Minnesota's Midwest Ski Otters are scrambling to replace their performance docks and bleachers
Credit: Jeff Wheeler/Minneapolis Star Tribune/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
NEED TO KNOW
- A water ski troop lost $30,000 worth of equipment, including their docks and bleachers, in a theft at a Minnesota lake
- The volunteer-run Midwest Ski Otters say they have less than a month to replace the stolen items to continue their summer performances
- As of Friday, a GoFundMe for the local nonprofit has raised $10,000 towards its $14,000 goal
For 30 years, the Midwest Ski Otters have delighted community members with their free weekly water ski shows throughout the summer. But this year, the beloved tradition is in jeopardy after the Minnesota nonprofit had $30,000 worth of equipment stolen.
According to a GoFundMe created on behalf of the volunteer-run organization, “someone broke into our dock storage area and stole the heart of our show: our performance docks and performance stage.”
They add: “These aren't just boards and hardware. They're where the little skiers learn confidence, where the announcer welcomes the crowd, where the pyramids start, where the applause feels [the] loudest. They're what make the show possible — and safe.”
Now the group is left with less than a month to replace what was stolen, or they may not be able to perform at all.
“It's a big hit to all of a sudden find out that a lot of your equipment has been taken and you got to scramble to figure out how to get the money,” Midwest Ski Otters' treasurer Kurt Carpenter tells CBS Minnesota.
Credit: WCCO – CBS Minnesota/YouTube
The organization stores its equipment on the shoreline of Goose Lake in the town of White Bear Lake, Minn., where the weekly performances are held. It wasn't until the water skiers took inventory that they realized much of the necessary equipment was gone.
Carpenter described the missing pieces as “large docks, four by 16 feet, with wheel kits on them that had to be disassembled or had to be put on a trailer. Then they literally stole a section of bleachers.”
Following the discovery, Carpenter says he called local scrap yards, believing the thieves would have attempted to make money off the aluminum docks. But his search was unsuccessful.
“It's going to be difficult,” Carpenter says. “We are gonna have to scramble, look at other options on how we can make it happen.”
Despite the setback, Carpenter is holding out hope for the summer: “We think positive, look forward. We'll figure out a way.”
In an April 8 Facebook post, the Ski Otters confirmed they are covered by insurance, but it will not cover the full cost of replacement and a “significant gap” to rebuild still exists.
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As of Friday, April 10, the group has raised $10,000 of its $14,000 goal.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Midwest Ski Otters for comment.
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