- December 13, 2025
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Madison Ditmars, the sound technician who helps keep the Sarasota Ski-A-Rees shows running smoothly, also has a talent for crafting that she puts to good use, helping raise funds to support the water acrobats who have entertained audience members at City Island for decades.
Anyone who has been to a recent show will have seen Ditmars looking out across Sarasota Bay from the sound booth. Her role carries multiple responsibilities, chief among which is closely monitoring the team members as they perform their gravity-defying stunts. With a marine radio in hand, she also keeps the flow of the show moving with her music setlist, while keeping an eye out for any manatees that may swim toward the performance area.
"It helps that I listen to almost anything," she said of crafting her playlists for different shows.
Ditmars has held the position for the past year and a half, and she enjoys coming up with new set lists, especially for special performances like the Halloween-themed show that was the penultimate of the season.
"I've been putting together different playlists since I started," she said. "My goal is that if I'm away, it's as user-friendly as possible so anybody can tap into it."
She is, however, there for most shows to keep it all rolling smoothly.
Helping run the show is also a way she and her husband, Avery, can enjoy the sport together. He is one of the team specialists who can ski barefoot and was a member of the 2017 team that competed in the 2017 National Show Ski Tournament.
"My husband's been doing this since he was a teenager," she said.
Even though she already tackles multiple essential tasks as the sound technician, she recently started to go above and beyond to support the group as it works to rebuild from last year's hurricanes.
High winds and storm surge caused significant damage to the property located right on the shore of Sarasota Bay.
One way Ditmars found to help support the recovering group was to start making miniature crabs fabricated from wine corks and beads. Some versions inspired her from what she saw online, and developed her own method for making them.
"I discovered them on Pinterest, and then the hurricanes happened," she said. "I thought they would be a great way to bring in revenue to rebuild," she said.
She even taught a few teammates how to make them to help keep up the supply.
While the organization came far enough along in its recovery to have a fall season, she noted there is still more to be done around the property, especially where hurricane-blown trees caused damage.
Armed with a colorful assortment of beads, some wire, a box full of corks, jewelry claw clasps and, if needed, a few dabs of adhesive, she can make a small army of the little crabs.
She sourced supplies from thrift shops and friends, and now she has enough to make as many as she wants.
Ditmars has always had a penchant for crafting and developing unique hobbies. She said the crabs have been the perfect fundraising project. The figurines are environmentally friendly and a more unique keepsake for Ski-A-Rees patrons than a mass-produced souvenir.
"I'm a big fan of upcycling," she added.
Each one is different, and she comes up with the color patterns simply based on whatever inspiration strikes, as with her music set lists.
"Creativity has been my method of coping with some mobility issues," she said when explaining her motivation to take on the job full-time.
She recommends a $5 donation for her handmade crafts, but patrons can offer whatever they would like. Viewers can find her display at the concession stand behind the main stadium seating.
While the team is on break until after the holidays, the Ski-A-Rees team plan to be part of the festivities on Longboat Key.
Audiences can catch the Sunday shows again when the team returns in February. Visit SkiARees.com for updated schedules.
