SKI SPRITES ARE BACK WITH A

New Theme

The Ski Sprites will be showcasing their ‘Ski-S.-I.’ summer show at Lake Altoona Beach words: barbara arnold photo: ricci wagner

JUSTIN “CRIME” FOR SUMMER, the frst Ski Sprites Water Ski Show of the club’s season will be at 6:30pm on Sunday, June 5, at Lake Altoona Beach. After practicing inside on “dry land” over the winter, the club’s 50-plus members started practicing a couple of weeks ago.

This year’s show theme is “Ski-S.I.: A Crime Scene Investigation,” and will be a thriller.

The club performs at Lake Altoona Beach every Sunday and Wednesday nights from early

June through Labor Day starting at 6:30 pm. The cost is $5 for a county parking pass, and then a hat is passed at the show for free-will donations.

So grab your Sherlock hats and your magnifying glasses, and don’t miss the extraordinary performances by the Ski Sprites this summer.

For more info, visit skisprites. com and facebook.com/skispriteswaterskiteam.

FAR OUT! GET READY FOR THIS YEAR’S FATFAR FLOAT

Frenchtown’s Annual Tube Float and Regalia will foat on down the mighty Chippewa on June 19 words: sawyer hoff photo: michael lundebrek

GRAB YOUR TUBES, FLOATIES, canoes, and come on down to the 46th Frenchtown Annual Tube Float and Regatta (better known as FATFAR) on Sunday, June 19.

People from across the Valley take part in FATFAR to bask in the sunlight while drifting down the Chippewa River. People start showing up around 11am (get there early if you want to rent a tube from Loopy’s Grill & Saloon).

You’ll know you’ve reached the end of the foat after about two hours when you hit Lake Hallie’s Sportsman’s Club and River Jams, where live music, entertainment, and plenty of food and drinks will be waiting to complete this fun-flled day. Loopy’s is at about the halfway mark if you want to join the festivities early.

Please remember to clean up after yourself and not bring any glass or styrofoam with you into the river. Wear life jackets if you aren’t a strong swimmer or if you’re planning to drink.

When you’re done with festivities at Loopy’s, River Jams, and Sportsmans, there is a shuttle for only $5 to get you back to your car – or your Uber.

Read the full article at VolumeOne.org.

Pools For Puppers

This end-of-summer swim times is for good pups only! Cool your dog off at Eau Claire’s Fairfax Pool at the end of the season. Check website for dates.

CANOES & KAYAKS

The Chippewa Valley’s river rat outfitters, educators, rentals, and more.

DUNHAM’S SPORTING GOODS

1501 Broadway St. N., Menomonie • (715) 2350750 Dunham’s has a number of locations across the midwest, selling a range of outdoor gear like bicycles, fishing, footwear, sports, camping, kayaking, hunting, golf, and more.

EAU CLAIRE BIKE AND SPORT 403

Water St, Eau Claire • facebook.com/bikeandsport/ Local bike shop with supplies for bicycles, snowboards, skateboards, long boards, and roller blades, new and used.

GANDER MOUN-

TAIN 6440 Scully

Drive, Eau Claire • (715) 834-4594 • gandermountain.com This store’s equipment goes beyond its “hunt, fish, camp” slogan, also offering gear for canoeing, snowshoeing, kayaking, and geocaching.

LOOPY’S 10691 Cty Hwy X (Bus. Hwy 29), Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-5667 • 723loop.com Loopy’s rents canoes, kayaks, and inner tubes all summer long. Their free shuttle will zip you into town so you can float down the

Chippewa River and back to the shop. You can also rent a van for the trip. They even offer “driver safe” beverages, food, ice, and cooler tubes. Stop by Loopy’s restaurant and bar when you’re done.

PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS 3561 Gateway

Dr., Eau Claire • (715) 834-0602 • playitagainsports.com The biggest retailer of second-hand recreational equipment in the area, including bikes, skates, skateboards, sports, fitness, skiis, snowboards, running equipment, and more.

RIVERSIDE BIKE & SKATE 937 Water St., Eau Claire • (715) 835-0088 • RiversideBikeSkate. com A full service bike retailer featuring major brands. They offer bike repair and tune-up services. They also service hockey equipment, skates, canoes, kayaks, and more. Riverside also rents canoes and kayaks, shuttles and trailers, so you can plan your own river excursion.

RIVERSIDE JUNCTION

27 S Highway S, Augusta • (715) 456-2434 • riverside@ bluebuzz.net • riversidejunction.com Riverside Junction offers canoeing and kayaking on the Eau Claire River - trip planning, drop off/pick up, and rentals.

SCHEELS 4710 Golf Road, Eau Claire • (715) 833-1886 • scheels.com A comprehensive place for all your fishing, hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, kayaking, biking, camping, geocaching, and hunting needs.

SIMPLE SPORTS 326 Main St. E., Menomonie • (715) 233-3493 • facebook.com/SimpleSportsU Serving downtown Menomonie, Simple Sports sells bikes, disc golf equipment, snowboards, skates, snowshoes, and more.

Best Body Of Water For Recreation

1. LAKE WISSOTA

2. CHIPPEWA RIVER

3. LAKE HOLCOMBE

Grab your boat, pontoon, or personal watercraft and hit up beautiful Lake Wissota in Chippewa Falls for some of the best action on the water. Even though the reference to it in Titanic wasn’t exactly accurate, it’s still beautiful year-round. Splash around or lay down a towel on its sandy beach and catch some rays. Looking to kayak, canoe, or tube? The Chippewa River is the perfect place to relax and enjoy scenic beauty. But if fshing is what you desire, you must check out the waters of the gorgeous Lake Holcombe flled with all the greats: walleye, musky, panfsh, bass, and more. –Jen Ekblad

ALL’S FAIR WITH WATERFOWL

Sure, you could float down the Chippewa River in a regular old tube – or you could get a bunch of friends together and rule the water while floating atop a fantastical aquatic beastie.

Alternative Wetness

Other ways to make a splash

Skinny Dipping

According to Wisconsin State Statute 944.20 concerning lewd and lascivious behavior, exposing one’s unmentionable regions publicly and indecently – whether in the water or on land – can get you up to nine months in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Unless no one sees you.

SLIP ‘N’ SLIDES

Looking for some low-tech, low-friction fun? Get this – they still make Slip ’N’ Slides! A basic version is around nine bucks, and you can upgrade to hoops and a finishing splash pool for around thirty bucks. Low on cash? You can always cobble together a DIY version using trash bags and cinderblocks. If you really want to ramp up the fun factor (and the risk of limb-damage) set that thing up on a grassy hill. Adults beware: you probably weigh more than the last time you slipped and slid, so don’t forget that force equals mass times acceleration.

Sprinklers

Call me conservative, but I much prefer a good old-fashioned sprinkler any ole’ day of the week. Whether it’s one of those that shoots water up in the air like a rainbow, or one of those rotating sprinklers that rifles water with precision, you’ll see us gleefully prancing through the spray in our front yards this summer. Expect us to act like it’s so cold every time that we scream and run, but then go right back in for more.

A WHEELIE FUN TIME TO BE HAD!

A bike for you, a bike for me, a bike for us both! There are so many things to explore in the Chippewa Valley whether you’re on foot, on wheels, or on one of those those strange hoverboard things.