JANESVILLE - The Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Show Team has been a home away from home in the summer for the Chopp family, Monroe. The Chopps, along with a dozen other area residents, are seeking thrills as part of the Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Show on the Rock River at Traxler Park in Janesville.
Monroe graduate Laura Chopp has been a member of the Rock Aqua Jays for five years. Marta Chopp, Laura's sister who is a 2008 Monroe graduate, has been on the ski club for four years. Laura and Marta's mother, Cindy Chopp, is a member and runs the concession stand.
"There's a sense of community and family being a part of the team," said Marta Chopp, whose fiancée Aaron Krattiger is also a member. "We put up a pyramid with 44 people. There's a sense of accomplishment with that. It's a great show to come down and watch. It's worth the time."
Marta has dual roles in the ski show with the trios, ending pyramid acts and has a role in the theme skit along with Krattiger. Laura - who has multiple roles in the ski show on the ballet line, trios and is in the ending pyramid - puts in eight or more hours practicing each week and has about six hours of commuting to and home from Janesville.
"It's kind of like when you take a speech class," Laura said. "I have learned to be more confident. I have learned not to be as nervous. The friends and family we get out of it is irreplaceable."
Charting a course for the historic Rock Aqua Jays
The Rock Aqua Jays have a storied history that started more than a half century ago when 30 Janesville area residents gathered at Parker Pen to form the Rock River Boat Association. The association's mission in 1953 was to improve the Rock River channel by promoting water safety, help cut down on pollution and promote boating safety. The City of Janesville allowed the Rock River Boat Association to use the clubhouse at Traxler Park, which was once named Goose Island.
In 1961, Tom Kuhlow, Billy Manthey, Wayne Manthey and Roger Sterk formed a ski club, "Rock Aqua Jays." The club first included 25 members and focused on three-event skiing and performed ski shows. In 1976, the club switched from a three-event club that focused on slalom, jumping and trick skiing to more advanced show skiing.
The ski club has grown to include more than 160 members and hosts shows every Wednesday and Sunday night from the end of May through Labor Day.
Cindy Chopp attends every show, which is free to the public throughout the summer.
"There is a long tradition for striving for excellence, but not at the expense of having fun," Cindy said. "It really helps bring us closer together."
Jeff and Ann Kopp of Juda along with their son Ben and daughter Mandy have been involved as members of the Rock Aqua Jays for almost 10 years. Ben has been a member for nine years and he serves as the maintenance coordinator on the Rock Aqua Jays Board of Directors and his mother, Ann is the secretary. Ben, 20, just graduated from MATC, and he still enjoys skiing.
"We are like one big family," Ben said of the ski club. "I have always enjoyed water skiing. It's a great way to expand my experiences and skill level."
Amazing feats
The Rock Aqua Jays have won seven Triple Crown championships (winning the Lamb Farm Invitational, the regionals and nationals) including the inaugural title in 1981. The Rock Aqua Jays have won 12 Wisconsin state championships and 15 National Water Ski Show Tournament titles.
This summer the Rock Aqua Jays have set world record for the barefoot line where a series of skiers come around a corner on one ski before stepping off. The ski show team tied a world record by putting 44 skiers up in a pyramid. The Rock Aqua Jays are the first amateur team to have built a three-tier (1974) and a five-tier pyramid (1993).
"I don't know if it's pressure or more pride," Marta Chopp said about maintaining the club's championship history. "With the past we have had it's a heads up because of the veterans working with us."
The Rock Aqua Jays won the Mercury Marine Open Water Ski Tournament in June. The ski club also has several tournaments throughout the summer and will host the Division I National Water Ski Show Tournament Aug. 13-15 at Traxler Park.
Ski show home will remain at Traxler Park
The Rock Aqua Jays will remain a fixture in Janesville after signing a 20-year lease at Traxler Park earlier this year with an option for an additional 20 years.
Steve Schneider, of Brodhead, has been a boat driver for 15 years for the ski shows on Wednesday and Sunday nights. Schneider first started when his daughter, Stephenie began when she was 8. Although Stephenie is no longer a member, Steve is still hooked on driving boats for the ski shows.
