Beiruting News

On Saturday, September 20th, the Lebanon Water Festival and the Cypress Garden Ski Team was back again for the annual water ski show in the Phoenician city of Tyr.  Cypress Garden performed a night show on Saturday followed by a colorful display of fireworks on the beach. On September 21st, the Cypress Garden team and the Lebanese Team performed again for a day show with a variety of acts.

On both Saturday and Sunday, the water ski shows drew in a crowd of over 15,000 people. Spectators of all ages watched the shows from their boats, the beach and along the corniche.  People sat on their porches, peered through their seaside window and dispersed themselves along the rocky corniche.

On Saturday, September 20th, the water conditions for the night show made the already difficult acts even harder to perform because of the two meter waves, swells and overall visibility for the skiers. The Cypress Garden Team performed at the highest level, while mastering their acts in  the given weather conditions.

Marc Voisard, Cypress Garden director for 15 years, said that the water conditions are different in every country the team performs in, but adds that the change in water conditions gives a level of the unknown to every show.

The Mediterranean Sea gives more buoyancy and speed to the skier  because of the  high percentage of salt water  versus a lake, which is their most frequent  environment they perform in.

"The show went well today considering how rough the sea was," said Voisard. The number one priority in any show is safety. We sometimes have to cutback on our acts and we don't like to do it, but the team had a good time performing the routine."

Voisard said that the water conditions on both days forced him to make the decision not to have some acts included in the show. The waves caused the jump to move continually back and forth, so the jumping acts were taken out. When the water is calmer, skiers do jumps, helicopters and 360 degree turns in air.

The night show started and ended with fireworks! To open the show, five skiers, Bailey, Kelly, Jenna, Shawna, Cathy, Travis and Sam held flags that spelled out Live Love Lebanon.

Throughout the two shows, each act required balance and coordination as an individual and team. There were the following acts:

1. Flags that spell out Live Love Lebanon

2. Show Skies

3. Sky Ski

4. Ballet

5. Freestyle Back Foot

6. Doubles

7. Swan

8. Back Barefoot Freestyle

9. Clown

10. Slalom

The following morning, the water conditions were rougher than the previous day, but the skiers maintained their energy and used their skills to deliver another spectacular, crowd-pleasing performance!

We were excited and honored to have His Excellency Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon open the water ski show by holding the Lebanese flag while skiing past the crowd.

At the end of the show, he thanked Mr. Simon Khoury and Annette Khoury for the festival and the work that is being done to expand tourism. He also thanked the municipality for their support and coordination.

He also said it is great that the Lebanon Water Festival maintains a level of excitement and positivity to the people and in all the regions of Lebanon.

After his performance, Eddy Nour held the Lebanese flag that was followed by a group of six skiers from Cypress Garden holding the flags that spelled out Live Love Lebanon.

There was also a three-man pyramid done by the Lebanese team. Alexandre Nour, Francois Nour and Sarah Sabroui who trained with the Lebanon Water Festival throughout the festival. They put on a great performance under the difficult weather conditions.

Their acts were as intense as the waves! The acts looked easy to any onlooker, but someone who knows a little about skiing realizes the acts demand coordination, skill and balance, while also making each move look effortless.

First timer to Lebanon, Jenna Strobel said she had to prepare her performance based on the water conditions.

“ The water conditions are different everywhere I travel to perform. During the night show, it was a little more difficult because we couldn’t see when there was a swell coming up,” explained Strobel.

Nonetheless, she enjoyed both shows and was happy to be a part of the Lebanon Water Festival.

Strobel says, “The Mediterranean Sea is beyond beautiful so it makes skiing that much more fun. Lebanon is one of my favorite places to ski now because of people’s enthusiasm and support for the sport. We could feel the energy of the crowd from the water.”

Every year, the Water Ski Show attracts more and more crowds and attention from Lebanon and abroad. By organizing these shows, the Lebanon Water Festival is making an effort to bridge the gap between communities while showing our pride for Lebanon and what it can become for all water sports and tourism.

As always, we would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism for its continual sport, particularly His Excellency Michel Pharaon for his presence and participation in the ski show. Also, for the municipality of Tyr’s support and devotion for the water ski shows and ensuring proper steps are taken to maintain the beaches and protect the ancient ruins so everyone can enjoy them.

After this weekend, we only have one more weekend with two more water ski shows! On September 27^th and 28^th, Cypress Garden and the Lebanese Team will perform two shows at La Marina in Dbayeh to conclude the 2014-year!

Come join the Lebanon Water Festival, the Lebanese Team and Cypress Gardens for a finale that you won’t forget!