We just sent Elizabeth back to Utah after spending the whole summer with us again in Wisconsin. Frequently she rides with us when we come from Utah in late May. (a few years ago also with two dogs and two cats) . We send her home after the Water Ski Banquet in early August.
I have spent about 10 hours/day for weeks now, finding all the best pictures of Elizabeth water skiing starting in 2005 at age 2 on the grass and inside the house all the way to starring again this year (2017) for the fourth year in a row in the Aqua Devils water ski show. I have also written short captions and dated each photo.
Elizabeth McDonald
A Synopsis of Her Water Ski Career
Note the remarkable year she had in 2007 at age 4 when she had a total blast skiing on the trainer skis. She showed us that you could ski no-hands on the trainer skis (we had no idea) it culminating in skiing in an Aqua Devils Show as perhaps the youngest skier ever in the history of the club.
In 2013 at age 10 in her first year in the Three Lakes Wisconsin Aqua Devils water ski club she climbed her first three high pyramid, (all girls). They needed a very light girl who had the guts and athleticism to climb to the top. She made it on her first try. She also did a trick ski act in the show a couple of times. (My only regret….. she seldom wants to ski tricks and has never done tricks in a show since that year.) However, the hundreds of trick ski hop-docks off our pier she has done have served her well doing the ballet line hop-docks starting in 20i15
The next year (2014) she dominated by climbing to the top of every three high end pyramid that entire year. She was given the cherry-on-top award at the end-of-the-year banquet. She also did a ballet hop-dock that year in practice . . . . a forerunner of what was to come.
The next year (2015 )at the age of 12 she skied in every ballet line and was the only girl to never miss a hop-dock the whole year. That included the State Tournament in Wisconsin Rapids when she was the only one to make the start (the underpowered boat speed was too slow for the heavier girls) unfortunately she was too embarrassed to continue the routine by herself and made herself scarce during the ballet end-dance that the other girls had to swim to.
She guided her young DeBellis twin cousins Eliana & Thea to a great season with the club, and joined cousin Calvin DeBellis on top of nearly every double three high that year. Practicing with her cousins, behind her grandfather’s (my) boat the cousins learned how to make pyramids. They introduced the first Mascot Pyramid in the 50 year history of the Aqua Devils Cub. Two years later there has been a Mascot Pyramid in every show including at the Show Ski Championships in Wisconsin Rapids.
In 2016 at the age of 13 she climbed to the top of the first 4-high pyramids that had been done by the Aqua Devils in several years. She also climbed to the top of the first 3-high prefab pyramids that had been done by the club in several years. The roughly 50% success rate (though seldom her fault) resulted in many falls, some of which landed her on other skiers or skis. She also climbed the first Swivel Pyramids that involve a back flop in front of the crowd as the only way to get back down.
This year 2017 at age 14 for the first time she wasn’t always the smallest member of the ballet line. She shepherded two new younger girls on the ballet line in 2017. When the club sponsored an alumni show, she joined in a pyramid with her two older sisters Megan an Rachel. She also worked on a Junior 3-High Pyramid and a young girls 3-High Pyramid, One show when they tried them, the water was too rough for success, Over the years, the LDS (Mormon) Young Women of the Rhinelander Ward have come to see a show, as well as several sets of LDS missionaries. The missionaries came to a show again this year. Of course her grandfather (Always with his full-frame Nikon camera and 10 -1 tele zoom lens) and grandmother seldom miss a show. Some times as many as 20 family members came to watch her ski.
A watershed event this year, with several tiny athletic gutsy new girls in the club . . . at the end of the year Elizabeth had moved down to the second level in the pyramid with one of the tiny new girls on top.
Last year her grandfather bought her a swivel ski rope and handle and borrowed a swivel ski from a friend for her. Elizabeth started to make progress late in the year working with her friend Libby Schuster and her coach Kathleen Laird of 3 Ski Swivel. She hopes to buy her own swivel ski next year.
Who knows what Elizabeth will do next. I can hardly wait to see.
Note: You can download 253 Photos of Elizabeth Water Skiing (2005-2013) on drop box from the link
Please let me know if it works!
Note: the photos on drop box and below only go from 2005 to 2013. I will upload 2014-2017 at a later date,
Please find below over 500 of the best pictures collected from the 11 year water ski career of Elizabeth McDonald
Elizabeth McDonald: 2005 Age 2
Grandpa Fritz towing two-year-old Elizabeth around the Aqua Devils ski site on our classic yellow trainer skis, July 19, 2005
Elizabeth carrying one of our favorite youth skis around the house at Camp Hasler in Three Lakes, WI,
July 19, 2005
Grandpa Fritz towing two year old Elizabeth on at the pier at Camp Hasler on the yellow trainer skis,
Three Lakes, WI, July 19, 2005
Grandpa Fritz towing two year old Elizabeth around the Aqua Devils ski site on the yellow trainer skis.
