Clad in their signature green and black attire, the group known as the She Doos is hard to miss when they’re cruising Smith Mountain Lake on their Sea Doos. They come from different backgrounds and a variety of former occupations. And when they get together, the joy of spending time with friends is overwhelmingly present.
Deedee Bondurant of Moneta says she started the She Doos in 2001, when she and several friends – all jet skiing enthusiasts who “were a bit timid to explore the lake individually” – decided to be more adventurous during their gatherings.
“As we grew in numbers, we focused on safety, knowing our machines, learning how to handle them and the rules of the water, which rapidly gave us presence on the lake,” says Bondurant.
The She Doos are now 40-members strong. There’s even a waiting list of ladies interested in being part of their group. The requirements to join are simple. You must be 50 or older and you have to pass a water safety course.
Because members live in various areas surrounding the lake, the group divides into five “pods.” These pods, explains Ellen Stohler of Bedford, take one month from May through September and plan activities for the entire group.
A recent gathering (the She Doos meet every Thursday in the summer and once a month off season) featured a scavenger hunt on the lake.
“Instead of ‘Where’s Waldo,’ the girls were playing ‘Where’s Bruno,’ to find Bruno’s GastroTruck and have lunch,” says Bondurant, whose home was the final destination in the hunt. Divided into groups, the women traveled to different points on the lake to find clues.
Stohler, who joined the She Doos after meeting Bondurant during a Smith Mountain Lake Home tour, says their gatherings are often more than just about riding. Their first gathering of the season is always to get their jet ski’s inspected.
“We also help with the home tours and once we did a yard sale to raise money for the Humane Society,” she says. “Plus, 100 percent of our dues go to charity.”
They’ve also held water-based Olympics, played aqua golf and raced on their jet skis using paddles, all ways to help them improve their jet skiing skills.
“We also try to patronize the restaurants that are on the water in the summer and the off-water restaurants in the winter,” says member Christi Bryden.
Bryden moved to the lake from Tennessee in 2003; Bondurant was the first person she met.
“She told me about the She Doos and taught me how to ride,” Bryden recalls. “There is so much camaraderie in this group; we’re there for each other on and off the water.”
Stohler adds that the She Doos have grown into a “wonderful sisterhood” that she feels blessed to be part of. “We have our fun side, but we also have our serious, committed side.”
“All in all, it’s been a real adventure that one wouldn’t expect in our ‘golden pond’ years,” says Bondurant. “I guess one could say that we’ve found our inner youth.”
