Murray was a four-time world champion wakeboarder. Judge for multiple state, national, world, and pro tournaments. A well-known personality in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California water ski communities, his encouraging and jovial demeanor was an inspiration to water sports enthusiasts of all ages. Featuring all 9 disciplines of the sport, the Museum features memorabilia from the 100-year-long history of the sport, including: While historic items and plaques serve as the core of the Museum, other items will rotate in the future. Six-time recipient of the Male Athlete of the Year award by the Water Skiers with Disabilities Association. 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. Generally, a minimum age of 45 is required for all inductees. No member of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee is eligible during his term on the Committee. How about a pair of the earliest water skis known made from a barrel. A candidate will be recognized for major contributions to the sport over a considerable number of years. Keith St.Onge and Jimmy Siemers will be formally enshrined at the 40th Annual USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The honored members voted into the U.S. When you think of barefoot water skiing, you think of. 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. He has also made his three-lake ski site available for numerous major tournaments, including the Pan American Championships and several U.S. Water Ski Team Trials. 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. Retirement from active involvement in the sport is neither a requirement for nomination nor encouraged. She was named USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Female Athlete of the Year in 2007 when she competed on two U.S. water ski teams and collected four individual medals in the process. 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. Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team is a show ski team that originated at Cypress Gardens, Florida's first theme park. TARA HAMILTON-WYNNE Tara Hamilton-Wynne helped push the sport of wakeboarding into the future. A slalom specialist, he set the world slalom record four times. Dick Pope Sr., deceased, 2020 Inductees Curtis Rabe Eddie passed away in 2019, but he will be honored posthumously. Committee membership will be staggered so that no more than three members shall be elected in any one-year. Going "Big" took on a whole new meaning for Tara. 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. If you can do it behind a boat, Schwenk can do it better than most. There are four categories of induction into the Hall of Fame - Athlete, General, Pioneer and Legend. Three-time World Overall Disabled Champion. 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. Bill Furbish competing at the 2014 USA Adaptive Water Ski National Championships. Murray was the first wakeboarder to land a 900 (Regular Heelside) in a competition, and he is the only rider ever to hold World, Pro Tour and National Championship titles at once. previous slide next slide (Same system as used to elect appointed officials to the Southern Regionals). Keep Scrolling USA-WWF 6 days ago 1 min Award of Distinction Spotlight: Betty Bonifay The most inspiring and accomplished members of our sport are honored annually in the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. He contributed points in every world championships he competed in and his contributions helped the U.S team win gold at every world championships in which he was a team member. He made and used the first few models of this water ski inboard before selling the rights to manufacture to Correct Craft. This category is intended for people whose contributions to the sport are considered to be original. He was a six-time recipient of the Water Skiers with Disabilities Associations Male Athlete of the Year award. By default, the Hall of Fame inductees below are ordered by year inducted. Jimmy is a four-time U.S. Masters tricks champion, two-time Moomba Masters tricks champion, and two-time U.S. Open overall champion. Service as any type of official, administrator or promoter of the sport. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The museum houses items of memorabilia, vintage skis and related equipment, classic photos, press clippings, and highlights from historic competitions and events. Preserving our history is one of core missions. He also set a collegiate tricks record in his last tournament as a college student. Here's our pick of the 10 best Olivia Newton-John songs of all 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).. He served as the Representative for Vermont on the . The nominee may be a three, two or one event skier and may have competed in any Sports Discipline. He was responsible for many notable innovations in water ski and wakeboard equipment. He's won 14 world championship gold medals and is a two-time overall world champion. The following criteria serve as guidelines only and are not intended to be all-inclusive. After