When most people think about water skiing, their thoughts turn immediately to summer afternoons on a lake.

When the Sacramento State Water Skiing team thinks about water skiing, though, its thoughts turn to national championships. And for the 21st time in 24 years, Sac State will be making the journey to compete at the next level.

This year, the team will travel to Zachary, La., today through Monday to compete for the National Collegiate Water Skiing Association’s Division I National Title. Only one school in the country, the Louisiana-Monroe, formerly Northeast Louisiana University, has more appearances at nationals than the Hornets.

It is a return to Division I for the Hornets after having spent the past two years competing for the Division II title.

“When you go back to nationals, it’s like nothing else,” said Brian Dulgar, team adviser and director of the CSUS Aquatic Center. “You go as a team. These guys are nuts, painting themselves up, banging pots and pans. It’s incredible.”

To earn an entry at nationals, the team had to qualify at the NCWSA Western Regional Tournament. The Hornets did so comfortably, taking second place in Division I to Arizona State.

At nationals, the men’s and women’s teams will compete in three events: jump, trick and slalom. Five skiers are allowed in each event with the strongest skier generally going last. Only the top four scores from each team are counted toward the team’s final score.

In the jump competition, skiers are towed toward a ramp 20.2 feet long and five feet high. The ramp is wetted down to allow skiers to glide over the surface. At the top of the ramp, the skier goes airborne and attempts to jump as far as possible.

For the trick competition, the skier takes one 20-second pass and attempts to do as many tricks as possible without falling.

In the slalom, skiers are towed down a course with six buoys. Skiers take multiple passes, with each pass being covered with faster and faster boat speeds and shorter and shorter rope lengths. Points are awarded for number of buoys passed.

This year’s team is a strong one, anchored by freshman Ryan Selsor. Selsor is the top male athlete in all three events. Behind him, men’s captain Zach Otting, a senior, and women’s captain Kelly Bryan, a junior, lead the team.

The team is experienced, with many members having come to Sac State specifically to water ski.

“I’ve been skiing since I was 11,” said woman’s team member Jessica Otting, a liberal studies major. “I transferred here from Las Positas Junior College. I came to Sac State to ski. (My brother) Zach transferred here a year ahead of me.”

Practices are run all day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, consisting of anywhere from 45 to 55 ski runs.

The team is looking forward to this year’s nationals, after having such a positive experience at the competition in the past.

“It was so exciting,” Jessica Otting said. “I’m really looking forward to this years.”

“It was awesome — the time of my life. It’s the Big Dance; gotta be there,” said Zach Otting, who also drives the boat for the team.

“I’ve probably had the greatest experiences of my life, other than my marriage and the births of my children, related to collegiate skiing,” Dulgar said.