A Love Letter to Cypress Gardens
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 […]
Adventures in Water Skiing, Hydrofoiling. Beyond 2000
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 […]
Instant Coincidence: Seeing Beyond with Dragonflies
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 […]
Adventures in Water Skiing, Hydrofoiling. STAND UP GUYS. Air Board / Foil Board.
STAND UP GUYS
The first time I ever saw a stand up foil ridden like a wakeboard was in 1991 at Mike Mack’s place on the Parker Strip. Mack took a foil assembly from an Air Chair and mounted it to a Rusty surfboard. His first model did not have footstraps or bindings, and it was […]
Adventures in Water Skiing, Hydrofoiling. Air Chair.
KNEEBOARD HYDROFOIL > AIR CHAIR (1983-1991)
It was the early summer of 1983, and I found myself in the midst of all the action while working full time for Mike at his “Ski Shop” on the Parker Strip of the Colorado River. Uncle Mike’s collection of rental equipment became the fodder for the next big breakthrough in foiling. […]
Top 10 Water Ski Rides
Because I have skied on so many different things people often ask, “What is your favorite ride?”
So here’s the answer, and 9 more of my all-time favorites:
1. Sit-Down Hydrofoil: AKA Air Chair, Sky Ski, Next Foil.
My uncle Mike Murphy was the co-inventor of the original Air Chair in 1989, so the sit-down foil has been […]
You Water Skied Behind What?
Lately I’ve been thinking about all the ways to get towed while water skiing.
Of course we have the standards – boat, personal watercraft, cable, and winch. But with the recent viral video of World Champion barefooter Keith St Onge getting towed by a seaplane, my creative thoughts have moved towards how many different rides there […]
Small (Water) World
Skiing today with uncle Mike and guests. The Aussie, Liam Alrich, is a former Waterworld stunt performer, current show skier, and great hydrofoiler. He came by to test out one of Mike’s new Next Foils. Liam rips and loved Mike’s new foil, so he’s taking one with him. Justin Kolek is also a former […]
Praesent Et Urna Turpis
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