Old ski pics

Son of a gun! That actually worked!

Those are from about 20 or 25 years ago!

I don't get over quite as far on slalom anymore and I can't seem to do the single trick ski backwards thing anymore either (I've tried!). Other than that...

Sorry the barefoot pic is blurry! Shoot, I guess they're all a little blurry! Oh well, we always had trouble getting any real good pics of the skiing. Lucky I have any at all!

Since that was so easy; might as well post a couple more. Here's my "way cool -way old" '76 O'Brien slalom ski (that I still use.) Hey, quit laughing!

Thanks!

I'm thinking I've got more (and some more recent).

I saw the post a while back with the video footage of 4 barefooters (very cool). I know we did 3 barefooters off of a friend's Nautique once. I was thinking I had a picture of that. Also used to have a friend with an old red Barracuda. That thing threw a great wake for trick ski stuff (and I guess now wakeboards).

I've got some video of barefooting from about 4 or 5 years ago. One very cool looking crash! I gotta get that on here somehow!

Wish we'd have filmed some footage of slalom stuff back when I could do it better. Filmed a little in the past 5 years and it looks kind of sluggish!

Here's another of my grandfather's old water skiing dog (Boots)! Just seen here on an innertube, but they could actually pull him on an old aquaplane behind the boat too. I know I've got a picture of that somewhere.
Look at that goofy dog's tongue! He could use it for a sail or a paddle or something! Usually the picture just made me think "Hey look; a dog on an innter tube!" I just noticed that! Good grief; his tongue is way too big for his head! That's funny!

Water skiing 1985

Roger,

Where is the photo? Looks like the California Delta. BKH

Roger,
Wow - 1985. So that means the pictures of me (top of post) and these pics of you "could have been" taken the same day 20+ years ago!
Opposite coasts but the same kind of fun!
Here's another (trying a 360 on a single trick ski)! I'm sure the landing ended in a fall because I never could get it!
Check out the ancient outboard motor in that shot (a friend's Dad's old boat -- the outboard was huge but I think it was only about 60hp (maybe less!) -- an old Johnson I believe).

Then there's this shot where I probably also fell (by the looks of things) but I actually could do a 360 on "two" trick skis with some consistency (not "a lot," but "some").

And finally this one of me and my ole' ski buddy "Jim" taking off (both backwards); me on the trick skis and Jim on an old kneeboard. I think 'the' original kneeboard; the "Hydroslide!"

Jim,
I'm confused (trust me it doesn't take much). Do you mean you have the same old pair of tricks I had there in the pics (the Connelly's) or that you still have the same old pair of tricks your Dad had (a different kind) or both? That is, that your Dad's were Connelly's?
Those were pretty decent as I recall. They actually belonged to my old ski buddy Jim though. After we quit skiing together, me and another friend split on another pair years ago; also Connelly's. We eventually quit hanging out together too (basically he moved out of the area) so we have shared them over the years. He had them the first 10 years; now I've had them for probably 5 yrs. or more. Pretty funny arrangement. I don't think he skis much anymore anyway!
I've got some old Cypress Garden wood skis that were my Dad's clear back in the 1940's (or 50's?). Believe it or not, they were some of the most maneuverable skis (for skiing on 2) that I've ever used. They're more like wall hangers now, but I sort of copied them a few years back by buying a cheap pair of wooden combos (Walmart) and cutting the backs off to a similar length, then moving the small wood fins and the bindings forward proportionally. After the alterations, they feel very similar to Dad's old ones. I think shorter sets of 2 skis are a lot more fun than what you typically buy cheap now because (my theory) they pretty much just make all combos now so the average weekend warrior can learn to slalom or two ski with the same set. Consequently, they're too long and the bindings are too far back for decent 2 skiing.

The short ones are actually a lot of fun if you don't mind people thinking you're a rookie! I   figure 2 skis are kind of fun once and a while so who cares! My ski motto is: "Sometimes 2, sometimes 1, sometimes backwards, sometimes none!"

I just made that up! Woo Woo!



There are some new things out I've seen by O'Brien (I think they call them "wake skis"). I think Body Glove make something similar too.

They kinda look like glorified trick skis with fins.

Anybody tried them?

I might have to look into a pair of those. I think I read that you can do front flips with them pretty easy the way they're made. Also that they are very quick turning etc. Just sounds fun!

Hey Roger and any of the other NorCal guys.

Are you going to the Pleasanton show? Which day(s)?

BKH

Those things are still significantly longer than trick skis. That's what she said.

To this day, I don't know if I've found a better vest.

Craig
I ment My dad's set was and still is a set of blue connelly's just like the ones in the pic. I like them so much I found another set just like them on ebay that I bought. Plus I have a newer set of connelly's that are almost ten years old now. Nothing wrong with some two ski sets for fun. I like jumping across the wake on a cheap set of combo skis. This year I would like to work on a complete 360 while in the air on a set of combos. I guess I have to get to the lake first. But they did say it might be a light over time year at work so I should with any luck get some good amounts of lake time.

Those are cool. I learned on a pair like those. I remember tyring to keep my feet in those bindings. Then when you fell the big fight started to get them back on. I have never taught anyone to get up on two skis because of those memories. I won't even let people bring double skies on my boat. I think I would make an exception for those Wake skis or trick skis . My son went from wakeboard to a slalom. Lots of his friends learned to slalom without doubling first.

Great pictures Craig, you made me go pull out the scrap book and remember all the old gang. Here's a few from the glory days. These arew all from 1983-86

We made the front page of the local paper one but we're embarassed we we're kneeboarding instead of footing


The ole piggy back kneeboard 360, I was always a bottom for all our stunts.


My younger brother Bob tearing it up on our new Connelly Shortline.


Yours truly buzzing our dock.


Learning to backfoot the hard way, from a stepoff ski.


Early barefoot days, notice we're still using a slalom takeoff rope and handle.


Lazy day on the boom.


Hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

Brian I think I may go Saturday afternoon but I am not sure.

Those pictures make it easier to sit here and watch it rain.

Craig
Early on 360's were all I could do when I was younger. I sadly have to admitt I don't get as much water time as I would like on a consisten basis to get really good at any event yet. I am definitely a week end worrior. But I can do 360's while jumping the wake on a kneeboard. I learned to foot over the summer. I like slolam every once in awhile but not through the course.