Six Wonder Lake ski team members join Team U.S.A. in world competition

The Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team is not only one of the best show ski teams in the country, it’s also a world-class ski team. One thing that makes it so spectacular is the ability of skiers and ‘support’ personnel to work together like a finely tuned engine. Another measure of the team’s ability is the sum of its parts – the individual ability of the performers on the team.

In the latter regard, the standard is so high that six members of the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team were named to the U.S.A. Team. They will compete in the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation’s second world competition Friday through Sunday, Sept. 12-14, in Janesville, Wis.

“Having the Wonder Lake ski team here is like having the Bulls, Bears and the 1952 Hebron High School Basketball team (the giant-slaying small team that won the state finals) rolled into one,” said Janet Domrase, with Ringwood-based Aldens Kennels and a staunch supporter of the team.

The world competition, planned for every two years, was first held in 2012. The U.S.A. Team won that event. The other competitors are China, Belgium, Australia and Canada.

The six members of the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team named to the U.S.A. Team are Jarret Graff, Jayson Rishling, Jordon Shulda, Arik Lebda and, husband and wife, Kim and Dan Hansen.

“The Midwest is basically the watr ski capital of the world,” said Graff.

He said that all six members of the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team that were named to the U.S.A. Team were born and raised in Wonder Lake. In a sense, that makes Wonder Lake a source of some of the world’s best skiers.

The Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team finished fifth recently at the nationals while giving what Graff described as one of its best performances of the year.

“We skied a great show,” he said. “Jayson Rishling won the top male skier award of the tournament and we won the national jump team award for the second year in a row.”

The Wonder Lake Water Ski Show Team won the nationals in 1996, 2001, 2002 and 2010. They’ve finished in the top five nationally every year since 1995. This was the team’s 55th year.

Graff has donned skis in the past. This year, however, he was in the boat pulling the skiers. His ability in that capacity exemplifies the team aspect of their performances. The ‘support’ staff is also an integral part of the team.

Domrase also spoke highly of the ‘support’ staff, from Graff in the boat to those who hand created the outfits worn by the skiers.

“They have magnificent costumes,” she said. “They put a lot of effort into that. They work so hard in every way to make this team wonderful. Sending six from Wonder Lake to the U.S.A. Team is a well-deserved reward for all that effort.”

Domrase said she expects the U.S.A. Team to have another strong showing this year. She said the Wonder Lake skiers, part of a 35-member U.S.A. Team, will be a big part of that.