"When my family was involved we were down there five to seven nights a week," he said. "It seems like every weekend we would get together to ski. They have a lot of very dedicated people to the sport and team. It's like a big family."
Monroe graduate Laura Chopp has been a member of the Rock Aqua Jays for five years. Marta Chopp, Laura's sister who is a 2008 Monroe graduate, has been on the ski club for four years. Laura and Marta's mother, Cindy Chopp, is a member and runs the concession stand.
"There's a sense of community and family being a part of the team," said Marta Chopp, whose fiancée Aaron Krattiger is also a member. "We put up a pyramid with 44 people. There's a sense of accomplishment with that. It's a great show to come down and watch. It's worth the time."
Marta has dual roles in the ski show with the trios, ending pyramid acts and has a role in the theme skit along with Krattiger. Laura - who has multiple roles in the ski show on the ballet line, trios and is in the ending pyramid - puts in eight or more hours practicing each week and has about six hours of commuting to and home from Janesville.
"It's kind of like when you take a speech class," Laura said. "I have learned to be more confident. I have learned not to be as nervous. The friends and family we get out of it is irreplaceable."
Charting a course for the historic Rock Aqua Jays
The Rock Aqua Jays have a storied history that started more than a half century ago when 30 Janesville area residents gathered at Parker Pen to form the Rock River Boat Association. The association's mission in 1953 was to improve the Rock River channel by promoting water safety, help cut down on pollution and promote boating safety. The City of Janesville allowed the Rock River Boat Association to use the clubhouse at Traxler Park, which was once named Goose Island.
In 1961, Tom Kuhlow, Billy Manthey, Wayne Manthey and Roger Sterk formed a ski club, "Rock Aqua Jays." The club first included 25 members and focused on three-event skiing and performed ski shows. In 1976, the club switched from a three-event club that focused on slalom, jumping and trick skiing to more advanced show skiing.
The ski club has grown to include more than 160 members and hosts shows every Wednesday and Sunday night from the end of May through Labor Day.
Cindy Chopp attends every show, which is free to the public throughout the summer.
"There is a long tradition for striving for excellence, but not at the expense of having fun," Cindy said. "It really helps bring us closer together."
Jeff and Ann Kopp of Juda along with their son Ben and daughter Mandy have been involved as members of the Rock Aqua Jays for almost 10 years. Ben has been a member for nine years and he serves as the maintenance coordinator on the Rock Aqua Jays Board of Directors and his mother, Ann is the secretary. Ben, 20, just graduated from MATC, and he still enjoys skiing.
"We are like one big family," Ben said of the ski club. "I have always enjoyed water skiing. It's a great way to expand my experiences and skill level."
Amazing feats
The Rock Aqua Jays have won seven Triple Crown championships (winning the Lamb Farm Invitational, the regionals and nationals) including the inaugural title in 1981. The Rock Aqua Jays have won 12 Wisconsin state championships and 15 National Water Ski Show Tournament titles.
This summer the Rock Aqua Jays have set world record for the barefoot line where a series of skiers come around a corner on one ski before stepping off. The ski show team tied a world record by putting 44 skiers up in a pyramid. The Rock Aqua Jays are the first amateur team to have built a three-tier (1974) and a five-tier pyramid (1993).
"I don't know if it's pressure or more pride," Marta Chopp said about maintaining the club's championship history. "With the past we have had it's a heads up because of the veterans working with us."
The Rock Aqua Jays won the Mercury Marine Open Water Ski Tournament in June. The ski club also has several tournaments throughout the summer and will host the Division I National Water Ski Show Tournament Aug. 13-15 at Traxler Park.
Ski show home will remain at Traxler Park
The Rock Aqua Jays will remain a fixture in Janesville after signing a 20-year lease at Traxler Park earlier this year with an option for an additional 20 years.
Steve Schneider, of Brodhead, has been a boat driver for 15 years for the ski shows on Wednesday and Sunday nights. Schneider first started when his daughter, Stephenie began when she was 8. Although Stephenie is no longer a member, Steve is still hooked on driving boats for the ski shows.
"When my family was involved we were down there five to seven nights a week," he said. "It seems like every weekend we would get together to ski. They have a lot of very dedicated people to the sport and team. It's like a big family."
