BallOfSpray

Back in the 1950's Carole Lowe, founder of the AWSEF and Water Ski Hall of Fame, started her skiing career with John and Emily Roach.  They became very good friends and ski partners. After John passed away, Emily knew what to do with the memorial fund that was set up for John.  She wanted to pay tribute by providing a new jump ramp for the newly formed Water Ski Hall of Fame lake.

The John Roach Memorial Tournament will take place on April 16 and 17, 2011 in Polk City, Florida at the Jim Grew Lake adjacent to the Water Ski Hall of Fame building.  It will be a three event of slalom, trick and jump.  You can get more details on the AWSEF Hall of Fame website.  http://waterskihalloffame.com

The story of John Roach can best be summarized by this article in from the "Water Skier" (May 2004) written by Gordon and Sandy Gay of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

We best remember our friend, John Roach from a photograph taken in August 2000 in Nice, France, high over the blue waters of the Mediterranean on the cloudless day.  John was dressed in his white U.S. Water Ski Team shirt, blue bathing suit and red-white-and-blue baseball hat with three Senior World Trophy medals draped around his neck.  He also was boasting that ever-present grin that said to the world: "I've got my act together.  Come on, buddy, let's roll."

Two years earlier, after all his previous Nationals victories, John had reached the pinnacle of water skiing with an individual overall victory at the 1998 Senior World Trophy in Feldberg, Germany, with a final jump in freezing rain and his patented perfect landing.  Her won and the team won.  Her was king of the hill.

As defending champion in 2000, John wanted to prove that his victory in 1998 was no fluke.  However, he struggled with a bad hip and had to use a "helper ski" just to get out of the water at the U.S. Team Trials in Florida.  But he made the U.S. Team on sheer determination and the muscle memory of thousands of previous ski runs.

At the first day of practice in France, John took the same cut to the ramp that he had taken thousands of times before, only to find out that the ramp was improperly set seven feet too close to the boat path.  He ended up suffering a bone-shattering crash, which everyone thought would surely keep him from participating in the tournament.  They didn't know John.

Two days later, after lots of TLC from his wife, Emily, John limped down to the dock and competed for the U.S. Team.  Not only did he ski, but he also medaled in jumping, finished second overall and won another team gold medal.

So it's no wonder in that picture that John rightfully had a little self-satisfaction in that grin, for at that moment John had regained his spot at king of the hill.

John, may you always have a slight headwind and a smooth cut, and may you keep flying high over the waters for all eternity.

John Roach was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame 2005.  You can visit his profile here.  John Roach

Written with permission from AWSEF.