What, a tiny pirate? July 27, 2005
Megan and Rachel follow the lead of their mother Liese and aunt Marta skiing in the Mascot Line in the Aqua Devils show, July 19, 2005
Rachel and Megan in their excellent pirate costumes in the show, July 19, 2017
Megan went on to be the first in the family to climb a 3-high pyramid. We have the video, but no photographs.
Rachel Megan with Meggie and Emily Christopher in their very fine conventional doubles costumes, July 31, 2005.
Here is two year old Elizabeth sitting in the lap of her aunt Laura sitting next to her great grand mother Alice Huebner watching the show. Both Laura and Alice died not too many years after this photos was taken, July 19, 2005
Elizabeth Watching the Aqua Devils Ski Show at the Felland Memorial Water Ski Park in Three Lakes Wisconsin, July 30, 2005
Elizabeth McDonald: 2006 Age 3
Our ski boat sits at the end of our pier, 35 feet from the house
The only ingredient we are missing is consistent warm weather . . . but our hot tub helps!
Fortunately many of our young grandchildren are able to spend a month or more at Camp Hasler during the summer and we always have many good warm days every month.
Elizabeth is starting from the shore only 20 feet from our house with help from her oldest sister Megan who is holding her in position for the start, June 20, 2006
Who has the biggest smile? First time skier 3-year-old Elizabeth or her mother Liese, Camp Hasler,
Three Lakes, WI 54562, June 20, 2006
This is how we pull a first time skier. Most importantly we need a fearless 2 to 5 year old . . . in this case Elizabeth McDonald who is willing to give it a try.
While her older sister Rachel holds the record at 2 years 2 months, Elizabeth skied far more on the trainers between the ages of 3 to 5 than any other child or grandchild.
It takes a crew of five:
1) The driver, Matt in this case has to give a nice smooth pull to about 6 mph.
2) The starter, in this case Megan (previous picture) who must encourage the skier to stand up straight and hold on tight. The starter holds the skier near the top of the water and walks forward as the skier starts.
3) The rope holder in the boat, in this case Elizabeth's mother Liese. The rope holder must be prepared to let go if the skier falls and jump in the water to comfort the skier.
4) A photographer (missing in this case, but the photographer on the pier got this excellent photograph, and finally,
5) the videographer, grandpa Fritz (me) in this case.
The video can be seen in the 2005 Day In The Life Movie. Camp Hasler, Three Lakes, WI 54562, June 20, 2006
Same caption: Who has the biggest smile? First time 3-year-old skier Elizabeth or her mother Liese.
Elizabeth has come back to the pier where Liese let go of the rope and jumped into the water. Camp Hasler Three Lakes WI, June 20, 2006
Elizabeth is starting again from the shore with her oldest sister Megan holding her in position for the start, The skis are perfect, but Elizabeth should be standing a little straighter, June 20, 2006
Elizabeth skis on the classic yellow Cypress Gardens trainers, June 20, 2006
Megan and Rachel doing the Gypsy in the conventional doubles act of the Aqua Devils ski show, July 9, 2006.
Elizabeth & Family watching the Aqua Devils show at the Felland Memorial Water Ski Park in Three Lakes WI, June, 21, 2006
Elizabeth & Family Watching the Fourth of July Parade in Three Lakes WI, July 4, 2006
Elizabeth McDonald: 2007 Age 4
Elizabeth Skis: Megan starting her, with Liese holding the rope in the boat, Camp Hasler Three Lakes, WI, July, 23, 2007
Elizabeth Skis: Hand waving is practiced on shore so she is ready for the photographer while skiing, Camp Hasler Three Lakes WI, July, 23, 2007
Elizabeth Skis: That smile is not faked, Laurel Lake in front of Camp Hasler, Three Lakes, WI, July, 23, 2007
Elizabeth Skis: Thumbs-up doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means go faster grandpa! can't you see you are going too slow, Camp Hasler Three Lakes, WI,
July, 23, 2007
Elizabeth Skis: Touching the water is practiced on shore so she is ready for the photographer while skiing, Besides it is a lot of fun, Camp Hasler Three Lakes, WI, July, 26, 2007
Elizabeth Skis: Patting the head doesn't mean her head itches. It means taking me back to the dock, I've skied long enough. She might have practiced this on shore, or could have picked it up watching her sisters ski . . . smart girl, Camp Hasler Three Lakes, WI, July, 26, 2007
The high point of the the year was skiing in an Aqua Devils Show as perhaps the youngest skier ever in the history of the club.
Elizabeth with her mother Liese pulling her on the grass towards the water at Felland Memorial Water Ski Park, July 25, 2007
Elizabeth skiing off the beach in an Aqua Devils Show with her sister Rachel watching her, July 25, 2007
Elizabeth with her mother Liese pulling her from the boat at Felland Memorial Water Ski Park, July 25, 2007
Elizabeth waves at the crowd with Rachel holding her skis, after skiing in an Aqua Devils Show, July 25, 2007
Elizabeth runs in front of the crowd after skiing in an Aqua Devils Show with Rachel carrying her skis. Note that she is holding her arms behind her back as she has observed the other performers doing, July 25, 2007
Elizabeth does the end-dance with Grandpa's protege Leane Ford watching over her after skiing in the Aqua Devils Show, July 25, 2007
Elizabeth does the end dance with Grandpa's protege Leane Ford holding her hand after skiing in an Aqua Devils Show, July 25, 2007
Elizabeth McDonald: 2008 Age 5
Elizabeth would touch the water with her left hand, then her right hand then her left hand and then she would drop the handle and touch the water with both hands. It was a simple step then just to stand up and hold out both hands. . . no-handle. We had never seen this done before and didn't know it could be done.
