Despite the rain, spectators enjoyed the 2023 Indiana State Water Ski Championships, which started this morning. Sunshine eventually made way for a perfect day of skiing today, Saturday, July 15. InkFreeNews photos by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Despite the rain, spectators enjoyed the 2023 Indiana State Water Ski Championships, which started this morning. Sunshine eventually made way for a perfect day of skiing today, Saturday, July 15.

WSI Cindonway Skiers and Blue Barn Berry Farm are hosting the 74th annual competition for individuals competing in slalom, tricks and jumping events.

Skiers ages 6-77 competed in many different age divisions in each of these events. The children skied first, by doing tricks followed by slalom.

Don Bucher, one of the organizers of the event, said, “the day has been running pretty well” despite the weather.

“Basically, it’s Indiana skiers,” he noted, adding 50 skiers took part in today’s tournament.

This event is a milestone year for Cindonway as the first state competition was held 40 years ago in 1983. Bucher built the lake over 40 years ago.

“It was designed to be a competition lake,” he said.

This will make the 12th time in 40 years the local group has hosted this event. The digging of Lake Jacob and development of Cindonway Shores started in 1978 and the first competition trick tournament was held in 1982.

A special invitation was extended to all members of the Indiana Water Ski Hall of Fame, past recipients of the Rollie Williams Award and all past competitors of tournaments held at Cindonway Shores over the past 40 years.

The competitions have lasted throughout the day and the special awards banquet and skier party will be held at the Blue Barn Event Center tonight, Saturday evening. Alexis Mishler, a Wawasee High School graduate, is set to receive a $500 scholarship at tonight’s event, from the Barb Miller Scholarship Fund.

More details are available on the Indiana Water Ski Association website, www.indianawaterski.org.

Megan Warstler was one of the skiers at today’s tournament.

Spectators braved the weather today to watch individuals of all ages compete in the tournament.

Jenna Bucher, pictured in the slalom event, competed in today’s tournament.

Skiers of all ages competed in tricks, jumping and slalom events.