More than just water skiing

The Rzonca sisters, Olivia and Greta, finishes off a routine during an Aquanuts Water Ski Show on Lake Mary. The sisters are part of a family, consisting of parents Nancy and Pete, who play roles on their hometown Twin Lakes' squad (Courtesy of Lisa Neal/The Report).
The Rzonca sisters, Olivia and Greta, finishes off a routine during an Aquanuts Water Ski Show on Lake Mary. The sisters are part of a family, consisting of parents Nancy and Pete, who play roles on their hometown Twin Lakes’ squad (Courtesy of Lisa Neal/The Report).

Area ski shows become second family for some

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Show skiing is a water sport where families are formed and strengthened, according to the Meikes of Burlington and the Rzonca crew in Twin Lakes.

The sport – a competitive, full-length show composed of several elements that include a ballet/swivel line, pyramid building and jump skiing – started with the fathers of both local families.

Alan Meike, who grew up on Lauderdale Lakes in Elkhorn, started with his hometown team, before taking his family – including wife, Michelle – to the Brown’s Lake Aquaducks the last three years.

For Pete Rzonca, he started with the Twin Lakes Aquanuts in 1982 and later met his wife Nancy on the team.

Since then, both couples had three children of their own, with two participating on their respective teams.

The two families mutually agreed show skiing draws them closer together, extending beyond their immediate relatives, creating lasting friendships.

Additionally, show skiing closes the generation gap, giving all ages an opportunity to go shoulder-to-shoulder to win competitions.

Where it all began
When Alan, now 49, was seven years old, his family had a summer home on Lauderdale Lakes, where he developed a passion for water sports.

“I grew up on the lake and skied over there since I was seven,” said Alan, originally from Hoffman Estates, Ill.

During his tenure with the Lauderdale Aqua Skiers, he reconnected with Michelle, who he knew earlier, and eventually married in 1994.

“(Lauderdale) is where the love started,” Michelle said.

For Pete, he joined the Twin Lakes Aquanuts at the urging of his friends when he was 16 years old. He later was part of the group’s the 1984 national championship.

“I joined when they had tryouts in August of 1982, I was 16,” Pete said. “I just enjoy water skiing, had a lot of friends on the team as well, encouraging me to join. It was a really great motivator”

A year later, he met his wife Nancy, who said she grew up watching the Aquanuts on Lilly Lake.

In 1986, she joined the team, skiing for three years.

Currently, Nancy is the alumni advisor for the Aquanuts, keeping the history alive for former members dating back to the 1970s.

Building a family
About 20 years ago, the Meikes moved to Burlington for their jobs, but still commuted to Elkhorn to ski for Lauderdale Lakes.

However, when their children, starting with 17-year-old Payton, expressed an interest in show skiing, the Meikes switched to the Aquaducks due to proximity.

“We took a year break from it, but got back into it. The kids wanted to get into a club that was closer,” said Alan, who also has 14-year-old Isabel that skis.

The Meike’s third child, 11-year-old Alex, is still exploring the potential of joining the Aquaducks, according to Michelle.

“Alex is younger, so he is tip-toeing around doing the junior team program,” Michelle said. “He loves to help the show, running speaker wires and everything else.”

For the Rzoncas, Pete and Nancy, 49, began a family with the birth of 15-year-old Olivia, followed by non-skiing member Jake, 11, and 9-year-old Greta, who stands atop the pyramid.

Like Alan Meike, Pete Rzonca took time off, but returned when his children wanted to hit the water for the Aquanuts.

“All the kids learned to ski when they were young,” Nancy said.

Greta filled a crucial need for the Aquanuts, Nancy stated.

“They needed smaller girls to build pyramids, so she started that a year and a half ago.”

Bolstering bonds
When Pete returned to the Aquanuts, it gave his children an opportunity view him differently, he stated.

“For me, the kids to get to see me in a different light, rather than just Dad at home,” Pete said. “That draws us closer. We get to do pyramids together.”

Olivia, also part of last season’s national champion Aquanuts, said it has drawn her closer to sister Greta.

“It is just a lot of fun. We are always at practice and always all together and having a good time,” Olivia said. “Greta climbs on me and we have a really good time.”

Added Nancy, “Olivia worked really hard so she can try out for the team, and then Greta started pyramid building.”

Meanwhile, for the Meikes, show skiing provides a quality opportunity traditional youth sports don’t allow.

“It is something we can do together. It is a unique sport, where parents and kids can ski side-by-side and work together and learn new things,” Alan said. “The time we spend together is something other youth sports do not allow.”

Additionally, working side by side has closed the generation gap, Michelle explained.

“As our daughter Isabel was younger, Alan would do doubles with her, and now he skis side by side with his son,” Michelle said. “It is really neat that at certain points, the generation gap is not really noticeable.”

While both families see the benefits in their household, time spent with other members have created a second family.

“You spend a lot of time with each other, so a lot of times, you have your biological family, and then a lot of people in the show skiing community becomes your second family,” Michelle said.

Nancy agreed, outlining the Aquanuts’ practice schedule.

“We are at practice on Tuesday, a show Wednesday, and practice Thursday and a show Saturday,” Nancy explained.

While the families have enjoyed their seasons on the water, the offseason is a little different.

Season in transition
While Pete admits the fall and winter are difficult, the Rzoncas substitute water skis with snow skis.

“There is that emptiness, so I think in September and October are pretty tough to transition into different sports,” Pete said. “We do snow skiing so that keeps us together.”

For the Meikes, they look ahead into the next season, starting with Michelle, who designs the Aquaducks costumes.

Entering the year, she was involved in the creation of 160 costumes and revamping 55 others, but acknowledged it takes a team to put it all together.

“We actually have a cut-a-thon day, where there are about 20 other various younger girls and Moms that come together and cut them all out,” Michelle said. “I think it takes about 8 1/2 hours to cut them out. We start that in January.”


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