Through Popes efforts and Hollywoods embrace of them visitors from all over the world flocked to the Sunshine State. Service as any type of official, administrator or promoter of the sport. Water skiing gained notoriety during the 1920s in Polk County, and in the early 1930 Winter Haven had become known as the water sports center of the United States. Popes vision and work resulted in thousands of newsreels, commercials, photo shoots, television shows and movies featuring Cypress Gardens, including the movie Easy to Love, a 1953 Esther Williams ode to the sport. 2020 Inductees Curtis Rabe Preserving our history is one of core missions. Around 80% of the place is the hall of fame, photos of past and present riders, short descriptions as to why they . Skip Gilkerson bio Return to Hall of Fame - Water Skiing Pioneers He was a three-time world MP2 overall champion and a member of five gold-medal winning U.S. Disabled Water Ski Teams. He was a senior judge and was a very sought-after technical controller for record tournaments, including the Masters, Water Ski National Championships and Water Ski World Championships. Date: April 24, 2021. Secondary consideration is given to contributions as Regional councilman, Florida State officer, local club officer or chief official of a major tournament. He served on the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundations Hall of Fame Selection Committee for 22 years, and was chairman of the committee for 12 years. The induction ceremony honoring both the 2022 class and next year's 2023 class as well as any previously . He helped develop signature products that include boats, wakeboards, life jackets, wet suits and clothing lines. By Scott N. Atkinson | The most inspiring and accomplished members of our sport are honored annually in the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. previous slide next slide He was born on April 28, 1976 in Mission Viejo, Calif., and started water skiing at the age of 8. Submitted The Minnesota. The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee is pleased to announce the 2022 inductees to the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame. As the sport grew, so did the legend of Cypress Gardens which, in turn, drew more elite athletes as well as state, national and world championships events. Appropriate research will be carried out by the Selection Committee to verify accomplishments. Sports and Radar Skis to world prominence. Website: USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. He also was the first barefooter to do a front-to-back positional turn before his back slalom pass and the first barefooter to do a wake 360 turn (unwrapped) in a tournament. Willa McGuire Cook co-created the swivel ski and rocketed to fame as the prima ballerina of the sport. The most inspiring and accomplished members of our sport are honored annually in the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Huge Congratulations to KSO and Jimmy we can't wait to celebrate with them on April 15, 2023, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland! The Water Ski Hall of Fame and Museum is the hall of fame, museum, and archive of the sport of water skiing. The honored members voted into the U.S. In 2003 he was named the IWWFs Male Water Ski Athlete of the Year after an incredible run of accomplishments that saw him win gold medals in tricks, jumping, and overall at the U21 Water Ski World Championships; gold medals in tricks and overall and the silver in jumping at the Elite Water Ski World Championships; gold medals in Open Men tricks, jumping and overall at the Goode Water Ski National Championships; pro jump titles at the Malibu Open and MasterCraft Pro; gold medals in tricks, jumping and overall at the Collegiate All-Stars; and the gold medal in tricks at the Collegiate Nationals. But, he also barefoots, slaloms, jumps, trick skis, hydrofoils, shoe skis and is a legend in freestyle jumping. The Wakesports Hall of Fame will permanently enshrine these new members into its hallowed halls with 55 well-known current members such as Scott Byerly, Herb O'Brien, Jimmy Redmon, Shaun Murray, Parks Bonifay, Darin Shapiro and Zane Schwenk, among others (view the complete list here).. Visiting the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in Davenport. How early? Water skiing accomplishments must have occurred during this residency. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}281322N 813841W / 28.22280N 81.64484W / 28.22280; -81.64484, List of members of the Water Ski Hall of Fame, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Water_Ski_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum&oldid=1118220470, This page was last edited on 25 October 2022, at 19:47. The Lifetime Achievement Award is to recognize the ambassadors of our sport that have given of themselves back to the sport and dedicated their lives to making the sport better for everyone involved, whether they are competitors or behind the scenes tireless promoters and administrators in all aspects of the sport. 1980s [ edit] 1982 Willa Cook, DeLeon Springs, Florida, Hall of Fame Induction Entry [Usurped!] KSO may have stopped barefooting competitively, but he still spends nearly every day on the lake with his family passing on his unwavering love of all types of water sports. The Committee will consider the following factors in voting for competitive skiers: The Selection Committee will be comprised of a maximum of nine (9) active voting members of the Florida Water Ski Federation. She was even a character in a video game produced by ActiVision for Playstation and XBox. Official for countless water ski events including tournament director for five disabled national Water Ski Championships. Wisconsin Water Ski Federation - Skip Gilkerson Skip Gilkerson - Hall of Fame Inductee Skip was inducted into the Wisconsin Water Ski Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1993. Lifelong supporter of water skiing throughout the United States as a competitor, official, and coach. He was the Chief Technical Controller at the Moomba Masters from 1982-1991 and the was the Chief Technical Controller of the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundations 38th Water Ski Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be live webcast on Saturday, April 24, beginning at 7:00 p.m. (EDT). The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee is pleased to announce the 2023 inductees to the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame. Jimmy is a four-time U.S. Masters tricks champion, two-time Moomba Masters tricks champion, and two-time U.S. Open overall champion. She was selected USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Female Athlete of the Year in 1990, 1997 and 2008, and USA Water Ski & Wake Sports National Coach of the Year in 2004. In addition to developing and operating Bolton Valley, Ralph served as a Board Member of the Vermont Ski Areas Association from 1967-1995, including as Chairman of the Board for twelve years. Not a whole lot to see here, the major attraction is really the history aspect of the place and