Olivia is 8-years-old and had never water skied. In no time at all, she was water skiing in and out of the wake and going doubles behind the boat with her sister Ava, 13, who also had just learned to water ski for the first time.

Local residents may have noticed the boats full of kids from ages 5-17 on Big Pine Lake recently. Cheers echoed around the lake as more than 38 kids participated in the fifth annual Big Pine Lake Water Ski Team’s two-day “Get on the Water” event.  

“It’s about more than the water skiing. This is about challenging kids to do hard things and succeed.  Water skiing can build so much confidence and strength in children and really everyone. We want to bring the love of water skiing back to Minnesota lakes,” said Get on the Water Organizer Betsy Anderson Gilman.

The USA Water Ski and Wake Sports National “Get on the Water” Program, is held every summer to honor the anniversary of Ralph Samuelson being the first to successfully water ski on July 2, 1922, on Lake Pepin, Minn.  “Get on the Water” was designed to provide a fun, non-intimidating environment in which participants can learn to water ski for free.

The Big Pine Lake Water Ski Team is a sanctioned USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Club and all of the boat volunteers are trained members of USA Water Ski and Wake Sports. But it could not happen without a massive effort by the entire Minnesota Water Ski Community.  

For more information follow The Big Pine Lake Water Ski Team on Facebook or Instagram or go to our website: www.bigpinelakewaterski.org/ The event will be held from July 7-8, 2025 on Big Pine Lake in rural Perham.