Traxler Park Established
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1928
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The Janesville Lions Club purchased Goose Island (Traxler Park) and gave it to the City of Janesville.
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1929
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Traxler Park (named after Janesville's first city manager Henry Traxler) established at Goose Island, just north of the heart of downtown, on the east shore of the Rock River.
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1930
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Bathhouse building built for swimming beach at Traxler Park. (The building is currently the Rock Aqua Jays' clubhouse, used for concessions and storage.)
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Rock River Boat Association & "Aquacade"
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1953
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Rock River Boat Association formed.
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1955
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Members of the Rock River Boat Association marked the Rock River channel from Janesville to Jefferson and built a boat bypass at Indianford Dam.
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1957
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City of Janesville allowed the boat association to use the bathhouse at Traxler Park as a clubhouse and storage facility.
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The Janesville Gazette and WCLO radio station sponsored "Aquacade," an event featuring swimming races, boat races, a boat parade, and water ski shows performed by Star Zenith Club skiers and Rock River Boat Association members. The "Aquacade" drew over 15,000 spectators in each of the five years it was held.
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1958
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Ship No. 50 of the Sea Explorer Scouts receive large anchor from Great Lakes Naval Training Center (U.S. Navy). The anchor was placed in Traxler Park and remains there today.
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1959
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Early spring flooding leaves Traxler Park and much of Main Street under water. Exactly 50 years later late spring flooding would be even worse.
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The skiers who participated in the "Aquacade" start informal talks about creating a water ski club.
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The Formative Years
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1960
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The water ski club was officially created.
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This club that would become the Rock Aqua Jays was one of four founding member groups of the Wisconsin Water Ski Federation.
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1961
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Tom Kuhlow, Bill Manthey, Wayne Manthey, and Roger Sterk purchased a kit boat, which they named "4 Aces." Those four individuals, Don Snyder, and Roy Lentz decide to name the water ski club, "Rock Aqua Jays," Rock (for the Rock River), Aqua (Latin for water), and Jays (Janesville High School bluejay mascot at the time). Thus, the club formally becomes known as the Rock Aqua Jays.
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| We started with 25 members and focused primarily on traditional 3-event water-skiing, and performed a few water ski shows each summer. | |
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1963
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Hosted the Wisconsin State 3-Event Tournament.
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1964
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Hosted the Blackhawk Open 3-Event Tournament.
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1971
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Started performing weekly water ski shows on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer.
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1974
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Added Sunday evening performances.
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| Built the first-ever 3-tier pyramid on the water. |
Transition & Creation of National Tournament
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1975
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Earned first-ever tournament victory at Lamb's Farm Invitational.
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| Duane Snow and John "J.R." Wilson developed National Water Ski Show Tournament, which we hosted. | |
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1976
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Transitioned from a traditional 3-event club to a show ski club and purchased a public address system, erected bleachers, and began improving site.
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1978
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Upgraded to a professional sound system.
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1979
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Won National Water Ski Show Tournament for the first time.
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| Started and hosted the Blackhawk Division II Tournament. | |
| Secured two premier industry sponsors: Correct Craft Boats (Nautiques) and Connelly Skis. | |
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1980
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Won Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Tournament for the first time.
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1981
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Built the first-ever 4-tier pyramid on the water.
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| Won all three major tournaments (Lamb's, regional qualifier, and nationals) to become first-ever "Triple Crown Champions," a phrase coined by a member of our team. | |
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1982
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Established scholarship fund in memory of Kevin Freund, who died in a boating accident on Memorial Day.
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| Developed a junior program for new and younger members. (Today, the program is known as the B Team.) | |
| Themed shows became a mainstay in water ski show performances. Having the best combination of theme and water skiing afforded us unprecedented success over six years, beginning in 1985. |
Tournament Success
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1985
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Secured two additional premier industry sponsors: Yamaha Outboard Motors and Skiwarm Wetsuits.
