NAMPA, Idaho -- Most kids grow up playing peewee soccer or t-ball or participate in dance recitals or swimming.
 
Teagan Thurman wasn't most kids.
 
The Northwest Nazarene freshman women's basketball player grew up performing in water ski shows.
 
At just five years old, she often found herself at the top of a four-level pyramid of water skiers.
 
Thurman lived in Florida until the age of 12 and was introduced to the fast-paced world of water ski shows while living on a big lake where there was an active water sports culture. 
 
After watching a few performances that were free to the public, Thurman decided to join in on the fun despite her young age. She found herself participating in a sport that involves intricate gymnastic-style feats while balancing on water skis behind a boat. Many would find that water ski shows are not for the faint of heart.
 
"It's like a mixture of dance and cheerleading … but on the water," Thurman said.


 
The show was an hour-long weekly performance held on a small lake, featuring a theme and telling a story through choreography, costumes and music. They showcase group pyramids, jumps, barefoot skiing, and double and solo performances. 
 
Thurman enjoyed performing in the group pyramid and individual sections, often taking her place at the top of the pyramid. In her individual act, she showcased her artistic prowess on the swivel ski -- a single water ski with a foot binding that spins 360 degrees to allow a full rotation for dance moves. 
 
Thurman was so successful at the sport, that she went on to win Southern Regionals multiple years in a row in the swivel ski event.
 
Her team traveled around Florida and the southeast for competitions, while also performing for parties and even retirement homes. 
 
One of her favorite memories was one time she was skiing in practice and ran right over an alligator. To most people, hearing this fact would be highly concerning, but Thurman brushed it off, saying, "eh, I'm more scared of crocodiles."


 
Thurman's mother was also very active in the waterskiing community. Working as a marketer, concession attendant, and having many other roles, Kris Thurman witnessed her daughter grow from a bold little girl to a focused, committed, outgoing young woman.
 
"Just seeing her joy in performing and getting out after the shows, greeting people, high-fiving little kids … as a mom, it makes you proud," she said.
 
Eventually, Teagan found that growing taller presented her with a few challenges when it came to topping off the pyramid or enduring spins and jumps on growing legs. With new height came new opportunity, and Thurman found interest in basketball after moving to California.
 
"It gave me the opportunity to be a more vocal person," Thurman said about what she learned from her skiing adventures. 


 
It's no doubt that being exposed so early to teamwork, dedication and the art of executing a task in a high-stakes setting helped her become the basketball player she is today. 
 
"Teagan brings tremendous energy every day," NNU women's basketball coach Steve Steele said. "She has a fearlessness and confidence that are rare. Teagan makes friends quickly and easily, and I expect she will be a great help in our recruiting as well."
 
The aspiring health communications major looks back on her unique past with pride, sentiment and a little bit of embarrassment, but it's not hard to see how water skiing played a significant role in shaping her into the woman she is today. 
 
"It was a fun part of growing up, but it also ties in nicely into the goals she has for herself in basketball, school, and the future," Kris Thurman said.
 
Thurman plans to utilize these lessons in her time as a student-athlete at NNU, hopefully reflecting the principles of a water ski pyramid to provide support, commitment and a little bit of courage to the team.