Elizabeth skis no-hands, Camp Hasler, June 27, 2008
Elizabeth skis, waves, Camp Hasler, June 27, 2008
Elizabeth skis no-hands again, Camp Hasler,
Elizabeth skis, touches the water, Camp Hasler,
Elizabeth skis no hands again, Camp Hasler,
Elizabeth skis, waves, Camp Hasler, June 27, 2008
When we could get a three to five-year-old child to ski it was usually a one time per season affair. In one case the child skied at age 2, but then didn't ski again for 3 years.
When we had a willing child, we would get out the full team of five, one of which would have to get in the water near the shore to give the skier a start. With Elizabeth, she wanted to ski so many times that it got hard to find someone to get in the water to give her the start. Soon we found out that if Elizabeth could sit on the edge of the yellow raft where she could just ski off with no one getting wet
Elizabeth with her mother Liese getting ready to start off the raft, Camp Hasler, June 27, 2008
Elizabeth ready to start off the raft, Camp Hasler,
June 27, 2008
Elizabeth starting off the raft, Camp Hasler,
June 27, 2008
These next five photos show just how happy Elizabeth was to be out on the water skiing, June 27, 2008
Elizabeth McDonald: 2009 Age 6
Liese starts Elizabeth from the shore. She is using the classic yellow trainers, but she has a normal ski rope that is not tied to the skis, Camp Hasler,
July 16, 2009
Elizabeth skis on the boom. She is on the classic yellow trainers that are tied together, July 16, 2009
Elizabeth skis on the boom. She is on our favorite Connely youth skis that are not tied together,
July 16, 2009
Elizabeth skis on the boom. She is slaloming on one our favorite Connely youth skis, July 16, 2009
Elizabeth in the water with our Connely youth skis,
July 16, 2009
Elizabeth makes a big step forward: She is doing real skiing behind the boat on the Connely youth skis not tied together, July 16, 2009
There's confidence: Elizabeth waves while skiing behind the boat on the Connely youth skis not tied together, July 16, 2009
Another big step forward: Elizabeth doing a start from the raft on our favorite Connely youth skis not tied together. No one is in the water holding her in position while she starts (see the first photograph from this year),
July 16, 2009
Elizabeth McDonald: 2010 Age 7
Can you see some spill over from her water skiing.
She has snow skied over 20 days per year almost every year for the last 10 years
Elizabeth skis Brighton, Utah, with her mother, Liese and brother Aaron, April 17, 2010
Elizabeth is very comfortable on her skis and learns to slalom at age 7
Elizabeth skis waves Three Lakes July 21, 2010
Elizabeth skis, just having fun, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, July 21, 2010
Elizabeth skis, cuts, waves, just having fun, Three Lakes,
July 21, 2010
Elizabeth skis, cuts, just having fun, Three Lakes,
July 21, 2010
Elizabeth skis, while lifting a ski to practice slalom, Three Lakes, July 21, 2010
Elizabeth skis, while lifting a ski to practice slalom, Three Lakes, July 21, 2010
Elizabeth skis, while lifting a ski to practice slalom, Three Lakes, July 21, 2010
Elizabeth slaloms at age 7. It could be an all time record. her oldest sister Megan slalomed at age 8.
Three Lakes, WI, July 21, 2010
Elizabeth McDonald: 2011 Age 8
Elizabeth Slaloms on the boom Camp Hasler, Three Lakes WI, July 18, 2011
Elizabeth Slaloms on the boom Camp Hasler, Three Lakes WI, July 18, 2011
Make way for ducklings, Camp Hasler, July 12, 2011
Dragging on the barefoot boom is one of the favorite pastimes of the grandkids at Camp Hasler. Here we get a good look at the Ski Nautique, professional ski boat, used for all the skiing at Camp Hasler shown in this blog
Elizabeth dragging on the boom. Twin cousins Eliana and Thea DeBellis, grandpa Fritz, and Grandma's niece Katie Desmond watch from the boat, Camp Hasler,
Three Lakes WI, July 12, 2011
Elizabeth and 2nd cousins dragging on the boom
Aaron and Rachel McDonald, plus Thea, Eliana,and Calvin DeBellis, dragging on the boom.
