by Deb Whitehorse | Sep 4, 2025 | 2025-2026, Home Page, ISA
Burly Brellinthin throws out the first pitch at the Milwaukee Brewers game on September 4, 2025.
Not long ago, we shared the story of iceboater Skeeter Iceboat Club’s Mel Jones, who left his mark as an Indy 500 driver back in 1927. Nearly a century later, another iceboater has stepped into the major league (literally!) sports spotlight. The Skeeter Iceboat Club’s own Burly Brellenthin, fresh off celebrating his 100th birthday, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Milwaukee Brewers* game on Thursday, September 4, 2025. A WWII veteran from Lake Geneva, Burly was honored as part of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Tip of the Helmet: Greg Whitehorse
* The Milwaukee Brewers are on an historic hot streak, recently setting a franchise record with their 14th consecutive win, following a previous 11-game streak just weeks prior.
Burely removes the cover from his B Skeeter in preparation for the 2013 Northwest Regatta on Green Lake. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
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by Deb Whitehorse | Jul 16, 2025 | 2024-2025, Home Page
Burly removes the cover from his B Skeeter in preparation for the 2013 Northwest Regatta on Green Lake. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
Please join us in celebrating one of our southern neighbors, Skeeter Iceboat Club member Burley Brellinthin, who turns 100 years old today.
Burley has been a fixture in the iceboating community for decades. Here’s a photo from just a few years ago, with his Boecraft Skeeter ON THE ROCKS.
Happy Birthday, Burley. You’ve been showing us how it’s done for a long time.
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by Deb Whitehorse | Dec 9, 2020 | 2020-2021, Home Page
The boats and history of our southern friends at the Skeeter Iceboat Club are featured in the winter 2021 issue of At The Lake -Geneva Lakes Area Magazine. Check it out here. Tip of the Helmet: Jane & Susie Pegel
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by Deb Whitehorse | Sep 8, 2017 | 2017-2018, Home Page, NIYA
Burly removes the cover from his B Skeeter in preparation for the 2013 Northwest Regatta on Green Lake. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
No stranger to going fast, Skeeter Iceboat Club B Skeeter skippper Burly Brellenthin, makes the news as he takes to the skies in a B-29.
Tip of the helmet: Jane Pegel
WWII and Korean vet gets flight in B-29
Though many military men served in World War II from the cockpit of a B-29 plane, few veterans get the chance to fly in one in 2017.
Birdell “Burly” Brellenthin is the exception to this.
Brellenthin served as a navigator in World War II and the Korean War, spending over 300 hours in a B-29 during this time. Continue reading.
Burley’s Boecraft Skeeter ON THE ROCKS next to the DEUCE at the 2004 Northwest on Lake Monona in Madison, WI. Photo: David Travis
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