2009 Started off with Several Ski Groups enjoying fun and fellowship at the lakes for some New Years Day skiing festivities.  The Old Hickory Lake Ski Club combined with The Music City Ski Club for sets and chili at Station Camp Creek on Old Hickory Lake.  The Soggy Bottom Boys and Girl took turns skiing at Nicky Lowe’s Lake in Manchester. The Year started off with a BANG!

Caroline Hensley, of Hixon, Tennessee completed a Golden Triple at the 2009 Junior World Championships held in Peru.  Caroline Won the Overall and Team USA won the Team Overall.  She scored a Gold in slalom, Silver in Tricks and a Bronze in Jumping.

The 15^th annual Eskimo Escapades was held in Knoxville on January 10^th and raised a ton of money for several charities. Jeff Ratledge did a superb job of coordinating the fund raiser.  For info: www.eskimoescapades.com

   The Junior’s parents finally got most of the Junior Bios to our EVP.

    Chuck Ainlay(a Tennessee Slalom Guru) won the Academy of Country Music Audio Engineer of the Year.

    The GroundHawg missed his prognostication and is in hot water with all Tennessee skiers who were hoping for an early spring and an extended season.  Carey Zimlich place a Bounty on Beauregard Lee which was soon lifted (April 24^th) when the weather finally turned nice.

    The Juniors had a great clinic at Miss Linda Giddens.

    Zane Nicholson stepped it up and qualified for the Junior Masters.

    The West Tennessee Group hosted a phenomenal Jr. Development clinic.

They had great coaching and participation.

    Tennessee had Juniors, Caroline Hensley and Zane Nicholson participate in the 50^th Masters Tournament in the Juniors division. This was webcast all over the world and watched by thousands.  Zane had a good showing and promises to be a force on the slalom course in the future.  Caroline won the overall and continued her winning ways.

     The 3^rd Junior Clinic was held on July 9^th at The Soggy Bottom Site before the State Championships. Another good attendance was had and several newcomers participated.

     The 2009 Tennessee State Championships was a grand success and the auction raised over $1000.00 for our Juniors.

     Aaron Brown was inducted into th Tennessee Water Ski Hall of Fame.

     Kirby Whetsel received the Vic Varallo Award.

     The 4^th Junior Clinic of the season was held on July 28^th, Pre-Regionals at Lake Pryor in Cleveland, Tennessee. Another good turnout was had.

     The 2009 Regionals was held in Paducah, Kentucky at Twin Oaks Lake.  Team Tennessee snagged 53 top 5 placements.  A new milestone in our quest.

     Brie Carter of Knoxville, tied the Girls II National Slalom Record with 3@ 38’ off.  She did this at Pentalago in South Florida. Congrats Brie! The best is yet to come!

     Tennessee Skiers know how to compete.  I’ve seen better performances but the competitiveness of our skiers is unmatched. The 2009 Nationals, at Okeeheelee Park, saw 26 Tennessee skiers capture 25 top 5 medals. They just never quit!

      Our friend, Linda Giddens suffered a bout with a deadly rare condition called a Thyroid storm.  Linda was in the Hospital in Macon, Georgia for quite a while and is recovering nicely at home in Eastman, Georgia now.  Linda has coached Tennessee Juniors for many, many years and is a big part of Tennessee skiing.

      Tommy Newman, won the Tommy Bartlett Award at the 2009 Nationals for the best announcer.  The cool part about the award, is that he was voted to receive the award by the other announcers. Congratulations Tommy.  You are the Original Barkin’ Dawg!

      Tim Denny, a long time skier, official and friend of our community passed away on October, 9^th.  Tim worked tirelessly and unselfishly as a scorer, judge, council person, treasurer and whatever else needed doing.  Tim will be missed by all the people in the skiing world.

     11 Tennessee skiers made the National Rankings list: Garrett Stallings, Brie Carter, Kara MacIntyre, Caroline Hensley, Matt Curmi, Aaron Curmi, Tommy Newman, Bob Drake, John “Rudy” Carder, and Ham Wallace.

     Brie Carter got her Open Rating in her first Tournament in Girls 3.

     Dr. John “Rudy” Carder won his first overall at The 2009 Frosty Balls Tournament.

     The University of Alabama, place 2^nd in the 2009 Collegiate Water Ski Nationals.  4 Tennessee skiers were on the team. Caroline Hensley, Haley Runion, Aaron Curmi and Tucker Brown.

     Ham Wallace and Tommy Newman were selected to the 2010 Senior World Team.  They will travel to Italy in September 2010.

     Caroline Hensley was selected U.S.A WaterSki athlete of the month for October 2009.  Caroline was on the winning U-21 team that competed in Mexico that month. This made her and the team eligible for a OSOC award.

     Warm weather drew many skiers back to the lakes for a short but extended season.  Water temps rose 5 degrees after an especially warm week.

      Brie Carter made Water Ski Magazine with a great article.

      There were 9 tournaments in Tennessee during the 2009 skiing season.  No-Wake Lake, Soggy Bottom, Lake Pryor, and Lake Pointe in Collierville.

      Tennessee is looking forward to a great season in 2010 with trips to Hilliard Crews’ for the 2010 Tennessee State Championships, Jack Travers’ Sunset Lakes for the Regionals and to Roy Surdejs’ in Joliet, Illinois for the 2010 Nationals.