Hot, sunny – and perfect for summer’s last blast at Clark Lake. Knowing that weather ahead and the obligations of fall may not allow for the same ton of fun, many took advantage of what Clark Lake abundantly offered on this three day weekend.
Labor Day Monday started with a salute.
Claire Beer, Devyn Troyer, and Abby Jennings followed a well established Clark Lake tradition. If you have a boat and water skis at Clark Lake, you have a built in audience. So, put on a show.
Wearing red, white, and blue and waving the American flag, they toured the lake with a patriotic salute.
The show served as inspiration to revive some shows of Clark Lake’s past.
Earlier this year, Clark Lake’s Jon Broderick was inducted into the Michigan Water Ski Hall of Fame. He and his twin brother put on shows in front of the Pleasant View Hotel in the 1950s. For Jon, that led to much bigger things. What you see below was the catalyst moment that launched a world famous career in show skiing.
Following Jon’s lead, the ski club he helped found at Clark Lake, the Pine Riders, didn’t hold back. Click here to read about one of their shows from the 1960s. Then there was the pyramid of 1973 on a busy Sunday at Clark Lake. Click here to read about how Buzz Belcher, Tony Krupa, Bill Lighthall, Dave Nichols, Kay and Linda Vermeulen pulled it off.
More Labor Day…
Wow and thank you all so much 👍🇺🇸
What a wonderful tribute to Clark Lake and all the fun activities with family and friends! It was a beautiful weekend!
To whoever has taken over the CL website, you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work and thank you.
They made my morning!! Thank you girls!
What a wonderful weekend. Barefooted in calm of the morning, turning the slalom looking for the bouys. Finishing the day with some old fashion show skiing.
“Thanks for the memories “
I cannot believe almost a year has gone by that Roger Lyons called me and said I was nominated to the Michigan Water Ski Hall of Fame. The day arrived in May and Tony Krupa
and Lynn Vermeulen and I all got together to celebrate the event. It was nearly 70 years ago
when we were all cutting up the lake on skis and angering fishermen with our antics. I have over 80 years of memories that started a Clark Lake. Many of the skiers became much more
accomplished than I ever thought of becoming. I knew Tony and Lynn became great,,,and I always thought Don Nichols was the best. I recall that “Bowser” Eagy helped me build my first kite, and Ed Hall (From Wolf Lake) loaned me $100 for my plane ticket to Cypress Gardens in 1958. I owe everything wonderful that ever happened to Clark Lake. I have 87 years worth of photos, T shirts and patch jackets to prove it.
Jon and I got married at the small church at the end of the lake where the Cit Pat tournaments were held. I skied in many tournaments before turning pro with Willie Bartley at Santa Claus Land in Indiana. Jon and I went on to ski with Joe Cash and many others before forming Aqua Follies in Cape Coral, FL.