By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Scott De Porter loves the water, being active and partaking in a variety of sports, so with the trio of interests combined it’s little wonder the Whitewater native has long been a water skier.
De Porter, a 1997 Whitewater High School graduate, has traveled to a number of venues since first joining the local Minneiska Ski Team at age 9.
One of the greatest highlights in his long-running involvement with the sport occurred last month.
Nearby Janesville hosted the first-ever World Show Ski Tournament, where nearly 200 skilled water skiers competed, by country. In addition to the U.S., there were athletes hailing from Australia, Belgium, Canada and China.
De Porter was one of 35 water skiers representing the U.S. at the tournament, held in the Rock Aqua Jays Stadium at Traxier Park from Sept. 15-16.
While there were a large number of team members from Wisconsin, the team featured members from other corners of the country as well, including Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. More than 200 applicants sought to represent the U.S. in the competition.
When the two-day event concluded, Team USA was declared the winner – a notable feat for a group with members scattered throughout the country and little opportunity to rehearse as a cohesive unit.
“It was a lot of fun,” De Porter said of the recent competition. “I really enjoyed the experience.”
De Porter’s foray into water skiing began at a very young age. His family participated in the sport for recreation, and his mom encouraged him to try out for the Minneiska team in 1989.
The rest is history.
“It’s always been a great way to spend time with my family,” De Porter said. “But I enjoy the competitive side as well. I’m constantly trying something new, and I just like being outside.”
De Porter continues to live in the Whitewater area part of the year. But his love of water skiing has taken him in other directions well beyond southeastern Wisconsin.
He works for a company, World Entertainment Services, that provides shows at a number of Sea World venues. De Porter is part of a team offering water-filled entertainment at a Sea World located in San Antonio, Texas.
Regardless of the venue or locale, De Porter said he looks back fondly on his days with the Minneiska team – a group he was an active part of for 11 years. De Porter said he always appreciates the opportunity to grow further in a sport that has been a large part of his life from a young age.
“I always have a good time,” De Porter said.
