Most water skiers have no idea how deep the roots of Think Tank run—or how a legendary event that started with bar tabs and college chaos now celebrates 50 years of innovation and community. Cathy Luiting, a long time former Think Tank Chair, shares behind-the-scenes stories from the early days, revealing how beer tips and wild nights transformed into one of the sport’s most influential gatherings. This episode uncovers the surprising history that shaped an event that had 1500 attendees in it's hay day and helped propel show skiing into the spotlight.

You'll discover:

• How Think Tank evolved from a humble three-event gathering in Wisconsin Rapids to a national spectacle.
• The legendary indoor doubles competitions at Olympia that kept everyone talking.
• The wildest stories from the '90s—peeing on hotel doors, lunch tray sledding, and spontaneous chaos—that fueled the event's reputation.
• The strategic moves across Wisconsin sites and what makes Chula Vista the perfect home for this ongoing tradition.
• The behind-the-scenes insights into the award show’s fierce categories, close contests, and iconic winners, plus what it takes to host such a legendary celebration.

Join us as we honor five decades of Think Tank and five years of The Ski Show Awards—a testament to passion, perseverance, and perfect chaos. Hit play and get inspired by the stories behind the sport’s most legendary event.

Today's Sponsors are.....

FlymanSkis - flymanskis.com

The Board Shop - bswake.com

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram - @theskishowpodcast
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast

Contact The Ski Show:

• Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com

Leave us a rating and a review:

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170

It could be easy to overlook the game-changing secret behind women’s freestyle jump that’s reshaping the sport. Four trailblazing athletes - Sarah Fiedorowicz, Bailey Hyatt, Josie Smerchek, and Gabbie Taschwer - reveal how their relentless perseverance, teamwork, and fearless innovation are pushing boundaries—turning the impossible into the new norm. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to shatter records and redefine what women can do on the water, this episode is your exclusive front-row seat.

These women share their raw, inspiring journey from learning the foundational tricks as beginners to flipping the sport on its head with record-setting stunts like quad fronts and contemplating future milestones like back-halves and distance feats. We break down the key insights that are shaping the sport’s evolution: the importance of fundamentals, the role of mentorship from legends before them, and how the advent of team jumps is accelerating growth—bringing more women into the mix.

Join us as we celebrate these athletes’ record-breaking feats and explore how their pioneering spirit is fueling a new era—where the sky’s the limit for women in freestyle jump. Don’t miss this insider look at the sport’s most exciting evolution and the trailblazers leading the charge. The future of freestyle is female—and it’s unstoppable.

Today's Sponsors are.....

FlymanSkis - flymanskis.com

Saga Sports - sagasports.us

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram - @theskishowpodcast
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast

Contact The Ski Show:

• Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com

Leave us a rating and a review:

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170

Informative and educational. This episode to kick off our 2026 season is a fantastic discussion with 3 Senior Judges - Debbie Farra, Joel Johanningmeier, and Sandi Oleson. We talk about the mechanics of judging, the Difficulty Charts, Flow, Box Scores, and other deep topics about the sport of show skiing. The perspective of these three judges is invaluable and you are certain to learn a lot from this conversation. This one is for show ski nerds around the world!

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram - @theskishowpodcast
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast

Contact The Ski Show:

• Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com

Leave us a rating and a review:

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170

In this holiday special episode, Matt, Adam, Dave, and Brad reflect on the highlights of the 2025 show skiing season, they take time to reflect gratitude to all the sponsors, and discuss many memorable moments from 2025 season. They also engage in a fun Mount Rushmore segment - their Mount Rushmore of Christmas characters. They also share a few predictions for the upcoming 2026 season. The camaraderie and passion for the sport shine through as they celebrate the achievements in the sport and look forward to what's in store in 2026. Enjoy a lighthearted episode with us as we recap 2025 and have a little fun.

Thank you to our Sponsors....

