Hey World!
I apologize for slacking on updates on the last few events this year. I have been busy directing the Fittest of Elk Grove Event, a city wide fitness event I put on in my home town.
During the 2nd week of September, Steve Garcia and Mike Morgan hosted the 1st Annual Soaked Orlando Water-Sports Festival. It was an awesome event that attracted 5,000+ spectators who watched the top male and female water skiers in the world compete downtown Orlando on Lake Eola.
Due to the entire lake being surrounded with sea walls, it turned the lake into a huge wave pool once boats started going up and down the lake. Organizers decided to have men slalom go 32mph and women slalom to go 30 mph. This was by far the worst skiing conditions most of us have ever skied in but at the same time, it was some of the most fun skiing any of us had done.
The City of Orlando was able to open up man holes and the lake dropped 2 1/2 feet in one day and Saturday morning you could see beach around the entire lake. The men bumped up the speed to 34 mph and women went up to 32 mph. The water was a lot smoother but having less water, made the short set ups even shorter. Skiers were taking a whip out for the gates on the first, third and fifth passes.
Walking into the event there was a huge stage that 15+ bands performed on, there was a little restaurant for VIP’s as you walked to the left and vendors lined the walkways as you walked down to get a great view of the skiing. You were shoulder to shoulder with spectators as you walked down the lake to get a great seat for night jump. Dos Equis had 5-7 different booths selling alcohol and Chipotle and a few other vendors had some great food. As I looked on shore at the start of night jump, it was dark, the music was blasting, the shoreline was packed and the spectators were getting loud and rowdy as they cheered on the skiers.
This was up there on the list of the top water ski events I have taken part in. I want to thank Steve and Mike for all of their time and energy they put in to put on this great event! Also a huge thanks to the event sponsors – City of Orlando, HO Sports, Rixen, Dos Equis, Chipotle, Centurion Boats and MasterCraft Boats.