Mad-City Ski Team to Compete in China

Now training behind the Malibu Boats (@MalibuBoats) world record-breaking Response LXi, the Mad-City Water Ski Team will be competing in an international water ski competition in Liuzhou, China. Mad-City was selected over several other competing teams to travel for eight days to China and compete in The Sino-American Water Ski Competition. Hosted by the Chinese Water Ski Association, fifteen of Mad-City's most talented skiers will perform 2 days of head to head competition against the Chinese in front of over 20,000 spectators.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Mad-City Ski Team,” said Mad-City board member Gary Pickney. “The hard work and dedication the team has put in over the last several years has not only produced 5 National Championships, but now the opportunity to travel all over the world to showcase our talents.”

Area water skiers have been invited to perform in various water ski shows world wide. Recent trips to Jamaica, India, and Dubai have given water skiers a chance to travel the world, and only those that excel are selected. The Mad-City Ski Team has a history of excellence, and they have been rewarded with the chance to compete in China.

“The chance to represent USA water skiing is a tribute to the quality of skiing we have on the Mad-City Ski Team,” said Pickney. “We're excited about heading to China and performing some top notch skiing.”

The Mad-City Ski Team has been performing shows on Sunday nights in Madison for 48 years. Shows run from Memorial Day to Labor Day on Sunday's at 6:00 p.m. As one of the finest show ski teams in the country, the Mad-City Ski Team has won 5 National Championships since 2004.

Local sponsors Lands End, Evinrude Outboards, Skipper Buds, Malibu Boats, Mueller and Future Foam have helped outfit the team to send them to China.

Tags: Malibu Boats | Mad-City | ski team | waters ski competition | China | Malibu Dealer | Skipper Buds | ski boats | ski boat | water skiing | Mad-City Ski Team | international | Liuzhou | Response LXi | Sino-American Water Ski Competition

E-mail From Marine Vet UCD Water Skier

We received this e-mail from Chris Ritthaler, Marine Vet and UC Davis Ski Team Member, last week and thought it was more than worthy of a blog post.

My name is Chris Ritthaler and I am on the UC Davis Collegiate Waterski and Wakeboard team. I am also a former Marine Corps Sergeant. I have 2 combat tours in Iraq as well as one in Cuba and Chile. Before joining the Marine Corps I had been a track and field athlete and had planned on running in college when my enlistment was up. Towards the end however, I hurt my ankle pretty bad in a training accident and could no longer run competitively. When I began attending school at UC Davis I was introduced to the ski team through a friend of mine who was an alum. I am now an officer for the team and skiing has given me a chance to go out and compete in a sport that I love. The team has had a Malibu since at least 2001 (that was the year of our old Response) and our team recently acquired a 2008 Response Lxi. I have skied behind most of the other AWSA approved tow boats in competitions, but in my mind nothing is as good as our Malibu. Basically I would like to thank Malibu for making a boat that, for me, is inseparable from one of the most positive things in my life (skiing) and I know that someday when I'm out of school and can afford to actually get a boat of my own, it will without a doubt be a Malibu.

We can't tell you how much a message like this means to us, Chris. We are thankful for groups like the UCD Ski Team and the positive outlet they have allow you and others who benefit from their group. We are also thankful for individuals like yourself who fought and are fighting for our country. We are proud that you ski behind a Malibu boat and we look forward to having you as a part of our family for years to come. Thank you.

Tags: Malibu Boats | UCD | UC Davis | Chris Ritthaler | ski team | Response LXi | ski boat | Marines | veteran | Iraq | hero