Elizabeth McDonald: 2012 Age 9
Elizabeth with trick ski Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake ,Three Lakes, WI, June 25, 2012
Elizabeth and Fritz with trick ski Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, June 25, 2012
Elizabeth skiing on her trick ski on the boom, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, June 25, 2012
Elizabeth skiing perfectly backwards on her trick ski on the boom, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 10, 2012
Elizabeth doing an excellent side slide on her trick ski on the boom, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI,
June 10, 2012
Elizabeth slaloming, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, June 10, 2012
Elizabeth cutting hard, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 10, 2012
Elizabeth already mimicking the ballet line girls, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, June 10, 2012
Elizabeth slaloming, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake,
Three Lakes, WI, June 10, 2012
Elizabeth slaloming, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, June 10, 2012
Elizabeth slaloming, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 10, 2012
Elizabeth ready to start skiing double with cousin Calvin, DeBellis, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI,
Elizabeth starting skiing double with cousin Calvin, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI,
Elizabeth and cousin Calvin skiing double,
Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI,
Elizabeth and cousin Calvin skiing double holding hands
Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI,
Elizabeth and cousin Calvin skiing double slalom,
Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI,
Elizabeth and cousin Calvin skiing double slalom,
Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI,
Elizabeth and cousin Calvin skiing double slalom,
Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI,
Elizabeth ready to slalom, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth ready to slalom, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth in the water ready to slalom, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth deep water slalom start at age 9, Camp Hasler, Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth jumping the wake on slalom, Camp Hasler on Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth cuts hard on slalom, Camp Hasler on Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth lets go with one hand like a pro on slalom, Camp Hasler on Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI,
Elizabeth lets go with one hand like a pro on slalom, Camp Hasler on Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI,
Elizabeth jumping the wake on slalom, Camp Hasler on Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth lets go with one hand like a pro on slalom, Camp Hasler on Laurel Lake,
Three Lakes, WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth cuts hard on slalom, Camp Hasler on Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth cuts hard on slalom, Camp Hasler on Laurel Lake, Three Lakes WI, June 19, 2012
Elizabeth McDonald: 2013 at Age 10
Elizabeth joins
the Aqua Devils Show Ski Team
in Three Lakes, Wisconsin
The team practices and performs only a few miles from our house (Camp Hasler) in Three Lakes WI. We can go by car, bike or boat to watch the show. It’s almost always by car since I am always carrying the camera that took these pictures.
Elizabeth: Conventional Doubles Act, July 6, 2013
Elizabeth: Conventional Doubles Act, July 10, 2013
All that skiing at Camp Hasler with grandpa served her well for skiing in the Mascot line, July 3, 2013
It took considerable arm twisting and many trips to the
Lick-A-Dee-Splitz ice cream store to get Elizabeth to learn to trick ski and even more to get her to trick in the show
Even though tricks were the favorite of her grandpa, mother Liese, aunt Marta, and older sisters Megan and Rachel, Elizabeth could trick, but didn't love it. However, she opened show ski doors that no one in her family had ever even imagined.
Elizabeth tricking in the show with grandpa]s protege, Leanne Ford, July 20, 2013
Elizabeth and Leanne ski in, July 24, 2013
At age 10 Elizabeth shows us what we will see hundreds of times in the future. She climbs her first
3-high pyramid, July 24, 2013
On the Fourth of July there is often a big crowd,
July 4, 2013
And if you are staying at our house, attendance at the water ski show is required (not really, everyone wants to go), July 24, 2013
Fritz's brother Bruce, Mary with her sister Ellen, Elizabeth's family, Fritz's nieces and nephews with their families and The DeBellis nanny Lisa Weis are in attendance, July 10, 2013
All the above plus Eliabeth's aunt Marta DeBellis, and Katherine Jett with her husband (to be) watching, Plus Mary's niece Katie and nephew Geoff Desmond,
July 3, 2013
Chloe with a rare win on the cake raffle
Chloe Hasler flanked by Cousins Thea and Eliana DeBellis, July 3, 2013
Elizabeth McDonald: 2014 Age 11
Second Season with the Aqua Devils
Calvin, Eliana & Thea DeBellis (Marta and Adam’s children) tried out and skied in the first show. They would wait until the following year to fully participate. Here we see three cousins: Elizabeth, Thea and Eliana doing a “Conventional Doubles” start. Thea is grabbing the boy’s head and pulling it back so hard that he failed to make the start,
June 17, 2014
The first of 22 3-High End Pyramids Elizabeth would do this season, June 12, 2014
Here we see Elizabeth following the tradition of the Aqua Devils Ski Club pulling a boat with the kids riding on it and the truck in the annual fourth of July Parade, July 4, 2014
In 2014 Mary & Fritz, Matt & Amy Hasler Family, The McDonald Family, the DeBellis Family and the Parens Family came to watch the Three Lakes Parade, July 4, 2014
Here is the whole crew watching Elizabeth in the Aqua Devils 4th of July Ski Show, July 4, 2014
Here is Elizabeth on top of an all girls pyramid (well not quite, they didn’t have a girl strong enough to get off the dock with Elizabeth on her shoulders, so a boy is playing the part of the center base), July 5, 2014
Katherine Jett with Lilia "Hasler" watching the show. If you ask Lilia what her last name is she says she doesn’t like her last name. If you ask her what she wants her last name to be she says Hasler, July 5, 2014
Elizabeth making one of the hundreds of hop-docks she practiced on her trick ski at Camp Hasler. These were a big help later when it came to making the hop-docks on the big ski in the ballet line with the big girls,
July 11, 2014
Elizabeth Tricking on Laurel Lake, Three Lakes, WI,
July 11, 2014
Elizabeth made her first try bare-footing at age 11,
July 11, 2014
Elizabeth at the State Tornament in Wisconsin Rapids climbing to the top of the girls pyramid, July 18, 2014
Elizabeth successfully climbed to the top of at least twenty 3-High End Pyramids in 2014.
