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Weather does not slow River Days attendance

Staff photo by Gary Stelzer Ryan Doberstein does a role with his jet ski Saturday, Sept 10, 2011 during the Great Miami River Days in Hamilton, Ohio.

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Staff photo by Gary Stelzer A water skier makes a jump Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 during the Great Miami River Days in Hamilton, Ohio.

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Badgerland skiers prepare to make a '4-3-4' pyramid Saturday, Sept 10, 2011 during the Great Miami River Days in Hamilton, Ohio.

Staff photo by Gary Stelzer Badgerland skiers prepare to make a '4-3-4' pyramid Saturday, Sept 10, 2011 during the Great Miami River Days in Hamilton, Ohio.

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By Kareem Elgazzar, Staff Writer Updated 8:46 PM Sunday, September 11, 2011

HAMILTON — The gloomy weather didn’t put a damper on Great Miami River Days, with organizers estimating 12,000 to 15,000 people attended the event Saturday.

Also, event organizers were preparing for 9/11 commemorations scheduled for today.

“I’ve been involved with this for five years, and this is the largest crowd I’ve ever seen,” said Sherry Hoskins, an organizer from Hamilton.

Spectators took in various water events as well as musical performances during the battle of the bands on the main stage. The Badgerland Ski Team show performed twice at 1 p.m. then again at 5 p.m., but did not attempt to set the record for pulling the most people in a pyramid behind one boat — about 60 people, according to John DeBelak who is an active skier and former chairman of the Wisconsin-based ski team.

“There a lot of ski teams are trying to get this record right now,” DeBelak said.

DeBelak said they're going to try and set the record on Sept. 25 at the Beaver Dam ski team show site in Wisconsin.

Mike Cox, the water events chairman, said the ski team attempted last year to set the record.

The high-speed tunnel boat races were a fan favorite, as the races marked the first time 100 mile per hour-capable boats were at River Days, he said.

“That’s a big deal and the coordination of all the events is spectacular,” Cox said.

Perhaps the only blemish on the event was the alleged theft of a swivel ski.

“That’s the problem we’ve had this year more than any other are the kids,” Cox said. “As far as kids messing with stuff, this has been the worst year — never seen anything like that.”

Hamilton police Officer Ryan Beckelhymer said there were no reported criminal incidents.

There will be two 9/11 commemorations today, the first at 4 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m., according to event chairman Tony Traub.

The 4 p.m. event, organized by the city’s Fourth of July committee, will feature a musical performance by Beth Arlene Camacho, a symphony performance, and various brief prayers, according to Traub.

At 7 p.m., the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall on display will serve as a backfrop for the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars tribute, said Hamilton VFW post commander Chris Haynes.

“We’re going to honor anyone who has worn or wears a uniform — soldiers, veterans, fire, EMS and police,” Haynes said.

The tribute is expected to last 30 minutes.

Mayor Pat Moeller will speak at both events, according to Haynes.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or kelgazzar@coxohio.com.

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