Interesting Facts & Figures
• The Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Club, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, funded solely through donations, fundraising, and sponsorships. All of our members are volunteers and, in fact, pay dues to belong to the organization.
• Our membership exceeds 150 people ranging in age from 4 to 75 years old.
• We use more than 2,500 gallons of gasoline each season.
• We use more than 8 miles of tow rope per show.
• We've skied at over 30 sites and average 2 road shows each year.
• We were the first amateur American water ski show team to perform in the Peoples Republic of China (in 1999). We were invited back three more times - in 2000, 2002, and 2005.
• We originated and hosted the first Division I National Water Ski Show Tournament in 1975. We hosted the tournament 22 times in 34 years. (It would have been 23 times in 34 years, but we had to relinquish hosting responsibilities in 2008 due to prolonged flooding and excessive damage to our site.)
• We hosted the Wisconsin State 3-Event Tournament in 1963 and 1966.
• We hosted the Blackhawk Division II Water Ski Show Tournament from 1979 to 1982.
• We originated the Jewel of June Water Ski Show Tournament in 1996. The tournament became the Janesville Open in 1997, the Mercury Invitational in 2002, and the Mercury Open in 2007.
• We hosted the first-ever American Wakeboard Association National Championships in 2000.
• We won the first and have the most Triple Crown Championships (1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1993, 2003, and 2005).
• We have the most Division I National Water Ski Show Tournament first place finishes - 15! (1979, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2005)
• We hold the record for the most Division I National Water Ski Show Tournament first place finishes in a row - 6! (from 1985 through 1990)
• We hold the record for the highest scoring act in the history of water ski show competition (482 points out of a possible 500) for a 4-tier, 18-person pyramid performed in 1985.
• We placed first or second at the Division I National Water Ski Show Tournament 25 of 34 years.
• We are the first amateur water ski show team to have built a 3-tier pyramid (1974), a 4-tier pyramid (1981), and a 5-tier pyramid (1993).
• We are one of four founding members of the Wisconsin Water Ski Federation, the governing body of all disciplines of water skiing in the state of Wisconsin and the second largest water skiing organization in the United States of America.
• Nearly four dozen current and former members have performed in professional water ski shows at venues such as Tommy Bartlett Thrill Shows, Cypress Gardens, Sea World, Marine World, and Water Ski Shows, Inc.
• We had the highest scoring act for one or more acts performed during the Division I National Water Ski Show Tournament 24 of 34 years.