The End Pyramid has several critical stages:
1) Getting off the dock with someone on your shoulders. Four of the five girls are full grown. It is not an easy task to get jerked off the dock with a heavy person on your shoulders.
2) Getting your skis to plane: Notice all the water being pushed up in front of the skis. Over the years our ski boat has often had barely enough power to get the End Pyramid up on plane. The skis have to be huge and the boys have to know how to hold their skis so that they plane and don’t just stop the boat.
3) Once you are planing the girls have to wave at the crowd.
4) Then the climbing begins. If the kids are inexperienced or you are doing a difficult (4-high) pyramid the climbing is difficult and sometimes the kids fall. Most of this is done out of sight so it is aways a thrill when they come into view and the pyramid is mostly complete
5) Then they have the difficult climb down while the boat is crossing wakes and turning around. Each girl that was riding on shoulders originally is let down to ride on the boy’s skis
6) Ideally everyone makes it all the way back to the beach (sometimes they fall a little early and have to swim in)
7) Then it is time for bows. The bases come forward first, then the 2nd tier and finally Elizabeth as the Cherry On Top.
In show skiing it is very important for everyone to return to the shore for this part. You don’t want to try something too difficult and have to be brought in in the pickup boat
One of the more than twenty 3-High End Pyramids Elizabeth successfully topped in 2014,
July 19, 2014
Once you have the 3-high mastered it is not much harder to do a double 3-high. It’s the same number of skiers as the
2-3-2 pyramid (12) for the boat to get out of the water,
July 29, 2014
The Whole 2014 Aqua Devils Ski Team, July 23, 201
At the banquet, I had the kids line up just like they did in the pyramid, August 1, 2014
At the end of the year Elizabeth did her first ballet line hop-dock in practice with some of the big girls,
July 30, 2014
The Ballet Line at the Aqua Devils Banquet, August 1, 2014
The Whole 2014 Aqua Devils Ski Team, July 23, 2017
Elizabeth McDonald: 2015 Age 12
Elizabeth's Third Aqua Devils Season
Elizabeth’s cousins (and my grand children) Marta and Adam's children Calvin, Eliana & Thea Debellis joined the club and participated the whole year.
They all made amazing contributions to the club which is unheard of for very
young first year members
Here three Cousins Eliana, Elizabeth and Thea
join together in the conventional doubles act. June 20, 2015
Here four cousins, Calvin Eliana, Elizabeth and Thea start in the Mascot line. Three made it through to the end, June 20, 2015
Elizabeth has a flawless performance in her very first Ballet Line.
In the fourth picture you see the girl on the far-end falling. Sometimes as many as 9 of the 12 will fall, mostly on the start, but sometimes later on. Also in photos 6, 7, and 8 you see the girls doing the “crotch hold” If even one of the girls falls doing this the safety person in the boat pulls the release ruining the act as all the girls sink into the water. Elizabeth has been virtually 100% in the ballet line. Her only falls came in later years when the girl next to her dragged her down.
12 girls did the hop-dock off the pier, 5 fell and only 7 made it to the end . . . and guess what?
Elizabeth was one of the 7,
June 20, 2015
For at least the last 20 years each ski show has ended with a funny little dance by all the team members. The team dances to the music December 1963 by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Here we see Elizabeth leading her two little cousins, Eliana and Thea in the dance,
June 20, 2015
Here the four cousins are learning the fine points of skiing off the pier at Camp Hasler,
June 22, 2015
The three DeBellis cousins were bound and determined to learn how to climb pyramids. They had in Elizabeth, the best conceivable coach. This was critical, it was the reason they were able to introduce the Mascot Pyramid to the show. This had never happened before in the club's 50 year history,
June 22, 2015
The first double 3-high end pyramid of the year . . . . you guessed it! The two cousins, Elizabeth and Calvin were the cherries on top this day
and for the rest of the year,
June 24, 2015
Elizabeth McDonald and Calvin DeBellis both celebrate climbing to the top of a double 3-high end pyramid,
June 24, 2015
Here the two cousins do the
double 3-high end pyramid again,
June 27, 2015
Another of the twenty-two ballet lines that Elizabeth did in 2015. This one with the fanciest costumes. Elizabeth is the smallest one on the near end,
Juiy 18, 2015
McDonalds and Haslers watching in the stands,
July 1, 2015
Everyone had to take a turn manning the refreshment stand (Marta and Adam DeBellis), July 1, 2015
After another ballet line,
July 1, 2015
Aqua Devils at the 2015 Wisconsin State Show Ski Championships
All looks good at this point,
July 21, 2015
Unfortunately with a underperforming borrowed boat, the speed is too slow to keep the ballet line on plane (except for Elizabeth),
July 21, 2015
Back at Camp Hasler some years ago we had great fun with a different kind of ballet line . . . . We called it the Triple Trick Sisters, all on single trick skis, with Megan and Rachel McDonald, Alexa Stodola, Maggie and Emily Christopher and Hannah Stodola,
July 10, 2009
Since we now have enough home grown trick skiers we thought we would try a family version with Megan, Elizabeth, Fritz, Liese, Marta and Calvin,
July 3, 2015
I’m sure I would have made my start, but I was running over Elizabeth. Unfortunately unlike Elizabeth, most of us hadn't done a hop-dock in a long time.