FlymanSkis - flymanskis.com

The Board Shop - bswake.com

Saga Sports - sagasports.us

Paul Stokes American Family Insurance

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram - @theskishowpodcast
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast

Contact The Ski Show:

• Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com

Leave us a rating and a review:

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170

Today we are joined by two long time Tampa Bay members, Lindsey Hanson and John Summers as we explore all things Tampa. This conversation delves into the rich history of the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team, exploring its evolution, key influences, and the impact of significant figures like Garry Stout. The discussion highlights the team's heyday, the connection with professional shows, and the challenges faced after losing their primary ski site, Tower Lake. The emotional ties and community spirit of the team are emphasized, showcasing the importance of family and camaraderie in the sport of show skiing.

Today's Sponsors are...

FlymanSkis - custom made jump skis and Featherboard swivel skis at affordable prices, get yours at flymanskis.com.

Paul Stokes Agency - American Family Insurance - Get a quote and get $30 for your team. Reach out to him at 1-608-221-1149 and find him at stokesamfam.com.

The Board Shop - all your summer and winter board sports gear can be found at bswake.com. Use the promo code show15 for a discount.

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram - @theskishowpodcast
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast

Contact The Ski Show:

• Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com

Leave us a rating and a review:

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170

In Part 2 of our Freestyle Jump series, we have stars of today on the show - Cale Ducane, Pete Hegerty, and Ethan Shulda. The guys discuss all sorts of topics including the glory days of the freestyle tour era, the current crop of talent today, the role Buck Up played in it's growth, and the potential lost art of the mobius to the back landing tricks. They also go in-depth into their training and preparation for new tricks and even discuss some new tricks they're working on and what might be possible. These guys are pushing new boundaries in the sport.

Today's sponsors are....

FlymanSkis - custom made jump skis and Featherboard swivel skis at affordable prices, get yours at flymanskis.com.

Paul Stokes Agency - American Family Insurance - Get a quote and get $30 for your team. Reach out to him at 1-608-221-1149 and find him at stokesamfam.com.

Saga Sports - water ski lessons for nearly any discipline, and trampoline training for freestyle jumpers. Find them at sagasports.us

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram - @theskishowpodcast
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast

Contact The Ski Show:

• Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com

Leave us a rating and a review:

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170

This one is a little longer than most, but oh so good! This is Part 1 of a two part series on Freestyle Jump called Then & Now. In this episode we talk with freestyle jump legends Hank Amos, Scott Clack, and Mike Tolzmann about the glory days of freestyle jump in the 1980's and 1990's. We dive in to a whole host of topics such as training techniques, the pro tour, the progression of tricks, the insane distances, the sponsorships, their thoughts on freestyle today, and so much more. These three guys are incredible story tellers as we go behind the scenes of freestyle jumping in it's hay day.

Today's Sponsors are...

FlymanSkis - custom made jump skis and Featherboard swivel skis at affordable prices, get yours at flymanskis.com.

Paul Stokes Agency - American Family Insurance - Get a quote and get $30 for your team. Reach out to him at 1-608-221-1149 and find him at stokesamfam.com.

The Board Shop - all your summer and winter board sports gear can be found at bswake.com. Use the promo code show15 for a discount.

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram - @theskishowpodcast
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast

Contact The Ski Show:

• Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com

Leave us a rating and a review:

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170

In this episode of The Ski Show, hosts Matt Heilman, Adam Schaller, and guest David Rezin dive deep into the complexities of the scoring system in show skiing. They begin with a thorough recap of final Buck Up stop and it's unique scoring system. The main conversation in this episode focuses on the challenges and evolution of the scoring system as a whole in show skiing. The guys discuss the pros and cons of difficulty charts, the impact on creativity, and the importance of entertainment value in scoring. They also explore the potential for specialization among judges to improve consistency and the overall quality of shows. As they wrap up, they emphasize the need for ongoing discussions about how to improve the sport and its scoring system. It's an in-depth conversation that you will be sure to find informative.

Today's Sponsors are...

FlymanSkis - custom made jump skis and Featherboard swivel skis at affordable prices, get yours at flymanskis.com.

Paul Stokes Agency - American Family Insurance - Get a quote and get $30 for your team. Reach out to him at 1-608-221-1149 and find him at stokesamfam.com.

The Board Shop - all your summer and winter board sports gear can be found at bswake.com. Use the promo code show15 for a discount.

Follow us on Social Media:

• Instagram - @theskishowpodcast
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast

Contact The Ski Show:

• Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com

Leave us a rating and a review:

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170