There are many sports clubs around campus that offer a wide variety of opportunities to be highly competitive.

There are club teams for men’s soccer, cricket, fencing, men’s rugby, women’s rugby, water polo and so on. A lot of the club teams are highly competitive and ask a lot from the players in terms of prior experience, but the waterski and wakeboard club is not one of them.

“We’re always looking for new members and to expand,” senior Brian Berg said. “We’re looking for people of all talents and abilities. We want to be a resource to anyone that is interested in water sports in general.” Founded last spring by Berg, the WSU Wakeboard and Waterski Team has been driven by Berg’s passion for water sports.

WSU was the only college in the state without a water-based sport club when Berg was a freshman. However, the Snake River offered exactly what was needed to change this.

Berg found students with the same interest and was on track to creating a club team as a freshman, but the club then encountered some obstacles.

“I wanted to find out if there were any interest,” Berg said. “The funny part was that there was a point where I kind of gave up end of sophomore year. I contacted every boat dealer in the state of Washington. Nobody wanted to donate, and the hard times economically didn’t help.” But out of nowhere, Berg was shocked by a generous offer by a WSU alumnus who shared Berg’s passion for water sports.

“We got lucky to get in contact with a WSU alum named Dr. Swanlund who had memories of waterskiing on the Snake River in the ‘70s,” Berg said. “He donated a 1990 Ski Brendella Shortline Comp, and we feel extremely fortunate to be given something to go out and ride behind.” The season begins April 1 and ends Nov. 15, but because of funding, the team has not been able to enter any competitions.

“Everyone pushes each other and is encouraging, and everybody gets so stoked when someone can land a trick,” Berg said. “Having each other is a support system, and a network of guys and girls that love to do what you do, there is nothing like it.” In his last year at WSU, Berg is hoping to pass the torch to an underclassmen by the end of this season.

“I learned how to waterski at 4 years old, and I have been an avid watersport enthusiast ever since,” Berg said. “We will be holding a booth at the CUB on Feb. 11 for people to come talk to us and what we want to do.” With the season approaching, Berg hopes to get donations so the team can enter some competitions this spring. As for new players, they can contact the team in a couple ways.

“We have a Facebook page called the WSU Wakeboard and Waterski Team,” Berg said. “Or you can e-mail us at watersports@wsu.edu.”