Biographies

	*Skier's Biographies* The Sarasota Ski-A-Rees are a diverse group that spans several decades and several generations. We're especially proud of our kids, some of whom have grown up being a Ski-A-Ree and plan on passing down the tradition to their kids. One thing we all have in common is our love of waterskiing, family and great friends.

	Kaylie	Kaylie joined in 1997 at the age of 12. She won the Betty Bonifey Award for Outstanding Female Skier in 2001 at the age of 15, making her the youngest skier ever to have won the award. Currently a student at Flagler College in St. Augustine, she plans to major in business with a minor in advertising. Kaylie says that it's been fun being a Ski-A-Ree and that she's made great friends and learned all kinds of neat stuff. Her favorite acts are doubles and pyramid.
	Ryan (Boo)	Ryan joined in 2003 at the age of 16. He is currently attending college and would like to become a traveling nurse upon graduation. In addition to school and work, Ryan stays very busy fulfilling his duties as Co-Show Director. The Ski-A-Rees have become an extended family for Ryan who's favorite acts are jump, barefoot and boat-o. Ryan was awarded the "Most Improved Male Skier" award in 2004.
	Erica	Erica has been a member of the Ski-A-Rees since she was born. Her father, Fred, has been a member for 37 years. She started skiing at age 3 and made her performance debut at age 5. She is a freshman at the University of South Florida. She plans to ski professionally while she attends college. "The Ski-A-Rees are my life. We're like a big family. I love it, it's so much fun". Erica's favorite acts are barefoot, swivel, ballet and pyramid, doubles, trios and jump. She placed 2nd in the Jr. barefoot endurance and 3rd in open barefoot endurance at the 2005 Southern Region Tournament. Erica's most recent accomplishment is placing 3rd in the 360 swivel competition at the All American Tournament held at Cypress Gardens.
	Carl	Carl joined in 1989 at the age of 13. His job as a Construction Manager keeps him very busy but never too busy to keep him from devoting all his free time to the team. Carl won 1st place in barefoot endurance in 1993 and considers footing to be his specialty. Carl is a two time Show Director who lead the team to a 1st place finish at the Southern Region Tournament in 2002 and a second place finish at both the Southern Regional Tournament and the Sunshine State Invitational Tournament in 2006. "I don't remember life without skiing". Carl loves skiing so much that he's decided that he can only date other skiers since it consumes his entire life. So get out those skis ladies and come out to a show. Carl will be the one skiing backwards on his bare feet as fast as the boat can pull him.
	Brad	Brad has been a member since 1998 when he joined at 14. Brad served as Show Director in 2004/2005 making him one of the youngest in the team's history. He is a Senior at the University of South Florida where he is studying Mass Communications and also serves as a Member At Large on the Ski-A-Rees board. His favorite acts are barefoot and boat-o. Brad was awarded the "Most Improved Male Skier" award in 2003 and the Presidents Award in 2006.
	Dalton	Dalton joined the team in 2003 at the age of 12 after attending a "Learn to Ski" day. Prior to getting hooked on skiing, Dalton played six seasons of soccer, spent a couple of years racing BMX bikes. He is a Junior at Sarasota High School. Future plans include attending college and possibly medical school. When not skiing Dalton enjoys hanging out with friends and spending time with his family. "Since joining the Ski-A-Rees, my life has become much more fun and exciting". Dalton's favorite acts are jump, boat-o, barefoot, doubles and pyramid. Dalton was awarded the "Rising Star" award in 2005 and the "Most Improved Male Skier" award in 2006. His most recent accomplishment is placing first in the doubles competition with his partner Samantha at the All American Tournament held at Cypress Gardens.
	Kirk	Kirk is the father of three adult children, Matt, Nicole, and Katie. He joined the Ski-A-Rees at age 45 and learned to barefoot at 46. At 50 he became a Grandfather in September of 05. "Skiing is a great way to ignore getting older and hang out with a bunch ok kids that don't know they are getting older. Skiing is a great connection between generations. My goal is to water ski with my grand children. I hope that none of the Ski-A-Rees young people see this. They might realize that I am over 25".
	Lance	Lance has been a Ski-A-Ree for 22 years, "my entire life". "I learned how to water ski before I can remember, plan on doing it till after I can remember". He recently graduated from USF, majoring in Biology (pre-med), with plans to continue his education in the medical field. He is the son of Russell and Sandy, both active members of the ski team, and brother of Brian Robbins (gone pro). "How many young adults can say that they've hung out with their parents, almost every weekend of their life?". "Water skiing is my life, everything else just fills the space between my water time". Lance was awarded the "Skier of the Year" award in 2005, was the show director in '06/'07, and had the opportunity to ski at Sea World in San Antonio, TX in 2007.
	Avery	Avery currently attends the Southeastern University in Lakeland FL. He joined the Ski-A-Rees four years ago and almost immediately took over as the "sound guy". Avery's favorite act is barefoot but he's working at improving his skills in trio, pyramid, boat-o, and wakeboarding. He hopes to learn barefoot pyramid , backwards skiing (any type, esp. barefoot), Jumping, doubles, and maybe the air chair. "I love the people here and being with everyone. I love the friendships that I have made and it also gives me a place to relax and just have fun". Future plans are too have a recording studio and a ski boat and to always be a part of the Ski-A-Rees. Avery was awarded the "Most Improved Male Skier" award in 2005.
