The Rock Aqua Jays water ski team in Janesville, Wisconsin – with triple 300hp Mercury Racing outboards on the transom and help from two other ski teams – has established a Guinness World Record for the largest human pyramid on water skis.
A total of 80 skiers in multiple four-tier pyramids traveled 1,148 feet on the Rock River – about twice the distance necessary to officially surpass the previous 64-skier record. Joining the Rock Aqua Jays were skiers from the Aquanuts team from Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and the Webfooters from Fremont, Wisconsin.
The record run was completed Aug. 18 following a year of practice.
A pair of tandem boats pulled the skiers from the dock area, but the lead boat released when they reached open water and the record run was accomplished behind a single boat. The outboards were equipped with Mercury four-blade 15-pitch Revolution propellers.
The skiers initially broke the existing record with a 70-skier pyramid, then added 10 more individuals on a subsequent run to establish the 80-skier record. Guinness officially confirmed the record.
"This record shows how passion, talent, and teamwork can come together in a common goal to execute a remarkable feat,” said Kevin Ostermeier of the Rock Aqua Jays, who was responsible for putting together the record run.
About 50 behind-the-scenes individuals supported the recent world-record effort.
The Rock Aqua Jays, founded in 1961, have won 20 national water skiing titles since 1975. They annually perform ski shows on the Rock River twice weekly from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Their shows provide a platform for teaching members and the public about safe boating and water-skiing techniques. They were the first amateur team to build three-tier, four-tier and five-tier pyramids.