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| Won National Water Ski Show Tournament and once again were "Triple Crown Champions." | |
| Received most points ever awarded for a ski show act (482 out of possible 500) for a 4-tier, 18-person pyramid (record still stands nearly 25 years later). | |
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1986
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Won National Water Ski Show Tournament.
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1987
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Won National Water Ski Show Tournament and once again were "Triple Crown Champions."
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1988
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Won National Water Ski Show Tournament and once again were "Triple Crown Champions."
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1989
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Secured important local sponsors: The Janesville Gazette, WCLO, and WJVL radio stations.
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| Won National Water Ski Show Tournament. | |
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1990
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Won National Water Ski Show Tournament an unprecedented sixth year in a row.
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Rebuilding Years
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1991
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Significant drop in membership.
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1992
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Rebuilding year.
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Reaching New Heights
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1993
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Significant spring flooding delays start of season, but still managed to build first-ever 5-high pyramid on the water in a practice, show, and competition.
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| Won National Water Ski Show Tournament and once again were "Triple Crown Champions." | |
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1994
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Secured new outboard motor sponsor - Mercury Marine.
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1995
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Won National Water Ski Show Tournament.
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1996
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Secured new inboard boat sponsor - Malibu Boats.
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| Duane Snow originated the Jewel of June Tournament (now called the Mercury Open). | |
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1997
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Won National Water Ski Show Tournament.
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Going International
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1999
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Became first amateur American water ski show team to perform and compete in the Peoples Republic of China.
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| Won National Water Ski Show Tournament. | |
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2000
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Performed and competed in Peoples Republic of China for second time.
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| Ryan Williams and Jeremy Anderson started Winter Waterland, a winter water skiing event held on the Rock River in Newville. | |
| Hosted inaugural American Wakeboard Association National Tournament. | |
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2001
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Team purchased first triple rig boat. Rigged it with three 150 Hp Mercury motors
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2002
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Performed and competed in Peoples Republic of China for third time.
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| Won National Water Ski Show Tournament for 13th time. | |
| Membership peaked at 175. | |
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2003
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Purchased second triple rig boat. Rigged it with three 250 Hp Mercury motors - the first boat in show skiing to have more than 600 Hp.
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| Won National Water Ski Show Tournament for 14th time and once again were "Triple Crown Champions." | |
| Established world-record for largest successful pyramid in competition, a 44-person, triple 4-tier pyramid performed at the National Water Ski Show Tournament held in Rockford, Illinois. |
Flooding Becomes Big Problem
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2004
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Flooding prevented start of season until the middle of July.
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2005
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Performed and competed in Peoples Republic of China an unprecedented fourth time.
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| Won National Water Ski Show Tournament for 15th time and once again were "Triple Crown Champions." | |
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2007
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Performed three shows during the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.
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| Established another benchmark for triple rig boats: three 300 Hp Mercury motors for a total of 900 Hp. | |
| Late summer flooding ended the season three weeks early. | |
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2008
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Spring flooding prevents start of practices and shows until after Memorial Day. Ten days later unprecedented flooding forces cancelation of entire season. Floodwaters reach 18 inches deep inside clubhouse and caused extensive damage to the stage, docks, beach, and grounds; and forced the relocation of National Water Ski Show Tournament. Lost revenue and damages exceeded $250,000
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Delegation of 16 members performed during the Formula One boat race in the United Arab Emirates in December.
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| 2009 |
Early spring flooding results in cancelation of first seven shows (total of 38 shows canceled since 2007 national tournament).
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New payoff stage and beachfront retaining wall installed.
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| 2010 |
Granted new 20-year lease at Traxler Park with option renew for additional 20 years.
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Mid-summer flooding results in cancelation of a handful of shows and relocation of the national tournament from Janesville for the second time in three years.
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Reaching a Major Milestone
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2011
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50th Anniversary plans include alumni events and special water ski show performance by past and present members.
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Invited to Peoples Republic of China for record fifth time for first-ever international water ski show competition. Team to represent USA in competition versus teams from Australia and China. RAJ delegation wins overall international championship.
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