This article was submitted by Pastor Bob Kandels, leader of our Water Sports Camp:
Greetings!
Just want to put a shout out for the great memories of another Christ based ski, wake boarding, bare footing Camp at Koronis this past July. We all began the adventure Monday afternoon, July 25th as we gathered from Bloomington, Shakopee, Litchfield and Fergus Falls as well as other areas from the Twin Cities Metro region. After a little time of introductions and boat and water safety instructions, we had our first session of many on the water Monday afternoon.
I saw Matt, a first year camper, get up on water skis for the first time ever after only a few attempts. He looked like he had been skiing for years. Matt was able to drop one ski and slalom ski by the next day of camp.
That first afternoon I watched David wake board for the second time in his life. Later that evening David made his first attempt of getting enough air to clear the wake of the boat. After some face plants with a little sting he was clearing the wake of the boat and doing tail grabs for the ski show at the end of the week!
I watched Kate stick with practice and perseverance as she learned how to do a half turn (180 degrees) in the air on her wake board. She started coming to camp about three years ago and was able to really begin to fall in love with wake boarding also.
I watched Shelby, a first time camper, learn how to transition from being comfortable on just two skis to being able to drop one ski and slalom ski. Shelby started wakeboarding for the first time ever and went home wanting to both slalom ski and wake board.
Jordon, who has been coming to ski camp for at least the past four to five years, decided to increase his slalom ability with great deep water starts and becoming confident on his one handed turns and pulling the rope into his hips as he crossed the wake, making him sling shot into his cuts on a slalom ski making for some great photos. By the end of the week Jordon was ready to attack a slalom course.
The boat drivers Jesse, Brett and Greg were great as always, with Godly patience and great instruction as each camper improved their skills, taking their ability one step higher each day. (Brett, I can see if we can change the rules next year so you can come to ski camp as both a boat driver and a camper because you just like to have fun.) I was grateful for the opportunity to do some bare footing with Jordon at camp in the middle of the week.
The greatest joys of camp are:
- The way we come back to our homes pumped about Jesus.
- The discussion each night around the fire pit (or the back room in the main cabin because the bugs got too bad).
- The goals we talked about.
- How we spent a week together listening God draw us closer to the potential of the Holy Spirit.
- The rest hour and how we could not wait to get some sleep with three 2-3 hour sessions each day of camp on the water.
- The Wednesday night trip to the Dairy Queen.
- The ski show Thursday afternoon.
To the campers: All the Godly memories of ski camp, I trust, are calling you back next July of 2012 with me and the rest of the drivers and some great ski boats. Always know you can find me on face book and check in because it won’t be long before fall and winter slip away into a spring of 2012, and I will be sending out invites to all to start registering for the famous Lake Koronis sunsets and cracking glass at ski camp!
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Bob Kandels
