Oakdale Waterskiers Spend Their Summer on the Lake

It doesn’t bother Oakdale 12^th-grader Eric Bruun that his family spends the vast majority of their summer evenings (probably 90 percent, he says) at practices for the The Midwest Ski Otters Water Ski Team at Little Goose Lake.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s something to do in the summer. It keeps me busy.”

Bruun and his brother Nathan are both on the team. In its 17^th year, the team is competing this weekend at the Midwest Regional Show Tournament in Cedar Rapids, IA, but most Sundays you can find them putting on their summer show “Skivenge of the Nerds” on Little Goose Lake in White Bear Lake for crowds of up to 1,000.

Shows will be performed at 6 p.m. Sundays Aug. 7, 21 and 28, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17.

“Skivenge of the Nerds” is the retelling of the classic jocks versus nerds scenario. “It has something for everybody,” said Kathryn Marget, whose family has been involved with the Ski Otters for years.

“Skivenge of the Nerds” features everything from a fully costumed show with a storyline, to dancing, silly humor and “high quality athletic prowess,” Marget said.

There are 135 skiers in the show.

“The jumping is phenomenal and the ballet line—we get quite a few raves about the ballet line,” said Oakdale resident Faye Carpenter, whose family has been involved with the Ski Otters from the beginning 17 years ago. “The entire family would enjoy the show.”

For Carpenter, her husband Jim, and their two children, waterskiing has provided an activity that the whole family can participate in over the years.

Unlike a sport such as football, where a child plays and a parent watches, with waterskiing shows, everyone gets involved, she said.

“Whether it’s skiing or announcing or boat driving and costumes, our whole family has been involved together since (our children) were 4 years old,” she said. Now her grandchildren ski in the show, too. “It’s a good way to take up our summer.”

Brock Carlson, 15, has been waterskiing his entire life and joined the Ski Otters four years ago.  

“It’s a really great family thing,” he said. “It has really helped my family connect.”

Carlson, an only child from Lake Elmo, said that he has made many good friends through skiing with the Ski Otters and looks forward to seeing his college friends every summer when they return to White Bear Lake to ski.

Although skiing with the Ski Otters has great rewards, it comes with its fair share of challenges. Carlson said that the intense practice schedule is the most difficult part of being a member of the Ski Otters.

Both the junior and senior teams practice two nights a week, and Carlson, who practices with both teams, estimates he spends between 15 to 20 hours on the lake each week.

According to the Ski Otters’ mission statement, they are “devoted to providing direction to the young and the young-at-heart through the positive learning environment of waterskiing, [and are] … dedicated to bringing the Twin Cities Metro Area the top in wholesome family entertainment.”

According to Carlson, they have achieved just that. “A family that skis together stays together,” he said.

Check back for the results of the regional competition.