By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — For the second consecutive year, Lake City Skiers Finished fifth Sunday in the Division 1 National Ski Show Tournament held this weekend at Hidden Lake in Warsaw.
The top winner was the Rock Aqua Jays from Janesville, Wisconsin.
This year also marked the second consecutive year the organization hosted the national tournament after flooding prevented the Rockford Ill., from hosting the 2024 event.
Arrangements were made just three weeks ago because of prolonged flooding on a river used by the Illinois team.
The quick change of plans brought 11 out-of-state teams (along with family and friends) to Warsaw, many of who stayed in local hotels.
As of Saturday morning, more than 531 vehicles packed the Hidden Lake parking lot and another 52 registered their campers and tents for the weekend event.
“It’s awesome. Lake City is an amazing host. The site’s perfect. The way they put it together the way they do, it’s impressive and appreciated,” said Justin Mushel, with the Twin Lakes Auquanuts.
Michelle Shipley, a former organizer for the Warsaw organization and whose family, led by Jurgon Voss has been involved in the Warsaw team for decades, talked about how close many of the ski team are.
That’s been a factor during the flooding across the Illinois-Wisconsin region.
“Some of the teams have been really lucky because the camaraderie has been so high that they’ve actually gone to other sites and they’ve let them practice,” Shipley said.
You can check out the show’s highlights at lakecityskiers.org.
Below are photos from the weekend event.
