Water skiing may not come to mind when you think of intramural sports and competition.
However, this is not the case for the Auburn Water Ski Club.
The club team has been hard at practice, preparing for approaching competitions. The team has a roster of about 15 members that includes both male and female competitors.
But where would a water ski team in Auburn practice and compete?
Since Auburn lacks a body of water that would accommodate water skiing, the team travels to Faith Lake in Shorter to hold practice and host competitions.
Faith Lake is a private lake located about 30 minutes south of Auburn.
"We compete in three-event collegiate tournaments," said Sara Hix, sophomore in communications and team president. "The events include the slalom, trick and jump. Wake boarding is now accepted as trick for half points.
"Slalom is a points system of how many buoys you get at what speed and line length," she said. "Tricks are scored by how many you do, and each are worth different point values in the allotted distance, and jumps are scored by distance."
It isn't all work and no play when practicing, however.
"When we are at the lake practicing, we do anything from knee boarding to wake skate," Hix said.
Team members are mostly seasoned skiers, like Kelly Simonton, sophomore in pre-biosystems engineering, who will enjoy her second year on the team this season.
Simonton, a native of Greensboro, Ga., has been skiing for most of her life.
"I am really looking forward to traveling to the different schools we compete against," Simonton said. "Getting to travel with the team is a great way for us to bond and really get to know each other. There's no better way to get to know someone than to be stuck in the back of a Jeep with them for eight hours."
The Water Ski Club's first round of competition will be a tournament hosted by Clemson Sept. 18, followed by a tournament hosted by Alabama Sept. 28 and an Oct. 2 regional tournament hosted by UGA.
If Auburn qualifies at the regional tournament, the team will earn a showing at nationals.
"Our water ski team isn't hosting any tournaments this fall, but we are scheduled to host in the spring," said Dianne Harper, associate director of club sports. "I also make sure all risk management issues are taken care of, and I deal with other universities."
Harper spends a lot of time with intramural teams and is responsible for scheduling events.
"I've traveled with the team to several events, including two trips to nationals," Harper said.
All students are welcome to join the team.
There is a fee of $75 to join, which includes access to the private lake where the team practices and has storage facilities.
Having your own equipment is optional, but encouraged.
The team has weekly meetings on Mondays at 8 p.m. in Room 2218 of the Student Center.
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