July 3, 2015
So we did a six person deep water start,
July 3, 2015
Unfortunately Marta had pulled a muscle on the hop-dock but 5 of us got up,
July 3, 2015
The boat, driver, photographer and some urchins, July 3, 2015
if I ever get finished with the overwhelming number of pictures in this blog you may see the next Day In The Life movie (Fritz and Matt & Amy Hasler’s Kaden),
July 4, 2015
The first ever Aqua Devils Mascot Pyramid engineered by the four cousins
Calvin is the left base on the left Pyramid with Eliana on top, Elizabeth is the left base on the right Pyramid with Thea on top,
Elizabeth is always in another act . . . this time “flags", July 8, 2015
Elizabeth's LDS (Mormon) Young Women's Group come to Three Lakes from the Rhinelander Ward (Congregation) to watch one of their number perform,
July 29, 2017
When the club decided to reintroduce the 3-high prefab pyramid of course Elizabeth was tagged to ride the top
We see it here in the State Show Ski Championships in Wisconsin Rapids.
As you can see the pyramid comes off the dock already assembled. . . . but there is a reason Elizabeth is wearing a helmet,
July 21, 2015
The big event at the end of the year is the Aqua Devils Award Banquet. Elizabeth sat at a table with all the other young girls,
August 2, 2015
Grandpa and Grandma got to hang out with parents and families of other skiers,
August 2, 2015
And here's the whole team, not an ugly bunch,
August 2, 2015
Then there was the little girl that had been hanging out with the big girls in the ballet line all season,
August 2, 2015
At every show the team raffles off cookies and treats . . . do you think we ever win any?
But when it really counted the raffle of a beautiful adirondack chair made from water skis and featured in every show all season long . . Elizabeth was the winner . . . it presently reigns in her living room in Utah,
Elizabeth wins the Adorondak Chair Raffel,
August 1, 2015
Elizabeth McDonald: 2016 Age 13
Elizabeth's Fourth Aqua Devils Season
Our youngest daughter Katherine comes from North Carolina every year bringing her darling little girls Lilia and Ailsa for over a month. Megan came from Utah with her fiancé Chandler and they all come to watch the show,
July 13, 2016
We sneaked the next picture in from the following year
This year Elizabeth's grandfather bought her a swivel ski rope and handle and borrowed a swivel ski from a friend for her to use. Elizabeth started to make progress late the following year working with her friend Libby Schuster and her coach Kathleen Laird of 3-Ski-Swivel. She hopes to buy her own swivel ski the year after.
Who knows what Elizabeth will do next. I can hardly wait to see?
In the next act we see some of the things that can be done on a swivel ski.
Ali Hays and Daniel Eriksson perform an excellent swivel act, June 22, 2016
The Aqua Devils practiced all year climbing on land and in waist deep water for a 4-high pyramid They also practiced something called a double top which is a 4-high without the 4th level.
In years gone by, I was known to lobby for my grand kids with the officers and show directors.
However, Elizabeth has had such great success lately, that I have no nee to say a word.
Below you see the first Aqua Devils 4-High Pyramid in several years with, you guessed it . . . Elizabeth McDonald on top,
July 13, 2016
It’s a long way down and many a 4-high has collapsed while the last level climbed into position or started climbing down,
July 13, 2016
The swivel pyramid is a pretty weird act that requires four girls that are steady in the swivel toe back position.
Once again, guess who was tagged with the job of climbing on top.
When they are done there is no way to climb down so the girl on top just flops off the back.
Elizabeth:…… does it hurt?
July 16, 2016
This
Ballet line begins with 12 beautiful girls in matching costumes. Elizabeth is the first off the dock with her
hop dock, but watch how disaster unfolds leaving only three girls at the end. .
