Janesville's Rock Aqua Jays water ski team has been performing on the Rock River for 50 years.
The Rock Aqua Jay ballet line from the early 1960s included, from left, Lucille MacDonald, Karen Cash, Mary Jo Cash, Inga Hanson, Ruth Erlinger and Jean Brockhaus.
Credit: Submitted photo
Bill Manthey, left, and Don Snyder soar over Tom Kuhlow, left, and Tom MacDonald. The men made up the four-man jump team for the Rock Aqua Jays in the early 1960s.
Credit: Submitted photo
An early two-tier pyramid built by Rock Aqua Jays Ruth Erlinger, Jean Brockhaus, Don Snyder, Tom Kuhlow and Bill Manthey, from upper left. The Aqua Jays went on to be the first amateur team to build three-tier, four-tier and five-tier pyramids.
Credit: Submitted photo
The Rock Aqua Jays conventional doubles line passes the Traxler Park grandstand in 2005.
Credit: Gazette files
The Rock AquaJays’ ballet line nailed its routine in the 2002 national tournament after suffering a major fall in 2001.
Credit: Gazette files
Always a popular part of their show, the Rock Aqua Jays are known for their five-high pyramid. This one came during a show in 2002.
Credit: Gazette files
Gerry and Cathy Luiting perform during the doubles competition at the 2004 national tournament.
Credit: Gazette files
Dave Barkley, center, advises Alexis Fenrick, top, and Aragorn Luiting during an off-season training session a few years ago. The Aqua Jays work and practice throughout the year to stay in world championship form.
Credit: Gazette files
The Rock Aqua Jays enlisted the help of a crane to lift a new sound and recording booth to a perch about 20 feet above the ground overlooking the ski show area at Traxler Park in 2005. The show ski team has made thousands of dollars worth of improvements to the park through the years, something city officials wouldn’t have happened were it not for the group.
Credit: Gazette files
Packed grandstands are the norm at the national water ski show tournament. Janesville officials expect about 50,000 people to attend this year’s event, splashing more than $2 million in the local economy.
Credit: Gazette files
Members of the Rock Aqua Jays have traveled to China six times since 1999. The Jays were the first amateur team to ski there.
Credit: Gazette files
Members of the Rock Aqua Jays practice their pyramids indoors for the Kentucky Derby Festival in 2007.
Credit: Gazette files
The Rock Aqua Jays open their show with the 5-high pyramid in 2001.
Credit: Gazette files
Members of the Rock Aqua Jays jump team in the second act during a show at Janesville's Traxler Park in 2002.
Credit: Gazette files
The Rock Aqua Jays Conventional Doubles during a show at Traxler Park in Janesville in 2002.
Credit: Gazette files
The Rock Aqua Jay Ballet line in 2003.
Credit: Gazette files
The Rock Aqua Jays River Rats Jump Team during the 2007 Mercury Marine Invitational Tournament held at Janesville Traxler Park.
Credit: Gazette files
Members of the Rock Aqua Jays react after being named the second place winners of the 2004 Show Ski Championships at Traxler Park in Janesville. The Mad City Ski Team won the event by 7 points.
Credit: Gazette files
Janesville's Rock Aqua Jays backward skier David Rezin show his skills during a 2002 show at Traxler Park in Janesville.
Credit: Gazette files
In 2001, the Aqua Jays' triple rig included three 150 horse Mercury Optimax outboard motors.
Credit: Gazette files
The Rock Aqua Jays of Janesville were forcd to cancel their regular Sunday show on on July 29, 2001, due to extremely low water on the Rock River.
Credit: Gazette files
The Rock Aqua Jays had to cancel its 2008 Mercury Marine Water Ski Show Tournament because of flooding on the Rock River.
Credit: Gazette files
Five of the eleven members of the Rock Aqua Jays jump team do a three over and one on each side of the jump ramp during the nationals individuals competition at Traxler Park in 2005.
Credit: Gazette files
The final act of the 2002 Rock Aqua Jays show was made up of three 4-tiered pyramids.
Credit: Gazette files
A slalom skier with the Janesville Rock Aqua Jay show ski team slices through the beam of the setting sun in 2004.
