 guys and 2 guys. It combines the trio act and the pyramid act into to one amazing formation.
o TRIOS- In this act 2 guys are connected to the boat with harnesses allowing them to lift their girl high into the air. Every girl’s dream!
BALLET LINE- Move over boys this is where the ladies strut their stuff. The act begins with a dance on the dock followed by the ladies taking that dance onto the water. The first pass is called the T-bar where the rope is between the legs leaving the girls’ hands free to do their graceful arm passes. The second pass takes things up a notch when the girls place the ropes on the ankles to display a 2nd arm pass. This act ends with a second dance done on the beach. The ballet line is all about synchronization.
SWIVEL- Grace and beauty on the water. The swivel ski binding is mounted on ball bearings allowing the water dancer to spin 180, 360, 720, and even 1080˚ while the ski remains forward.
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