. and guess who is one of the three that make it to the end,
July 16, 2016
and when it was time to ski in, only three were left standing. You knew that one of the three left at the end would be Elizabeth
Another ballet line with 12 girls at the beginning,
July 20, 2016
This time the girl next to her is one of the most experience in the club, apparently didn’t do a good job coiling her rope this time. You can see the knot that made her rope three feet shorter and pulled her and Elizabeth off the dock before the rest of the girls
Each girl is responsible for coiling her own rope. The possibility of a knot is just one more thing that makes the big group acts high-tension events,
July 20, 2016
she knocked Elizabeth down, but made her start. With a rope three feet shorter, she probably just dropped off a short time later,
July 20, 2016
Another 4-High Pyramid with Elizabeth on top. However this time they fell when climbing down so only 6 out of 12 made it back the rest including Elizabeth come by boat,
July 20, 2016
Then off to the state tournament again. All the bigger clubs have at least one triple rig with up to 600 horse power. These are probably Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skier boats. You see that they also have two twin rigs. These multiple motor outboard rigs have much more power for getting huge acts off the dock. The big clubs also have at least one ski boat like the Aqua Devils. They cycle 4 or 5 boats in front of the crowd for a very fast paced show. In the lat 20 years, the Aqua Devils had one twin rig for a couple years. The twins are very expensive and very difficult to drive. They also had two ski boats for a couple years,
July 22, 2016
When you have nice calm water like this even the Aqua Devils can put five bare-footers on the water at once and have them foot for 500 yards. At the home site in Three Lakes, the water is usually so rough, that only the best footers last more than a few feet.
July 22, 2016
Max Blanchard is unusually good at doing flips off the ramp. The amount of air he gets is amazing, July 22, 2016
Elizabeth and the swivel pyramid,
July 22, 2016
Elizabeth leads the ballet line, unfortunately a girl fell during the crotch hold and they pinned everyone,
July 22, 2016
Once again Elizabeth and her side made the 3-high end pyramid climb, but the other side did not,
July 22, 2016
Mary & I didn’t make the State Tournament this year (2017) because I broke my pelvis two days before the event.
Grandma Mary and Grandpa Fritz (the camera man) make the trip every year to the State Championship with Elizabeth in Wisconsin Rapids,
July 22, 2016
The Aqua Devils enjoy very much going to the championships, but they are the lowest ranked club that competes. The next ranked clubs (see example below) to go out are low ranked, but often have the big triple rigs and run 4 boats at once. The Aqua Devils is really the only club at the tournament that is run and manned 100% by kids. The only adults the Aqua Devils use are the boat driver and pickup people,
July 22, 2016
Katherine with Lilia and Ailsa,
August 13, 2016
Elizabeth doing the conventional doubles “Gypsy", June 22, 2016
Elizabeth on top of another 3-high end pyramid,
June 22, 2016
You have seen loons do this, no? Elizabeth landing the ballet hop-dock once again,
June 25, 2016
Elizabeth: End Pyramid, June 25, 2016
Elizabeth: End Dance,
June 25, 2016
Elizabeth: Ballet Line,
July 2, 2016
It's hard to see the other girls, but you can see Elizabeth perfectly,
July 2, 2016
4th of July week shows are the biggest of the year
A big crowd Aqua Devils Sunday Show,
July 2, 2016
Elizabeth's sister Megan, her soon to be brother-in-law Chandler George and her cousin Kaden Hasler watching her performance with rapt attention,
July 2, 2016
This is the double top that is a practice climb for the
4-high end pyramid that closes every show,
July 2, 2016
Elizabeth: Swivel Pyramid,
July 9, 2016
Elizabeth: Ballet Line,
July 9, 2016
Elizabeth: Small Girl with a Big Ski, a great ending to the end of the season with the Aqua Devils ,
July 9, 2016
Elizabeth McDonald: 2017 Age 14
Elizabeth's Fifth Aqua Devils Season
Now, as one of the more experience members of the club, a grownup Elizabeth is helping start other acts in the first show of the season,
June 17, 2017
Many of the older members have retired leaving a bunch of young small kids with little experience. Things look pretty grim.
A number of long time members had graduated to internships and job in other parts of the country/world
See below the very small ballet line in this first show on Saturday. For first time, with Libby Schuster on her shoulder, Elizabeth is no longer the smallest girl in the ballet line,
June 17, 2017
They proved that even though you are only a small Mascot skier, if you are a strong skier, you can make a pyramid.
These kids are a little older than those in the original Mascot Pyramids
Another Junior Pyramid Pioneered originally by the McDonald and DeBellis Cousins,
July 17, 2017
Since the number of kids was so small Elizabeth found herself doing Conventional Doubles again or wait. . . a failed pyramid,
June 17, 2017
And now finally conventional doubles act,
June 17, 2017
Maybe things aren't so bad. . . they did a really nice Flag Act,
June 17, 2017
By the next show they already had a ballet line of 9 skiers off the doc with Elizabeth shepherding two new skier that are younger than her,
June 21, 2017
Elizabeth helped them do the difficult hop-dock successfully, but by the end they have both fallen as Elizabeth accompanies the other 6 remaining girls skiing back to shore, June 21, 2016
And surprise, enough good sized experience young men showed up to do an excellent End Pyramid. It would help if one of the girls on the 2-high pyramids had longer legs. Of course with Elizabeth on top ! ! !
