The Lake Burton Ski Patriots!

Well, I believe it was an extremely successful Fireworks weekend here on Lake Burton (and thanks to more celebrating in Madison on Tuesday/Wednesday, I am just now getting to this post). Lots of places to go, people to see, food to eat, and fun to be had! However, the highlight of the weekend by far, and one of the highlights of my life on the lake, was getting to be a part of the Lake Burton Ski Patriots!

The Penland Family, a family who has been on the lake since the 1940s, has been organzing the Penland Ski Patriots show on fireworks Saturday for the past four years. They pull five skiers behind their Malibu ski boat with American flags flying behind them and ski all over the lake waving, doing tricks, and spreading fun and patriotism. This year, they decided to open it up to friends and call the group, "The Lake Burton Ski Patriots". The West family was honored to get to participate.

We all gathered on the Penland's dock, decked out in red,white, and blue, at about 9am on Saturday morning for instructions.

Then, we decided on the first group of five, and the rest of us hopped in the "support boat" and cheered everyone on!

First team of five (left to right): Alex (BF to Leah), Leah Penland (original ski patriot), Kathy Fincher (former Calloway Gardens skier), Connie West (my mama), and John Simmons (lake neighbor)

And they're off!!

So this began a 3 1/2 hour voyage around the lake spreading patriotic cheer! Our fellow Cypress Gardens skier, Kathy Fincher, was able to get us in sync with our waving and our saluting...

Manly team (left to right): Clint Webster (my hubby), Jamie Wilson, Gus Bussey, Hayden Lewis,  & Parker Stiles 

Way to go, boys!

And she even taught us how to "brace", a fancy ski team term we all now know well.

Hey, there's me! (second from left) And the man, the myth, the legend, Lee Penland (second from right)

The Penland ski boat was equipped with a PA system, so we were announced everywhere we went. We also had two support boats with us blaring the music, so we couldn't be missed!

The Jammin' Support Boat

And here's the last team of troopers skiing in to the Penland's dock after 3 1/2 hours all over the lake! Lee Penland, Kathy Fincher, me, Clint, and Jamie Wilson were the last five "victims" as we called it at the end. In the beginning, we had volunteers; in the end, we had victims. Look, even the camera man is a little exhausted!

What an unbelievably cool experience on Lake Burton! I hope to be a part of this year after year. Thanks to the Penland family for inviting us along, and I hope everyone had a happy 4th!!