Backwater Gamblers Water Ski Show Team

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Backwater Gamblers Water Ski Show Team The Backwater Gamblers put on FREE water ski shows every Wednesday and Sunday starting Memorial Day 2023 Backwater Gamblers are presented by Culver's

✨WATER SKI SHOW TONIGHT✨The season is winding down, catch one of our last shows tonight at 6:30! 📍5000 44th street Rock ...
17/08/2025

✨WATER SKI SHOW TONIGHT✨
The season is winding down, catch one of our last shows tonight at 6:30!
📍5000 44th street Rock Island, IL
💵FREE-donations appreciated
🍦concessions available

🌊 Come & Try Day with the Backwater Gamblers! Ever watched our shows and thought "That could be me"? Now’s your chance!F...
12/08/2025

🌊 Come & Try Day with the Backwater Gamblers!

Ever watched our shows and thought "That could be me"? Now’s your chance!
For just $15, you can get out on the water with us, try waterskiing, and see what being part of our team is all about. Our last come and try of the season is for teens and young adults!

💡 Special offer: If you decide to join the team after your session, that $15 will be credited toward your membership — which covers the entire next season!

We’re looking for young adults who want more than just a sport — we’re talking adrenaline, summer nights on the river, and a team that feels like family.

No experience? No problem. We’ll provide all the gear and show you the ropes (literally). Just bring your energy and be ready to have a blast.
✉️ message us to register!

📅 Date: Thursday, August 21st
📍 Location: 5000 44th street Rock Island, IL
💵 Cost: $15 (applied to your membership if you join)
👥 Who: ages 16+

🏆Performing at the 50th D1 National Tournament was our goal from the start of the season; it's no small feat. We compete...
11/08/2025

🏆Performing at the 50th D1 National Tournament was our goal from the start of the season; it's no small feat. We competed alongside many other amazing teams.
We had a great show and placed 11th in the Nation! We can't wait to finish out our season performing for our home crowds. ✨💦🎉
See YOU at our next show- Wednesday August 13th 6:30pm in Rock Island!

❌ NO SHOW TONIGHT ❌We are traveling back from the D1 National Tournament and we will not be having a show tonight❗️We wi...
10/08/2025

❌ NO SHOW TONIGHT ❌

We are traveling back from the D1 National Tournament and we will not be having a show tonight❗️

We will be back Wednesday night at 6:30 for our regular scheduled show 🙌

✨Raise your hand if you’re coming to the show tonight👋🏼🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏽It’s our LAST SHOW before we head off to the national tour...
06/08/2025

✨Raise your hand if you’re coming to the show tonight👋🏼🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏽

It’s our LAST SHOW before we head off to the national tournament in Janesville, WI this weekend! Don’t miss out on our best performance yet!

🕡6:30pm
📍5000 44th street Rock Island
💵FREE but donations appreciated
🍦concessions and Culver’s Frozen custard available

05/08/2025

🎉 Meet the Team Tuesday! 🎉

Today we’re giving a big Backwater Gamblers shoutout to three of our crowd-favorite skiers: Sir Collin Ridgley, Conor Naab, and David Claver!

🌊 Sir Collin Ridgley – A knight in shining spray, Collin brings style, energy, and excitement to every show. Whether he’s jumping through the air or leading the hype, he’s always a crowd-pleaser.

⚡️ Conor Naab – This powerhouse never backs down from a character challenge. Conor brings intensity and grit to the stage—plus a good dose of team spirit on land.

💥 David Claver – Quiet off the dock, but a total force once the skis, or feet, hit the water. David’s sharp technique and cool confidence make him a key piece of the show team puzzle.

Catch all three of these legends in action at our next show on Wednesday night at 6:30👀💦



🎥: Mark Largo Photography / Lucid Dream Studios

✨SHOW TONIGHT✨Catch the Backwater Gamblers in action TONIGHT at 6:30 PM for a FREE water ski stunt show! It's the final ...
03/08/2025

✨SHOW TONIGHT✨

Catch the Backwater Gamblers in action TONIGHT at 6:30 PM for a FREE water ski stunt show! It's the final two shows before we take our show to the D1 National Tournament; you wont want to miss this!

Bring your friends, grab some snacks, and come cheer us on!
We also have concessions and bleacher seating available🍕🪑🎉
Mark Largo Photography / Lucid Dream Studios 📸🫶🏼

🎉 Only 3 shows left before we head to D1 Nationals! 🎉Don’t miss your chance to catch the Backwater Gamblers in action TO...
30/07/2025

🎉 Only 3 shows left before we head to D1 Nationals! 🎉

Don’t miss your chance to catch the Backwater Gamblers in action TONIGHT at 6:30 PM at our home site! It’s the final stretch of the season, and we’re bringing the energy, the stunts, and the heart 💥💦

⛅ We’re keeping an eye on the weather — if anything changes, we’ll update you ASAP right here on Facebook.

Bring your friends, grab some snacks, and come cheer us on! 🏄‍♂️🇺🇸

We also have concessions and bleacher seating available✨



📸: Mark Largo Photography / Lucid Dream Studios

27/07/2025

🎉 SHOW TONIGHT! 🎉

Join us tonight at 6:30 PM for another high-flying, crowd-cheering, water-spraying show with the Backwater Gamblers Water Ski Team! 💦🎭

We’re down to just 4 shows left before we hit the road to Nationals, so now’s your chance to catch all the action, adrenaline, and family fun right here at our home site!

🧺 Bring a blanket or lawn chair; bleachers are available
🍔 Grab some grub at our concession stand
🎟️ FREE admission
🛶 Non-stop entertainment on the water

Let’s pack the shoreline and cheer these athletes on as they ramp up for the biggest tournament of the year! 🙌🇺🇸

📍Show starts at 6:30 PM – Don’t miss it!

P.S. Stick around and ask any of our members about joining the team, anyone is welcome❗️

🌟 Hey Quad Cities🌟We have the opportunity to be part of the "Locals Love Us" community, and we need YOUR support to help...
24/07/2025

🌟 Hey Quad Cities🌟

We have the opportunity to be part of the "Locals Love Us" community, and we need YOUR support to help us shine! ✨

Please take a moment to vote for us by clicking the link below. Your votes will help us get added to their directory, making it easier for our amazing community to find and support local attractions like ours!

Vote here 👉 https://localsloveus.com/vote/64384/

Thank you for being such incredible supporters! We appreciate each and every one of you! ❤️

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Wednesday 18:30 - 19:45
Sunday 18:30 - 19:45

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Our Story

The Backwater Gamblers Water Ski Show Team was formed in July of 1980 in Andalusia, IL by John and Deanna Orr with fourteen members. Since its creation, our team has grown to over 150 members. We are now located in Rock Island, IL in Ben Williamson Park on the Rock River. We perform shows Wednesdays and Sundays at 6:30p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

We have competed in water ski tournaments since 1984. At these tournaments, each participating team has exactly one hour to complete their best show. Scoring is based on things such as ex*****on, difficulty, and showmanship. During these tournaments, there are also individual competitions. These competitions include strap doubles couples, swivel, team jump, and individual jump.

In the strap doubles competition, one skier is attached to a harness while their partner performs acrobatic moves . This competition is judged based on ex*****on, difficulty, showmanship, and creativity.

In the swivel competition, a single ski with a rotating binding is used. The skier uses this to perform tricks such as 360° turns and other impressive spins. This competition is also judged based on ex*****on, difficulty, showmanship, and creativity.