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Lauderdale Lakes BREEZE Summer 2015 • Final Edition
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Elkhorn’s Marc Meike, bottom row, center, serves as an anchor point in a pyramid of water skiers. Meike has been skiing professionally for more than 20 years and this
year marks his 11th with the Tommy Bartlett Show in the Wisconsin Dells.
Making a splash
Elkhorn area skiers perform with Tommy Bartlett Show in the Wisconsin Dells By Kellen Olshefski
skiing to jumping. “I do everything,” he said. Three Elkhorn area water “My favorite part is back skiers are making a big barefooting and being able to splash this summer up in the drive the race boat.” dells doing what they love. Meike said skiing with Marc Meike, 43, his and growing up with the step-daughter, Cassidy Lauderdale Aqua Skiers was Winkler, 15, and Mackenzie what propelled both him and Rhyan have all taken center Winkler to where they are stage performing with now. the internationally known Meike said he was born Tommy Bartlett Show in the and raised into the water Wisconsin Dells. skiing culture, just like his Best of all, for all three stepdaughter, learning from of them, their transition into his parents and grandparents the world of professional at a young age. waterskiing began right here “The first ski tournament I with the Lauderdale Aqua ever skied in, my grandfather Skiers. was in, and that was when I was 6-years-old,” he said. Marc Meike “It’s been a family thing Marc Meike currently and that’s what makes it so serves as the shows lead skier special to me.” and assistant show director, Meike said he skied with doing everything from amateur ski teams, such as driving the boats and barefoot the Lauderdale Aqua Skiers STAFF WRITER
until he went professional at the age of 16. Meike said he could speak for both he and Winkler in saying as soon as they started skiing with an amateur team, skiing professionally became a goal. Meike said having skied for more than 20 years got his name out in the industry, which allowed him the opportunity to ski with the Tommy Bartlett Show. Having skied with the Tommy Bartlett Show for 11 years now, Meike said without a doubt it’s one of the best places he’s skied in his career. “It’s not like working for a theme park like Sea World,” he said. “This is more of a family-like thing up here.” Meike said the general atmosphere, the love from upper management, the
people and the Wisconsin Dells keep him returning year after year. “It’s just an amazing place to work,” he said. “It’s definitely one of my favorite places and I’ve been skiing all over the world.” Meike said he enjoys performing in front of the large crowds and the night shows are some of his favorite times, performing under the light of a spotlight, not a common thing for most ski shows. Cassidy Winkler Cassidy Winkler, who participates in everything from pyramids to doubles, said she enjoys doubles a lot and enjoys swiveling, though it makes her nervous because she doesn’t like to fall. Winkler said she picks up on a lot of things fast and
is working on jumping and barefooting as a water skier. Winkler said skiing with the Lauderdale Aqua Skiers was a great learning experience that helped her get to where she is today. Winkler said she began going to the Dells to watch Meike ski in the Tommy Bartlett show at the age of 5. By 2009, at about the age of 9, she began doing a few shows with Meike for fun. As
the years went on, she kept skiing more and more with the Tommy Bartlett Show and now, at the age of 15, she could be officially hired on this season. While Winkler said it’s a lot more exciting now, she does feel a bit more pressure now that she’s being paid to ski and to ski well. She said each year it’s
See SKIERS Page 3
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