Nautique Boats: Nautique has been proud partners of the Jack Travers Waterski School for over 50 years! We’d love to share your journey to becoming a world renown waterski destination. Tell us how it all started!
Jack Travers: Throughout my life, I have harbored a deep passion for waterskiing. During my summers, I resided in Alton Bay, New Hampshire, where I was a member of the Alton Bay Ski Club. I actively engaged in waterskiing whenever possible. My aspiration was to establish a training center for waterskiing. After gaining valuable experience at two esteemed ski schools in Florida, I made the decision to embark on my own entrepreneurial journey in the autumn of 1973.
In Florida, I acquired a mobile home situated on a small lake that connected to three other lakes within Lake County. My father, recognizing the potential of this opportunity, generously donated the family Correct Craft V-drive inboard boat to support my endeavors. After undergoing a valve repair, installation of a new starter, propeller, and tune-up, the boat was restored to its former glory, enabling me to commence coaching my students.
In the spring of 1974, Walt Meloon presented me with an exceptional trade-in offer for a reconditioned 1973 Ski Nautique. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Walt for his invaluable contributions to my dream. From that moment forward, Walt Meloon and Mr. Ralph treated us as members of their extended family, consistently providing encouragement and support as we pursued our aspirations and dreams.
NB: What is your mission at the Jack Travers Waterski School?
JT: Regardless of their experience, whether as a beginner or a professional athlete, our primary goal is to provide skiers with exceptional coaching and guidance to help them achieve their goals both on and off the water. We strive to create an environment conducive to success by promoting healthy living habits.
NB: Can you share some of your favorite client success stories?
JT: Back in the day, before cell phones, we always told our staff and students to give us a call whenever they wanted. But let me tell you, those middle-of-the-night calls weren’t always the best. One such night, our group was at the Nautique Moomba Masters, and guess who rang the phone at 2:45 AM? It was none other than Mike Hazelwood! Can you believe it? He had just jumped 200 feet to win Moomba! Talk about an adrenaline rush!
At the World Championships in London, England, the last skier of the day, Sammy Duvall, put on his jump skis and took to the water. He won both the jump and overall titles! And guess what? A relatively unknown skier named Kim Laskoff also made history by winning slalom at the same event.
In 2011, my son, Jon Travers, participated in the last-chance qualifier for the Nautique Masters Waterski and Wakeboard Tournament. He ran a remarkable 4 @ 41 off securing a victory and a ticket to compete in the Nautique Masters event. One week later, he continued his impressive performance by winning the event. At the same event, our future daughter-in-law emerged victorious in the jump event. These experiences were deeply emotional and filled me with immense pride.
NB: You have run a family operated business for 51 years. Can you share some of your family values that have contributed to your continued success?
JT: We marked 50 years of business at the 2023 World Championships, which we hosted. Choosing the right people to represent our ski school is one of the toughest tasks for any service business.
Our mission has always been to hire staff who will treat our customers the way we want to be treated. Our team has always gone above and beyond to make sure our clients get more than they expected. My wife and I have always believed in respect and responsibility, and we’ve been lucky enough to have our sons, Christopher, Jonathan, and daughter-in-law Natallia join the business. We’re excited to continue providing respectful and responsible water ski services for many years to come!
NB: The Jack Travers Waterski School has hosted numerous waterski events over the years. Which events were your favorites and why?
JT: We’ve hosted some pretty big events here at Sunset Lakes, like the U.S. Team Trials, Florida State Championships, Southern Regionals, and even the IWWF Disabled Worlds, 35 Plus Worlds, Junior Worlds, and the IWWF 2021 and 2023 Open Worlds Championship. We’ve also been the home of the first Masters Last Change Qualifier and have hosted the event every year since 2001. And let’s not forget about all the world records and PB’s that have been set here! It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make these events happen, and we’re so grateful for everyone who supports us.
We’re not just about big tournaments; We also love hosting a simple Wednesday night class C for kids and beginners. It’s a great way for them to get involved in our sport, have a fun meal with our ski club, officials, and homeowners, and make some new friends.
NB: Can you give us some insight as to how your students prepare for the Nautique Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament presented by GM Marine?
JT: Robin Lake, the venue for the U.S. Masters, presents a challenge for competitors due to its depth, exceeding that of most tournament sites. Additionally, a long stone wall casts rollers randomly across the lake. In tricks, we employ a substantial amount of ballast to mimic the high wakes generated by the lake’s deep waters. To enhance slalom performance, we minimize the time interval between passes, creating a state of nervousness in the water. We consistently strive to replicate the boat path utilized at Callaway Gardens during the Nautique Masters, particularly in the jump event. Given the fact there are two different paths of jumping, it presents a significant challenge.
NB: What does Nautique mean to you?
JT: Nautique is the benchmark that all other ski boats aspire to reach. Whenever I hear about a new boat design, I can’t help but wonder, “How can they possibly make it better? They’ve always done it so well.” To me, Nautique embodies quality, comfort, and durability. If you want to be the best at what you do, you need the best equipment. It’s been an honor to assist their engineers over the years in testing boats and new equipment, contributing to the advancement of the sport.
On a personal note, Mr. Ralph was a wonderful mentor to Lelani and me as young adults. He was always thrilled to hear about our family and shared his deep love and passion for Christ with us. Walt Meloon and Larry Medock took both Lelani and I under their wings and guided us in developing a comprehensive business plan for our future. Throughout the years, we’ve made some changes, but this foundation has been the cornerstone of our success.
NB: What are your favorite features on the Ski Nautique?
JT: My primary passion has always been three events. The overall skier is the triathlon of our sport. The Nautique is meticulously designed to cater to each of the traditional events. The slalom wake is equipped with MicroTuners® providing skiers with the optimal platform behind the boat. Ballast tanks and the automated HydroGate® enable skiers to customize the wake height to suit their preferences during tricks. The HydroGate also serves as the launch platform for the jump event. For young skiers at slalom speeds, the boat can be adjusted to ride flatter, creating a smaller wake. Conversely, for faster speeds and skiers seeking increased speed, the HydroGate can be adjusted to provide faster acceleration. This versatile boat can accommodate all three events, showcasing remarkable engineering prowess.
NB: What are your goals as you look to what the future holds for the Jack Travers Waterski School?
JT: We had two amazing attorneys, good old country boys. They told us to grab a yellow pad and dream big. Write down anything we might want to do or achieve in our lifetime, and don’t hold back. We never imagined we could make so many dreams come true.
We still have that yellow pad and keep working on it. Here are a few things we’re planning for the next few years:
- Adding Phase 3, which will be the last 4-5 lots on the property south of Lake Grace.
- Building a new clubhouse to serve our growing community. It’ll be a place for small meetings, weddings, and even a pool for the community.
- Creating a paved running and bicycle path with its own pavilion that can be used for special events and weddings.
Our real idea is that anything is possible if we work hard and stay determined. We just keep dreaming and growing.