	Kelly	Kelly started water skiing when she was just four years old behind a small row boat with a 25 horsepower motor. Growing up outside Chicago, she spent summers in Michigan skiing. Kelly moved to Sarasota from Illinois in 2002, saw the Ski-A-Rees later that year, and joined the team immediately. She skis in ballet, swivel, trios, and pyramid. Her favorite act is pyramid because "it demands so much skill and teamwork." She shared the "Rising Star" Award with her husband Kent in 2003. Kelly is a mom with two daughters and a teacher at New Gate School. Kelly was awarded the "Rising Star" award in 2003 and the "Most Improved Female Skier" award in 2005.
	Lori	Lori and her son Dalton joined the team in 2003. Having grown up in Sarasota boating and water-skiing, she was thrilled to get back out on the water after spending 10 years away from her beloved hometown. Lori is a Data Aggregation Specialist with Homes & Land Magazine and is currently serving as Vice President, Membership Director and Webmaster. Most shows you'll find her up in the sound booth or out on the stage "in character". She's working on her skiing skills and just recently started skiing in girls pyramid. "Dalton and I can't even imagine a life without the Ski-A-Rees. They are our family, our friends and the best group of people you could ever hope to meet. We feel very blessed to have found a home with them". Lori received the "Presidents Award" in 2004.
	Roz	Roz has been a member of the Ski-A-Rees since 1999. She is 20 years old and attends the University of South Florida where she is a Junior. She is majoring in Mass Communications and plans to do something in the Graphic Design area when she graduates. Roz also skied professionally last summer in the Tommy Barlett Show at the Wisconsin Dells. "My brother Brad is also on the ski team which makes it a nice family activity for us to enjoy together". Roz's favorite act is swivel and she hopes to learn some new tricks in the next year. "I love being on the ski team because you meet people of all different ages and you all share the same interest, the love of water skiing. It's like one big family out at the club". Roz was awarded the "Most Improved Female Skier" award in 2001.
	Blake	Blake has been a member his entire life and comes from a family of Ski-A-Rees. He started skiing at age 3. Currently a student at Southern Illinois University, Blake plays left tackle with the Salukis. He plans on graduating in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in business management, and will then pursue a general contractors license. When asked what his favorite act is? "Final Payoff. I can Rest then!" Blake is honored to be a member of the Ski-A-Ree family. "The friends and memories built over my years have taught me many life lessons and those will never be forgotten!"
	Garrett P.	Garrett joined Ski-A-Rees in 1999 at the age of 7. He is currently attending Riverview High School in the IB program and would like to become an attorney or doctor later in life. In addition to school and work, Garrett enjoys scuba diving and tennis and is always striving to become a more accomplished skier. The Ski-A-Rees have become an extended family for Garrett whose favorite acts are back-barefoot, jump, and back boat-o. Garrett was awarded the "Rising Star" in 2000, "Most Improved Male Skier" in 2002, as well as "Most Outstanding Male Skier" in 2007.
	Justin	Justin has been a member since 1998. He joined the team at the age of 4. He is in 7th grade at Booker Middle School. Justin is always trying to do more tricks on the water and is currently working on improving his jump skills. There is no doubt what Justin's favorite act is, whenever possible he goes out barefooting. At the 2006 Sunshine State Invitational tournament Justin placed 2nd in the open barefoot division against a professional. Also at the same tournament he won 2nd place in the15 and under division. Earlier the same year he placed third at the southern regional's tournament in the open division. In 2002 and in 2006 Justin also won the rising star award. The most recent award that he won was his 1^st place 15 and under Jr. barefoot endurance award. When asked what he has learned through the years, Justin said, "I have learned many things skiing here but the main one is to never give up."
	Garrett	Garrett joined the Ski-A-Rees in 2006 at the age of 12. He is in 8th Grade at Haile Middle School. Garrett is always trying to learn something new. His favorite acts are Barefoot, Jump, and Boat-O. Garrett's big brother "Boo" and his little brother, Travis, are also members of the team. At Ski-A-Rees he goes by "mini Boo".
	Ryan (Mo)	Ryan joined the Ski-A-Rees at the age of 13 in 2006. Prior to joining, he had never water skied but enjoyed snow skiing and snow boarding. Ryan currently attends Haile Middle School and will attend Braden River High School. He likes to spend his spare time riding his dirt bike and going 4 wheeling. Ryan's favorite act is wakeboarding. He's working hard on improving his skills and can't wait to perform on his "board" in a show. Ryan currently performs Trios in the show and loves it!
	Kent	Kent has been a member of the Ski-A-Rees since 2002. Many people do not realize that he has been on hand for some of the momentous occasions in water skiing. For example, Kent was the boat driver for his cousin Ralph Samuelson, when Ralph made the first water skiing run in 1922. Additionally, Kent's brother-in-law Dick Pope planned to name Cypress Gardens "Kent Gardens," until he learned of a similarly-named gardens in Kent County, England, and settled on using Kent's middle name, Cypress, instead. In the 1970s, Kent led the effort to create the wireless microphones that are used widely by show ski teams today and was the jump-skiing stunt double for Henry Winkler in the famous "jump the shark" episode of "Happy Days." Kent has also worked on several off-season projects, including inventing salt water, sunscreen, and aluminum beer bottles. His 1988 translation of the "National Show Ski Association Rulebook" into Klingon is considered by most scholars to be the most accurate ever attempted. In the mid-1990s, Kent simultaneously based the famed eight-tier pyramid at Callaway Gardens and drove the towboat. Several wakeboard tricks are named for Kent, including the Kent-rum, the 800 Pound-Kent, and the Kent Roll. Now semi-retired, Kent enjoys the relative obscurity of announcing Ski-A-Rees shows. His omission from nomination lists for the National Water Skiing Hall-of-Fame confounds water skiing experts, many of whom are on the nominating committee.
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