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RIP Banana George |
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Morfoot 
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Joined: February-06-2004 Location: South Lanier Status: Offline Points: 5323 |
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 Topic: RIP Banana GeorgePosted: October-18-2013 at 12:46pm |
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Caught this on FB guys. Banana George passed at away at age 98. Barefootin all the way to Heaven no doubt. Thanks for your contributions to sport of Footin George. You still are an inspiration to many who are footers and those of us who are trying to be...... God speed!
 THE GREAT BANANA GEORGE BLAIR PASSES AWAY AGED 98 Every sport needs great characters who inspire others. The very popular Banana George Blair was probably one of the most recognisable Barefoot Waterskiers of all time and only retired at the age of 92. His loss is a loss for all in our sport. Apart from owning two Ski Schools, starring at Cypress Gardens and thrilling audiences on the water for 50 years, he was awarded the Order of Merit by the IWWF in 2003. Just remembering Banana George today brings a smile to the face. We offer our condolences to his wife and extended family. May he rest in peace |
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"Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman"
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75 Tique
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Joined: August-12-2004 Location: Seven Lakes, NC Status: Offline Points: 6130 |
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 12:51pm |
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He was great man and an inspiration to all who have kicked off a ski. One of my favorite clips.
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_____________
“So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
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Hollywood
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Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13520 |
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 12:54pm |
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RIP gb
Never met him, wish I did. |
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TRBenj
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Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21192 |
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 1:04pm |
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RIP... he was a great ambassador for the sport. I met him in the early 90's, handing out bananas at the Pro Water Ski Tour.
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75 Tique
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Joined: August-12-2004 Location: Seven Lakes, NC Status: Offline Points: 6130 |
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 1:04pm |
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_____________
“So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
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phatsat67
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Joined: March-13-2006 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 6157 |
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 1:13pm |
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I wish I could have met him. I read that a few minutes before this was posted. Hook USA waterski up with some Banana Footer pics to pay him some respects!
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harddock
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Joined: June-04-2008 Location: Toontown, MA Status: Offline Points: 1763 |
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 1:23pm |
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Godspeed Bananaman!
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quinner
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 1:29pm |
Same here, on the Chicago Pro Tour Stop, passing out banana's Great Guy who was Great for the Sport |
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phatsat67
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 3:40pm |
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If I had to guess, I bet GB took himself a nice relaxing longline run behind the banana boat 1 this morning.
Cool dude with a wonderful life and story. I wish barefooting was the craze that it was in his prime. Maybe that'll happen again some day. |
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dwouncmd
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Joined: July-10-2009 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 919 |
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 4:28pm |
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An inspiration and part of the reason I am excited about learning to barefoot and slalom ski at age 45; if George can do it and do it so well, so can I. He is the epitome of use it or lose it; he didn't choose to grow old and wither away before his time the way some people seem to.
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89 SN
<a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6567&sort=&pagenum=1" rel="nofollow">7 |
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GottaSki
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 4:41pm |
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I think i was 15 and perplexed who this guy was handing out bannanas at the eastern regionals.
Proud to say have been handed a bananna from George about 30 years ago, as i'm sure many here have also |
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"There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing."
River Rat to Mole |
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Gary S
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 5:21pm |
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Good article on him here I was never a good skier and the closest I got to barefooting was driving but reading about him in the early 90's was inspiring. I feel bad that his last few years were rough but I hope the family takes solace in the fact he is still inspiring and bringing back many memories of what he did.
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BeeJay
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Joined: August-21-2013 Location: Austinburg, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 34 |
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Posted: October-18-2013 at 11:44pm |
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After seeing George performing his "Magic" for the first time, was my inspiration to take up barefooting at the tender age of 51!
God Bless you George and hope you have HAPPY feet up there as you did down here. |
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dipper
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Posted: October-19-2013 at 12:14am |
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Very sad to hear. The end of a very long era. I met him a couple of times at tour stops in Camden SC. I'll have to dig out some photos. My most vivid memory is that the man could draw the ladies.
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backfoot100
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Posted: October-19-2013 at 8:57am |
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I met him several times at tournaments, shows and even a party once that he showed up at with a trunk full of banana's in his yellow Lincoln:) He was constantly surrounded by fans.
Wonderful man with a great will to succeed. Just talking to him made you want to go out skiing. |
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When people run down to the lake to see what's making that noise, you've succeeded.
Eddie |
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8122pbrainard
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Posted: October-19-2013 at 1:14pm |
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God bless a legend.
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peter1234
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Posted: October-20-2013 at 10:29am |
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an original legend
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former skylark owner now a formula but I cant let this place go
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barefootjames
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Joined: September-27-2012 Location: Kearsley Lake Status: Offline Points: 125 |
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Posted: October-20-2013 at 12:44pm |
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It is hard to believe that much time has passed.
I started barefooting in central Florida in 1980. I could not get enough of the sport. Each month I would buy the latest Water Ski magazine and read it cover to cover. Quite often I would see another article about George. I have read articles about him dressing up as Santa Claus handing out bananas during the holidays. Of course arriving by boat, his Barefoot Banana Correct Craft. He towed that CC with a yellow Lincoln all dressed out in gold plated hardware, to match his yellow 1986 Barefoot Nautique. I remember him requesting permission, then traveling across Russia teaching young people how to barefoot. I remember reading that he was a retired banker, and had a love for playing the drums, and barefoot water skiing, and of course the color yellow. I could go on and on about this man. God blessed the water skiing community with a very special person. God bless you George. |
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2005 Super Air Nautique Team Edition Blue/Black Reverse Color Hull
1997 Ski Nautique White/Blue/Black Sold 1997 Ski Nautique White/Black - Sold 1991 Barefoot Nautique White/Medium Blue/Light Blue - Sold 198 |
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Swatkinz
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Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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Posted: October-20-2013 at 5:14pm |
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The closest I ever got to Banana George Blair was driving and footing beside his BBBII at CT this year. Awesome. I too recall reading the WS magazines in the 80s and him frequently being covered. What a cool guy. I always wondered about his life prior to barefooting. I see that someone above posted about his professional life as a banker. Is there anything else of interest about his life pre-footing which I believe he didn't even learn until his mid 40s?
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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Got Tiques
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Posted: October-20-2013 at 10:50pm |
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I got several pictures of Banana George in his barefoot suit, huge smile, after performing at Cypress Gardens, in 1992 hugging my 4 kids. Priceless.
I took BBBII for a memorial ride today, then drained the water, added AF, changed oil and filter and tranny fluid, disconnected the battery and put her to sleep. Fortunately, unlike George, she will awaken in the Spring. God Bless George, and all he did for our sport. He should provide some inspiration for each of us to reach out beyond our comfort zone. Don't hold back, as life is shorter than we wish. Enjoy our sport, each day in your own way!! Todd |
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TRBenj wrote: