Boskus Brings in Major Water Skiing Competition

One of the largest water skiing competitions in the country will hit the waves in Northwest Arkansas this summer, bringing in 2,000 to 3,000 spectators and more than 300 competitors from five states.

Fayetteville architect-cum-skiing entrepreneur Roger Boskus will host the South Central Regional Water Ski Championships from Aug. 1-3 at his Cedar Creek Water Ski Park in Durham.

Boskus estimates the event will have an economic impact of $150,000 for Fayetteville. The city’s A&P commission gave him a $5,000 grant to help promote and advertise the event. Boskus will spend between $30,000 and $35,000 prepping for the event.

This includes preparing the site for the competition and bringing in about 25 judges – who are all volunteers – and their families.

The contest will pit skiers of various ages and skill levels against one another for a shot at qualifying to ski in the national championships, organized by USA Water Ski, the national governing body of water skiing in the United States.

Live music, concessions and vendors from the skiing industry will all be part of the festivities. Admission is $10 per carload, all of which will go benefit Restore Humanity, a Fayetteville-based outreach program that is starting an orphanage in Africa, Boskus said.

The competition will be the first major USA Water Ski contest hosted in Arkansas since 1978, and will feature skiers from Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, he said.

On the first day of the competition, the best junior skiers in the area will compete. The second day will be devoted to skiers between ages 18 and 45, with a nighttime event from 9:00 to 11:30.

The third day will be for skiers older than 45, with the oldest competitor being 77.

“He’s in probably better shape than you or I are,” Boskus said, laughing.

Members of USA Water Ski vote on which venue they want to host the championships.

The response to hosting the 2008 south central regional at Cedar Creek was overwhelming, Boskus said.

“There were other clubs that withdrew their bids when they heard we were in it,” he said.

Boskus started Cedar Creek in 2000 with the first lake, which is 11 acres. With ambitions of hosting big competitions, he built a second, 13- acre lake in 2006.

He began laying the political groundwork for hosting the championship about a year before he finished the second lake.

Each lake is about a half-mile long and about 300 feet wide. One is six feet deep, and is used primarily for slalom contests.

The other is 12 feet deep and is used for slalom, trick skiing and jumping.

The University of Arkansas intramural water ski team has practiced at Cedar Creek for five years.

A membership at Cedar Creek is $2,700 a year, plus $700 for each additional member. The fees cover the cost of upkeep at the lakes, boats and fuel.

Members just show up, put one of two Mastercraft boats in the water and start skiing.

Skiing is definitely a family pastime in the Boskus household. Julianna Boskus, 10, already has three national titles, six regional titles and three regional records to her name.

Lauren Boskus, 7, is also an up-and-coming skier, and Brooke Boskus, 4, and Andrew Boskus, 3, will likely follow in their siblings’ aquatic adventures.