reconstructive surgery he was told he might not ride again. Eddie Roberts' involvement in the industry dates back to the 1960s. His wakeboarding career started in 1995 and was full of innovation and accomplishment, including many pro tour and world championship titles. After graduating from high school, he moved to Florida to compete for the Florida Southern College water ski team and teach water skiing at the Benzel Ski School. Each charter member inductee received a commemorative plaque, and Tommy Bartlett himself offered special commentary. Details on tickets and sponsorships will be released soon we hope to see you there! The International Water Ski & Wakeboard Federation has announced that Ron Scarpa, current member of the USA Water Ski Foundation's Water Ski Hall of Fame, will be inducted into the International Hall of Fame on Sept. 8 during the 2017 Water Ski World Championships in Choisy-Le-Roi, France. 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. He was the 1995 recipient of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Award of Merit, the organizations highest honor for volunteerism. 2022 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Sports and Radar Skis to world prominence. They have been training at least 3 times per week with Bill and other skiers this summer in hopes of a great showing at Nationals. As with any Hall of Fame selection process, it is recognized that every candidate will have different and unique resumes for consideration. 2023 Wisconsin Water Ski Federation. The purpose of the Hall is to honor and perpetuate the names of the skiers, pioneers, industry leaders and officials whose accomplishments have made a major impact on organized water skiing in Florida. Collegiate Water Ski. At age 15, she was the world champion. 101 Adventure Court Davenport, FL 33837 The Selection Committee will vote by secret ballot on all nominees upon conclusion of appropriate research into each nominees qualifications. Resident of the State of Florida for at least ten (10) years. A Hall of Fame is a legacy for future generations of water skiers to learn from the past in shaping the sport of tomorrow. Event Details. 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). HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE the athletes, pioneers and visionaries of the United States who have significantly enriched the global sports of skiing and snowboarding, and to showcase their stories and historic memorabilia in our national museum located at the birthplace of organized skiing in America, Ishpeming, Michigan. Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau If more than the maximum receive a 2/3-majority vote of the committee only the top scoring number will be elected as determined by secret ballot, using a forced ranking system whereby each committee member shall rank the nominees in descending order with the highest vote totals being inducted for that year. Brazil served the sport for more than 50 years and was internationally known and sought after for his technical expertise. Featuring all 9 disciplines of the sport, the Museum features memorabilia from the 100-year-long history of the sport, including: A pair of sport inventor Ralph Wilford Samuelson's original water skis. 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. Empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. Wisconsin Water Ski Federation - Tommy Bartlett Tommy Bartlett - Hall of Fame Inductee Tommy was inducted into the Wisconsin Water Ski Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1993. When you think of barefoot water skiing, you think of Keith St. Onge. Committee members will serve for a term of three (3) years. Schwenk is the only person to land a double front flip ski jumping ever. Collegiate Wakeboard. While considered a formidable three-event water ski athlete, Nightingale was one of the greatest trick skiers of her era, winning back-to-back world championships in 2003 and 2005, and establishing a world record of 8,740 points in 2006. He won the Open Men national slalom title in 1985 and 1994, and the Open Men national jumping title in 1996. She was a recipient of USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Award of Merit, the organizations highest honor for volunteerism, in 2010. Apr 2016. Shotgun Start Shamble Tournmanet: Four Mixon Jr. won the 1981 Junior Boys national barefoot slalom and overall titles and his scores were high enough to put him into the Open Men Division at the tender age of 13. Ann OBrine-Satterfield (USA) ATHLETE Disabled Ski, Royce Andes (USA) PIONEER Disabled Ski, Steve Simmonds (Australia) ATHLETE Disabled Ski, Elizabeth Hobbs (Great Britain) ATHLETE Racing, Leanne Brown (Australia) ATHLETE Racing, Cathy Williams (USA) PIONEER Wakeboard, Dallas Friday (USA) ATHLETE Wakeboard, Janifer Ellis (USA) OFFICIAL Wakeboard, Elena Thomsen-Milakova (Switzerland) ATHLETE Waterski, Masako Yamaguchi (Japan) OFFICIAL Waterski, Jorge Renosto (Argentina) PIONEER Waterski, Details of their outstanding achievements can be found, Follow on