Water ski show brings waves of nostalgia to Alton Bay

ALTON — If you find yourself driving around the section of Route 11 that hugs Alton Bay at around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, you’re likely to notice a three-tiered human pyramid gliding atop the hopefully calm water. They’ll be wearing blue sequins, exuding a sort of synchronized skiing vibe reminiscent of a 1950s Esther Williams movie — complete with old-school wooden skis.

This southern tip of Lake Winnipesaukee has a history of hosting — and hoisting — show skiers. From 1954 through the mid-’70s, its namesake water ski club delighted Lakes Regioners. Looking to rekindle a dormant pastime, Alton Bay’s Water Bandstand Committee approached Maine Attraction in 2019.

“It’s a novelty at this point — there aren’t any water ski shows in this area,” Nancy Merrill, longtime member of the committee, said. “It’s something the bay hadn’t had since our own Alton Bay H2O Ski Club disbanded.”

Despite a 50-year dormancy, some things haven’t changed.

Katie Gray, director of Maine Attraction, said her skiers generally opt for wooden skis similar to those the bay’s erstwhile group favored.

“They don’t have the concave bottoms like the newer, carbon fiber skis, so they ride on the water a little easier,” Gray said. “Some of ours are 12 inches wide, with heavy duty bindings.”

Merrill grew up near the bay, and her late nephew and fellow committee member, Jonathan Downing, was key in bringing this tradition back.

“Everybody loves ski shows,” Merrill said. “The bay gets mobbed with people. So here we are, finally.” Merrill added she feels it’s important to note zero taxpayer dollars were used to fund the event.

The annual show draws hundreds of spectators from across the region, some so enthusiastic about the show they chip in to help pay for the approximately $3,000 cost. Donations have been forthcoming from Wolfeboro and Meredith residents, as well as from bayside businesses like Pop’s Clam Shell, which contributed last month.

The troupe’s exposition-style act is, of course, subject to the whims of the weather.

“Three or four years ago, the bay was as wavy as an ocean, so we couldn’t quite do our bare footing,” Gray said, noting her skiers still managed the pyramid that day. “It was wild.”

Fortunately, the bay hasn’t been unreasonably windy so far this summer.

Fresh off the competition circuit, Maine Attraction won top honors at last month’s annual Eastern Region Show Ski Tournament. Might the team attempt to one-up last summer’s Alton Bay performance by going for the four-tiered pyramid that helped them win regionals? If it weren’t for the bay’s tight turn down by the beach, Gray said, four tiers might be feasible. As it stands, the team’s formation can’t top three, which is still one tier taller than the original skiing club was able to muster, albeit for a non-topographic reason.

“We couldn’t get anybody to climb the pyramid,” said Jim Shuff, who joined H2O in 1956. “We had a couple girls who could climb, but only up to two tiers.”

Does Shuff head back to his old stomping ground each August to catch the show?

“Well, no. It would bring back too many memories,” Shuff said. “And then I’d want to try and get out there again. And at my age, 82, I’d probably end up" hurt in the process.

Alton Bay’s Water Bandstand Committee handles all maritime-related red tape, including engaging Marine Patrol and lining up the special water event permitting.

Many spectators come by boat and would, according to Merrill, be well-advised to stay back behind the water bandstand (the bay’s floating, gazebo-like stage) as the team skis to classic tracks such as Kenny Loggins' “Danger Zone” between the bandstand and the bay’s fish and game landing. Various committee members’ spotter boats are out playing defense alongside Marine Patrol throughout the 45-minute program.

“It’s just, you know, they creep. They creep forward slowly. And we can’t have the boating public all over the place,” Merrill said. This summer will see some increased vigilance in the form of red buoys. “We’re all set.”

Gray added, “I feel like the crowd grows every year. Definitely a huge number of boats that pull up and watch us, which is pretty cool.”

Alton Bay Water Ski Show will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23. The show is open to the public and lasts about 45 minutes, featuring roughly 25 skiers from Maine Attraction.

For the full event schedule, visit maineattractionwaterski.com/schedule.html.