By Dan Shriner
Review Editor
The best show on Lake Orion at Sunday’s Dragon on the Lake might not be the exciting dragon boat races but the show put on by a group of Lake Orion men who love to fly around the lake, often upside down.
The group of jet ski acrobats will bring some thrills to those who stop by Sunday at around 11:30 a.m. in time for the show that begins at 11:45 a.m. The show will be on the lake in front of Green’s Park.
Come by early for a chance to talk to some of the freestyle group, who are among the best in the country at what they do.
The group of friends who started doing jet ski tricks several years ago have become nationally known. One of them, Justin Sylvain, will go later this summer to Lake Havasu in Nevada to compete in national jet ski freestyle events. Sylvain recently finished second in a large competition to qualify for the national show.
Lake Orion resident Andrew Burry said he sort of began the unofficial group about nine years ago when he modified a ski. Soon others came to him and the fun began.
‘We’ve become known in the area,? Burry said. ‘We help each other out, too.?
The group of Lake Orion water daredevils on Sunday will include Burry, Sylvain, Bobby Clouse, Evan Krefski, Scott DeLong and his 12-year-old son, Tanner.
The group will also perform at Pelton’s Point at 8 p.m. on Friday for a 20-30 minute show.
These local dragons have formed friendships and help each other learn the tricks and how to modify their skis ? as they call them ? to achieve the speed and lighter weight that allows them to go airborne.
The process to modify a ski begins by making significant upgrades to the engine, adding extra horsepower. After that, it is necessary to purchase a carbon-fiber hull, which is more than 100 pounds lighter than the original hull. Some footholds are in place, so they don’t fall out of the ski while airborne. There are a few other modifications, too.
‘One you have a couple of hundred horsepower and a lighter hull, you can really take off,? Burry said.
Those who come see the shows are sure to enjoy the most exciting and high-flying part of Dragon on the Lake.