of the American Water Ski Association. In addition to his four trick wins, he was an All-American in tricks, jumping, and overall throughout his college career. The Wisconsin Water Ski Hall of Fame was created to honor, in perpetuity, water skiing pioneers, competitive water skiers, officials and support personnel whose extraordinary accomplishments and contributions at all levels of the sport have brought lasting fame and attention to Wisconsin water skiing. St. Onge and Siemers named to Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Six-time recipient of the Male Athlete of the Year award by the Water Skiers with Disabilities Association. He currently holds the men's slalom world record of 20.6 points. Check out more videos on our YouTube Channel and Subscribe. [2] The Hall of Fame admits four categories of individuals: competitive water skiers, water skiing pioneers, water skiing officials, and show skiers. He was a 10-time national MP2 overall champion. Tara exposed the sport of wakeboarding to a whole new audience with breakthrough sponsors and mainstream media articles. The children can be acquired in Paralogues, or Side . Inducted into the Florida Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame 2003 Jim McCormick of Seffner has been one of the sport's trainers of champions for years. Ten-time USA National Disabled Overall Champion. The first year, three sets of members shall be elected: Committee members must be current members of the Florida Water Ski Federation. Ralph Samuelson, deceased, Hall of Fame Induction Entry [Usurped!] Committee membership will be staggered so that no more than three members shall be elected in any one-year. Three-time World Overall Disabled Champion. He was a member of every U.S. Barefoot Team from 1984 to 1996. Empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. Chris Davenport Class The Foundation also houses the Water Ski Hall of Fame, Museum & Archives, the International Water Ski & Wakeboard Hall of Fame, and a championship ski lake. Must have been a member of the Florida Water Ski Federation during the competitive years, unless the competitive period was prior to the formation of the FWSF in 1975. The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee is pleased to announce the 2023 inductees to the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame. She went on to win three more world championships and dominate the X-Games. Award of Distinction Spotlight: Roger Dilling, Award of Distinction Spotlight: Betty Bonifay, 2023 All Rights Reserved to USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation. 2023 Wisconsin Water Ski Federation. We welcome your questions and comments. As a nine-time member of the U.S. Disabled Water Ski Team, he won 13 gold medals, six silver medals and five bronze medals at the Disabled Water Ski World Championships. Competitive record in Florida State Tournaments. The Water Ski Hall of Fame and Museum is the hall of fame, museum, and archive of the sport of water skiing. Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau Ed Brazil will be honored posthumously as the 2020 recipient of the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. Empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. American Water Ski Educational Foundation Award of Distinction 1995 Inducted into the Florida Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame 2003 Leo Bentz of Miami was the "inventor" of the Ski Nautique. The purpose of the Water Ski and Wake Sports Hall of Fame shall be to honor and perpetuate the names and accomplishments of skiers, pioneers, and officials whose dedication and competitive achievements at National and International levels have brought lasting fame to the sport of water skiing. (Same system as used to elect appointed officials to the Southern Regionals). Chairman of the Selection Committee will be appointed by the FWSF President from the elected Committee members with approval of the FWSF Board of Directors. Retirement from active involvement in the sport is neither a requirement for nomination nor encouraged. He's won 14 world championship gold medals and is a two-time overall world champion. He also is a member of the 2022 World Show Ski Team which will be competing in October. Described as someone who "Bleeds towed water sports," Schwenk has spent much of his life doing what he loves and spreading the love through the initiative he helped start: "Pass the Handle.". There is no requirement that candidates be retired from the sport or deceased to be considered for inclusion in the Hall. Olivia is a big proponent to eating healthy, most of the time. Jimmy Siemers is a three-time world-record holder and three-time world champion. A slalom specialist, he set the world slalom record four times. The Water Ski Hall of Fame and Museum was originally established by the USA Water Ski Foundation in 1980 in Winter Haven, Florida, just a few minutes from the famed Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show. Senior judge for 33 years including the Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament. usa-wsf@waterskihalloffame.com863-420-2593. At the 2007 Pan American Games, she earned the silver medal in tricks and bronze medals in slalom and jumping. He was chairman of the American Water Ski Associations Technical Committee for many years, a past AWSA president, the executive vice president of AWSAs Southern Region from 1997-2002, and was instrumental in bringing the technical standards up to their current standards and has taught many the tricks of the trade. All Rights Reserved. Committee members will serve for a term of three (3) years. 101 Adventure Court Davenport, FL 33837 April Coble-Eller, Gene Davis (posthumously), Nikki Lee, Don Mixon Jr., and Eddie Roberts (posthumously) are Award of Distinction honorees. Winner of state, regional, national, and world championships. Cypress Gardens skiers continued to set world records and world firsts in multiple disciplines, including the first 3-, 4- and 5-tier human pyramids. There are three main categories: Pioneer, Competitor and Official. Scot Ellis: scoth2o@aol.com Vice President Inductees | Florida Water Ski Federation Inductees These inductees have been inducted into the American Water Ski Educational Foundation Hall of Fame and are being grandfathered into the Florida Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame on this, the inaugural induction. Established in 1968, the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation celebrates the history of all towed water sports and promotes these sports through our Scholarship Programs and the Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame. How about a pair of the earliest water skis known made from a barrel. Judge for multiple state, national, world, and pro tournaments. USA Water Ski created a hall of fame in 1982. He helped establish OBrien, H.O. 2022 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Anyone involved in any division that falls under the USAWWS umbrella can be considered. 2023 All Rights Reserved to USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation.