LAKE MOHAWK SKI HAWKS
"OFFICIAL WATER SKI TEAM OF NJ"

"A SLICE OF FAMILY LIFE ON LAKE MOHAWK"

Just about everything that is part of our lives and world began with a vision, as either our own or the vision of another. In 1929, Arthur Crane and Herbert Closs built an 800-acre lake on 2300 acres of farmland in Sussex County. Their vision became reality and is known as "Lake Mohawk". In 1962, some residents of Lake Mohawk who liked to ski formed a group on our lake. Two men, Barney O'Donnell and Cliff Probst, founded the group. One of the men had taken his daughter to " Cypress Gardens" in Florida. She liked to ski and the idea of bringing some of the wonderful performances back to Lake Mohawk was too, a vision. This group has since been known as the "Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks". And the young girl, an original member of the team, is now a grown woman and while no longer a member, she is Karen Burroughs, currently a trustee for our lake. Former club member, Dick Elting, became the show director for many of the early years. He, at one time, had been a member of the Cypress Gardens Ski Show in the late 40's.

In the 1960's, the team was considered an exhibition team. They traveled occasionally, Indian Lake, being one of the sites. Their exhibitions displayed some of the acts that remain part of the team's showcase today, including a three-tier pyramid. The first jump was purchased from Forest Lakes in Jefferson in the mid 60's. What might distinguish the group from the team we know today? While the team today is generally pulled by a "Master Craft" or "Malibu", those skiers were pulled by Barney O'Donnell's mahogany inboard boat. This original boat remains on Lake Mohawk today under new ownership. Bob Corson remembers a unique event in Ski Hawk history when they performed a ski show in Central Park in the rowboat lake in 1965 or 1966. He also remembers the Ski Hawks performing a show in the New York City Harbor at Pier 56 as part of a NYC promotional event.

The early Ski Hawks were also a training ground for three event competitions. Many competitors trained in slalom, tricks, and jump at Lake Mohawk and went on to become top 3-event competitors including Regional Champion and Jump Record Holder Jean Corson, daughter of John and Betty Corson of Woodbine Terrace. Dennis Longo became a National Slalom Record holder in the Men 3 Division.

So many Lake Mohawk families have grown up with the Ski Hawks. Club Manager Fran Smith and her family were very active Ski Hawks. Fran's husband, James Smith, was a show director and children Laurie, Jaimie and Ellen, jumpers and climbers, participated for eight years. Fran recalls that in the early days, the boardwalk was not readily used, and outside of the parents, they had to encourage other spectators to watch. As a mom, Fran spoke of the positive benefits to the family. Today, as club manager, Fran states, "The club is fortunate to have a unique team, NJ's Official Water Ski Team, as part of Lake Mohawk."

Family involvement is essential to support the team. Members past and present speak of it as a great family activity providing opportunity to get to know other families. The team in fact has generations of skiers. Rick Zimmermann, whom Fran Smith recalls skiing off the grotto barefoot (teaching barefoot on the lake for many years since), joined Ski Hawks when he was 8 years old. Rick skied with the team until age 23 and has two children, Brian and Amy, who skied on the team for over 5 years. In the 70's, the team was known as a show team, with many performances held outside of the lake. There were shows held at Tammiment Resort, PA, Horseshoe Lake, Green Pond, with the highlight being the performance on the New York Harbor.

In the 70's and 80's, the Ski Hawks had a float in Sparta's July 4th Parade to encourage spectators to see the show at the boardwalk. Shows were held only on July 4th and Labor Day and practice was only one day a week.

There are many families on the lake who have committed time and energy to building this team through the years. Donna Jenkins and her family is an example of one such family. The Jenkins family have been involved with this team for 18 years. Joel Jenkins has pulled many skiers behind his boat and Donna has had her hand in every role through the years. Donna recalls a time when the team started from the water, the ropes had to be taken from the beach to the boat, and communication was done through signals as opposed to the walkie-talkies used today. As Show Director for the team when it became competitive in Regional Competition, Donna passed this role to son Damon in 1999 who will continue in it for the upcoming season. Sons Damon and Aaron, who have been highly visible on this team, joined Ski Hawks at age 6. Daughter Brett, equally active in this sport, met and married her husband Jim through the team. As previously noted, this team has brought many families together. They are only one example of romance resulting from team activities. The Ski Hawks have brought more than one couple on our lake together.

Although Karen Burroughs has a trophy for Eastern Regionals in 1963, participating individually in a trick ski competition, the team became competitive in the 1980's. Competition began with individuals participating in three events. Eastern Regional Competition began in 1985. In 1987, the Ski Hawks went to Eastern Regionals with the intent of seeing what it was all about. When another team backed out, the Ski Hawks were asked to compete. Without music or the preparation that has since followed, the Ski Hawks not only competed, but also placed, and not last at that! It was that year that the team became known as a Competitive Show Team. It was this kind of spirit that led to the Ski Hawks being named as "New Jersey's Official Water Ski Team" through the efforts of then trustee Dave Schoener and Assemblyman Scott Garrett's office in the early 1990's.

It was in Scotia, NY, at an Eastern Regional Competition, in 1994 that the first four-tier pyramid was performed. National Champion Arielle Bonnet was a new member and at 8 years of age, climbed to that 4th tier, now a highlight at all of the shows. She handed that role down to her brother Alex, and it has since been passed to a number of young Ski Hawks. In 1994, Brett Jenkins and now husband Jim placed 6th Nationally in individual competition for Strapped Doubles. In 1995, the Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks team went to the Nationals held that year in Janesville, Wisconsin. The Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks Team placed 12th. Brett's brother Damon and strapped doubles partner Arielle Bonnet have since competed in both Regional and National Competition. Nationally, they placed 7th in 1995, 6th in 1997 and 4th in 1998. Regionally, Arielle and Damon took 1st Place in 1997 and 1998 with such high marks that there wasn't even a close second.

I asked Donna Jenkins, who in addition to her involvement locally, is on the Board of Directors of the National Show Ski Association, to summarize what is expected in competition. Upon completion of the final show on Labor Day, the newly elected trustees begin planning for the following season. It begins with the development of a concept; script, music and deciding which skiers can participate in each segment. Thirteen types of ski maneuvers are called for in a champion performance, including barefoot, swivel skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, and jumping. The show must be completed in exactly one hour, thirty minutes to set up, and twenty minutes to clear. Points are divided, 50% based on the skill and difficulty of each routine, the other 50% on spectator appeal, script, costumes, attention to safety, the team's support staff from the boat drivers to the shore helpers and the announcer.

The Ski Hawks will continue to evolve in this new millennium. The team roster changes with each season, new members bringing their talent and desire to be part of a team. And yet one thing remains constant, the memories of the Ski Hawks on beautiful Lake Mohawk. As either a member or spectator, the Ski Hawks have become part of life on Lake Mohawk over the years. Since the summer season is just beginning, membership is still open. As Mark Salfelder, past team President, told me when I asked him why he joined at age 14, "Joining the Ski Hawks is the natural thing to do, if you like to ski on the lake." It should be noted that the team is open to a range of ages, last year's membership ranged from six to forty something.