June 21, 2017
Elizabeth has adopted Ava Carillo who may soon replace her on top of pyramids, June, 21, 2017
Another Junior Pyramid,
June 21, 2017
Wakeboard boats have grown to the size of small battleships, this one pulls new president Max Blanchard in the show,
June 21 2017
the ballet line is up to 12 already although the two smallest girls will dance but not ski.
Elizabeth has the two new girls, Libby Schuster who is smaller r and Reese Stellmacher who is bigger, on each side of her.
July 1, 2017
She got them both through the start,
July 1, 2017
With only 8 at the end, 4 of the 11 starters have fallen. However Elizabeth and her two young proteges made it to the end,
July 1, 2017
Elizabeth’s family with Megan’s new husband Chandler with them in his new role for the first time, Brad Aaron Chandler Rachel Liese Megan Elizabeth,
July 4, 2017
Camp Hasler has a hot tub that is great fun especially for warmingup on the colder Northern Wisconsin days, Megan Chandler Oliver & Calvin Hillman Elizabeth and Rachel,
Around the 4th of July the crowds get really big,
July 1, 2017
President Max Blanchard is very good on his wake board, he also does front and back flips off the ramp. Furthermore: Elizabeth rides on his shoulders for all the big End Pyramids. That means he is the center base and takes the biggest load in the pyramid.
Here he does an Air Rayleigh (I knew Bud Rayleigh and his son from Virginia who invented the trick that carries his name. He did it on a trick ski. Unfortunately conventional trick skiing doesn’t recognize it for scoring points,
July 4, 2017
Elizabeth doing another Prefab Pyramid,
July 4, 2017
Here is the ballet line again, this time all in blue, on the Fourth of July.
With 11 starters, Elizabeth and one of her young proteges were among the 9 who finished.
In the 9th photograph you can see Reese, her taller protege and another girl go down on the hop doc, but Elizabeth remains strong and makes her start,
July 4, 2017
Another end pyramid with Elizabeth riding on Max’s shoulders on the start (Max makes himself standout by wearing red shorts). On the complete pyramid, Elizabeth is on top and Max with the heaviest load is center on the bottom. Then Elizabeth climbs down and rides in on Max’s skis, July 4, 2017
Elizabeths Older Sisters Arrive for the Alumni Show, July 5, 2017
Elizabeth’s older sisters Rachel and Megan ready to carry her on their shoulders as part of a double pyramid,
July 5, 2017
Elizabeth’s mother Liese and brother-in-law Chandler will also join in,
July 5, 2017
But first an all sister pyramid,
July 5, 2017
Mary and I were part of a parent’s movement a few years ago to make sure that all team members wear life jackets all the time. The club finally bought each team member an attractive lightweight black jacket the goes under their costume.
Elizabeth falls off the back on this prefab pyramid
Here Chandler tries to ski as a base for Elizabeth in the conventional doubles act.
He made it in practice, but couldn’t quite pull it off in the show,
July 5, 2017
Elizabeth's mother Liese Hasler/McDonald and Johnny Burden's mother Kathy Stakota/Burden do a reprise on a trick act they did in the show 25 years ago,
Elizabeth started another ballet line. However with a less experienced person next to her, it was impossible to keep up her perfect record.
Many Haslers manned the Snack Shack, here they are customers as well,
July 8, 2017
Rachel, Megan & Chandler in the Shack
Chloe, Mekala Savana & Kaden outside
Amy with Elizabeth's youngest cousin, Eli Hasler from Lindon Utah,
July 8, 2017
Elizabeth's other youngest cousins Katherine and Chip Jett’s Ailsa and Lilia from Concord North Carolina,
July 15, 2017
James Verch doing a flip on his trick ski July 8, 2017
Elizabeth on top of another double 3-high pyramid - Ava Carillo is the other person on top,
July 15, 2017
Elizabeth looking after Ava,
July 15, 2017
James Virch on a wakeboard,
August 5, 2017
Elizabeth with long straight hair is on top of another prefab pyramid. Elizabeth's grandpa is visited by his two little granddaughters Lilia and Ailsa while taking these pictures,
Here is Elizabeth’s final End Pyramid of 2017 and land mark event. For the first time she is big enough and strong enough that she has moved down the pyramid and is now supporting a new cherry on top.
You can see her as the girl on the right on the right side pyramid,
August 5, 2017
LDS missionaries are assigned to a specific ward (congregation) in this case the ward we attend in Rhinelander. The members try to have the missionaries over for dinner as often as possible. They had met Elizabeth at our house when we had them for dinner. On this evening we invited them to come watch Elizabeth ski in the show.
I had a horrific accident (torn pelvis) while practicing my competition trick run on July 19, 2017. I am confined to a wheelchair for 90 days. When this was taken on Elizabeth's last show for the season August 5, 2017, I just returned home from the hospital the day before on August 4, 2017. I had been wheelchair bound for 17 days. I shot all the pictures of this show from the wheelchair. I have just finished assembling and writing this blog on September 13, 2017, after another five weeks in the wheelchair.
Elizabeth and her friends say Good Night Moon ! And good by to the 2017 season
