Editor’s Note: This article was published in the June issue of LAKElife, a publication of The Papers Inc. Photos by ATB Sports and Four Steps Photograph.

By Mike Petrucelli
Guest Columnist

WARSAW — Each year, Indiana’s only competitive ski team chooses a theme — and 2025 is the year of the pirate.

When we last saw Capt. Jack (aka Ty Patrick) on Hidden Lake, it was in 2016. Chuck McLaughlin, who started the team in 1989, said that this year brings back the old favorite inspired by Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, but with a more comedic take planned.

And speaking of planning, that’s what the team, as well as the whole Warsaw area, is going to be doing a lot of for the next two years. Why? It was announced earlier this year: the Lake City Skiers have been officially selected to host the 2027 IWWF World Water Ski Show Championship from Sept.15-19, 2027.

Teams of no more than 34 members from China, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Australia, Canada, and many more countries will spend nearly a month in the area preparing and then competing in individual categories as well as team events.

“It’s pretty interesting as a spectator,” McLaughlin said. “Each country brings its own style and culture (to their performance).”

“Having it come to Warsaw, Indiana, is a big deal,” McLaughlin said. “The bid process was pretty intensive. A lot of work went into it.”

McLaughlin said Lake City Skiers worked with the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau and a number of others to secure the bid.

Other events are being planned around the main competition, as well as preparing the area to handle such a large influx of people. “Normally we draw about 2,500 people for Division 1 Nationals,” McLaughlin said. “Australia (where worlds were held this year) was reporting numbers of about 5,000.”

Opening ceremonies will be held on Sept. 15, 2027, with other events planned for the following day. Competitions followed by closing ceremonies will be Sept. 17-19.

Information about the Lake City Skiers current season, including three performances at Indiana Beach in Monticello, as well as the 2027 IWWF World Water Ski Show Championship can be found at lakecityskiers.org and the team’s Facebook page.

Exciting times ahead for our Lake City Skiers. As Captain Jack would say, Savvy, don’t you think?