The (Occasional) Bio of BOS Skiers

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Jeff Greathouse

 

When you turn into the gates of The Lakes of Cypress Hill, many thoughts cross your mind about this beautiful ski paradise. One of them has to be that if I lived at a place like this, even I could run 38off! Even I could qualify for Nationals! That’s what Jeff Greathouse was thinking in 1996 when he and his wife, Ernestine, bought a lot in NW Houston and moved into their house a year later.

 

Jeff’s skiing background and goals were really no different from most tournament skiers. He skied his first tourney in 1989 at age 30, with a “ridiculous” desire to someday qualify for Regionals. He never even dreamed about going to Nationals as his practice sessions were becoming quite frustrating, skiing on public water.

 

When a few of his friends moved to private lakes, he knew that was the ticket. He acknowledges that the combination of skiing with Chad Scott, a new technology in skis, speed control for boats, and protected waters got him to his first Nationals in 2000. And that Fall, he ran 38off for the first time in a tournament.

 

Jeff continued to ski well for several years and lived the good life with Ernestine in their beautiful residence and ski site. But complacency set in and life changed in many ways after 2005. New changes at his job, less time on the water, blowing off exercise, after age 40 change of metabolism, and neglect of diet: all these contributed to his looking in the mirror one January day in 2008 at a near 240 lb., out of shape lump. He promised himself right then and there he was losing weight, and set a goal to run 38off again in a tournament. He had not done so in over 3 years.

 

He lost more than fifty pounds over the next few months with a new diet, started incorporating a personal trainer with his off the water exercise, and ran 38off during the 2010 season at a local tournament in Houston. Though ranked only in the top 50 in Men’s 4, one would have a hard time finding a happier slalom skier in the nation. Determination and willpower can go a long way toward changing what we can change. Just ask Jeff Greathouse.

 

 

PERSONAL

 

Insurance Executive with Chubb Insurance

Age 51

Wife Ernestine

Lived at Cypress since 1997

First tourney: 1989

First Regional: 1990

First Nationals: 2000

Height & Weight: 6’ 1, 194

Peak weight: 238 in 2008, got down to 185 and would like to return to that for 2011

 

 

TRAINING

 

Runs 2 to 3 sets per week in Summer

Rarely runs down the rope; starts at 28off, 32off, runs 35off, then he repeats that pass several times

Usually skis on Tuesday and Thursday, no ski on MWF

Has incorporated running 35MPH in one of his sets

Very rarely free skis

Works out with weights on non-ski days, multiple reps, rarely to failure in the Summer

Cardio every day M-F on a stationary bike or stair climber

Rarely skis in the Winter but continues exercise regimen

Trains with local legend (and all-around good guy) Mike Munn

Has trained with some pros when they come to Houston

 

 

DIET

 

Started gaining weight after 2005 season and peaked at 238 in 2008

Started counting calories with no more than 2500 per day

Reduced fat foods from 50% of diet to 20%

Avoids caffeine and alcohol, drinks lots of water

Pre-tourney day has a big protein meal in the evening

On tourney day has a light breakfast of eggs, turkey bacon, and corn tortilla

Skis, then snacks on yogurt, or power bar, or fruit

Skis, then lunches on a protein shake and/or power bar

Water only all day long (well, a celebratory margarita, perhaps, at day’s end)

 

 

SKI

Goode WideRide, 64 in.

 

DC

LH