Oregon Crew Meets the Sortie: Jet Skiing, Golf & Games

Jesse, Kaitie, Paul, Kim, and Bruce made the journey from Oregon to witness the legendary Sortie—TC Jet Pilots' epic stand-up jet ski event on the Mississippi River! What started as a weekend centered around high-octane watercraft stunts quickly expanded into a perfect blend of Minnesota hospitality and adventure. Chris and Carmen, fellow jet ski enthusiasts, graciously let our crew test drive their seriously modded 550-swapped 750, turning strangers into instant friends over shared throttle therapy. Between the adrenaline-pumping river action, we squeezed in rounds of golf where competitive spirits ran as high as our golf scores, pickleball matches that proved Oregon visitors have serious game, and late-night Catan battles that may have damaged some friendships (temporarily). The adventure extended into opening weekend at the Great Minnesota Get-Together, where we joined over 190,000 fellow fair-goers for the ultimate Minnesota experience! From thrilling rides that tested our stomachs' limits to the legendary state fair food scene, we sampled everything from classic corn dogs and cheese curds to creative-on-a-stick innovations. The weekend's only casualties were our collective waistlines—apparently good company, great food, and fair treats are a dangerous combination that leads to nobody wanting to stop eating!