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Wednesday 6:30pm - 7:45pm Sunday 6:30pm - 7:45pm

Backwater Gamblers Water Ski Show Team

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Rock Island, IL
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

10/29/2025

Spirit Halloween's latest costume drop 🎃👻

Comment a picture of vour favorite costume!
(Halloween OR show ski)

10/12/2025

Meet the 2026 Backwater Gamblers Show Directors!

Returning for their second season, brothers Collin and Colby Ridgley are back to bring their creativity, leadership, and passion to the water and stage. Joining them for his debut season is Skyler Tipton, ready to make waves with a fresh perspective and energy. With this talented trio leading the show, get ready for a season full of unforgettable moments.

09/25/2025

✋We want YOU to vote for us in Locals Love us! Please take a minute to register and help us get added to the directory! 🙏🫶

https://localsloveus.com/vote/64384/

09/12/2025

Favorites Friday!! Take a few seconds to vote us YOUR Local Best at https://localsloveus.com/vote/64384/ Locals Love Us is your trusted guide to your Local Best, and we want to be voted YOUR local favorite! 🤩🫶

09/08/2025

✨That’s a wrap!
Extending a HUGE thank you to all of our sponsors, and fans for helping make this season a success! We appreciate each and every one of you! 🫶🏼
We are already gearing up for next season. If you want to be a part of the action or are interested in becoming a sponsor, send us a message! We can’t wait to be back performing on the water in 2026! 😍🤩

09/03/2025

🎉 Tonight is our second-to-last show of the season! 🎉

Come out to the Rock River and cheer on the Backwater Gamblers as we hit the water at 6:30 PM for another night of high-flying jumps, fast-paced barefooting, big pyramids, and plenty of family fun🙌

With only two shows left this summer, now’s the time to catch the action before the season wraps up. Bring your chairs, grab some snacks from our concession stand, and enjoy a night on the river with us❗️

Tonight’s show sponsor is Allison Couch, Modern Woodmen of America

📍 Backwater Gamblers Water Ski Site
🕡 Show starts at 6:30 PM
💲 Free admission | Donations appreciated

We’ll see you on the shoreline tonight! 🌊⛷️✨

🎥: Mark Largo Photography / Lucid Dream Studios

09/02/2025

Hey fans! 🎟️ 3 out of 4 raffle prizes were claimed at last nights show — woohoo! The last prize up for grabs is a ride in the triple rig! 🚤

Here’s the winning ticket ⬇️

🎟️ 4474596 🎟️

⚠️ Reminder: if it’s not claimed within 24 hours (tomorrow at 9:30) we’ll redraw!

08/31/2025

It’s a BIG DAY for Backwater Gamblers! 🤩
Join us TONIGHT for an evening filled with FREE entertainment!

🛍️Vendor fair starting at 5pm
🐉 see our youngest members perform for a Rising Gambler show at 5pm
🎟️ Labor Day Raffel
🏆 Prizes:
• A BWG basket (2 shirts + a BWG Yeti cup)
• $150 Neckers Jewelers Gift Card 💎
• A ride in Captain Gene’s Triple Rig 🚤
• A handcrafted wooden medieval shield 🛡️ (to match our theme!)
✨💦MAIN SHOW: 6:30pm

08/29/2025

💖 Our Pink Pony Maidens are showing off their sparkle and reminding you to VOTE! 💖
Voting is open for Locals Love Us, and we’d love your vote! Click the link below and cast your vote for us.

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

thank you for showing us the love and helping us shine in our community! 🐴✨💗

Address

5000 44th Street
Rock Island, IL
61201

Opening Hours

Wednesday	6:30pm - 7:45pm
Sunday	6:30pm - 7:45pm

Website

http://www.backwatergamblers.com/

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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.

In the team jump competition, a group of jumpers perform multi-person tricks off of a 5.5 foot jump. The goal of this competition is to stick the landing of as many tricks as possible. There is a chance for extra points if the jumper lands past a distance buoy. This competition is judged based on difficulty, amount of tricks landed, and crowd appeal.

The individual jump competition is very similar to the team jump competition. Instead of a whole team performing tricks, only one skier jumps at a time and each person is competing against each other.

Over the years the Backwater Gamblers have won 11 regional tournaments. Our highest ranking in the national tournament was second place in 2014 with our show titled “Choppy Water: My Life as a Water Ski Show Skier”.

Every year, we hold an event called Access to Waves. This program is an adaptive water ski clinic which began in 2005. Due to the popularity of the event, starting in 2015, we began to hold 2 adaptive water ski clinics every year.

Our team also holds water ski lessons for anyone in our community who would like to learn how to water ski. For more information about adaptive water ski clinics and water ski lessons please visit our website at http://backwatergamblers.com/skiing-Events