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In 2004 I rode 40 different things in 1 day to celebrate turning 40. As it was my first time on an endeavor of this type (in fact probably a first time for anyone), I was guided mostly by my own thoughts and ideas. When it came time to ride a pair of combo skis during the 40 for 40, I simply strapped on a pair and whizzed around the lake. No big deal.   VIDEO: 40 for 40 Highlights   Fast forward 10 years to the 50 for 50. This time I wanted to create as many stories as possible, not just another ride to check off a box. So this time when it came to riding a pair of combos. I wanted ..read more

Located at the center of the Water Skiing Capital of the World, the Florida Pool on the shores of Lake Eloise inside the Legoland Park is an aging icon, with a deep history tied directly to the heyday of Cypress Gardens. We honor this landmark not just with the words and images from this post, but our very real plans to bring back a fun-sized replica of the Florida Pool for our guests to enjoy on the grounds of our Cypress Gardens Lake House!   Mention the Florida Pool to local water skiers of a certain age, and their eyes widen, filling with fond memories that transport them back to good ..read more

For many skiers, the ultimate expression of water skiing emanates like a homing beacon from Winter Haven, Florida. It was there in 1936 that Dick Pope Sr, and his wife Julie opened Cypress Gardens, the first theme park in Florida. Once the ski shows were added a few years later, the park became internationally famous for not only its lush gardens but also for its beautiful and daring skiers who became the major attraction. Dozens of dynamic ski records and firsts were beamed across the globe by Pope’s media machine. Cypress Gardens introduced barefoot water skiing, the swivel ski, the first 3 ..read more

                Air Wars Big air was always a big deal in hydrofoiling. In the earliest days without a seatbelt Bob Woolley jumped the highest. Mike added a seatbelt to the Air Chair, and vaulted past Bob for top honors. Then Mike and Jon Wilborn went at it for years. But no one really knew how high riders were jumping until Flight Worlds held the first Big Air contest in 1998. My friend Ron “Air Boom” Stack stepped up to sponsor the Big Air event, so I left it up to him to come up with something to measure the jumps and promote his product. Ron built a ..read more

                BEYOND 2,000 As I was winding down with my competition career and co-producing the last of the Flight Worlds competitions, others stepped in. The biggest deal in the event arena was the Hydrofoil Pro Tour spearheaded by John Clemmons with help from Bryan Steele. Clemmons thought that a different marketing approach could be just the thing to put hydrofoiling squarely in the middle of the extreme sports explosion in the early 2000s. He wanted to try and appeal the younger crowd, and thought there should be a greater emphasis on big air in ..read more

What would it take for you to have a deeper belief? The answer is as varied as people themselves, but first you might want to sincerely consider the question. I did, and the answer came in an instant.   Q&A The Rooted question #1 My answer: lines 3 & 4, “more coincidental coincidences.”     Coincidental coincidences..?! Within a minute or two of finishing the 3 daily responses I turned my attention inside the condo and saw a magnificent dragonfly heart-high on the screen door. He was exquisite with a bold red body, and in a flash I knew deep in my bones that this wa ..read more

It was the best of rides, it was the worst of rides, it was the age of benevolence, it was the age of self-interest, it was the season of flight, it was the season of shipwreck; we were all going somewhere, and it was time for me to find my true north. The event was the 2016 Apache Lake Fly-In. Scores of hydrofoilers from around the country descended on this beautiful desert lake near Phoenix, Arizona. Fly-Ins are a fun event for foilers to exchange insights on new moves and equipment, and generally gather for good times centered around riding. As a participant you pay a few bucks for daily ri ..read more

  #36 Family On Board Photo: Vicki Mack, 2008 For several years in the 1980s we did a family watersports photo for our Christmas card. This was one was my favorites, set on the Parker Strip of the Colorado River. It was a little tricky for all three of us to do a deepwater start on this stand-up paddleboard (SUP), but with a little planning we were able to do it the first time. I have used this ride as “proof” for one of my 60+ documented rides in towed watersports (click on link below to see the master list in chronological order). Related Content Every Water Skiing Ride: Master List &nb ..read more

  $100,000 EXPERIMENT   At Flight Worlds 2000 I was still the one to beat in Tricks, but Free Ride and Big Air were up for grabs. For me, the year 2000 was the peak of my involvement with hydrofoiling. My Flight World Newsletter and mail order business was generating enough money to make it worthwhile, and I was riding better than ever. Other riders were too; notably Damon Moore and Geno Yauchler. The showdown was at the Flight Worlds 2000 at Lake Elsinore, CA. My business partner Chuck Sacks and I decided to put on an extreme event that would feature the hydrofoiling worlds, freest ..read more