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RIP - Paul Wiley


RichardDoane
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With great sadness Wiley’s announces the passing of Paul Wiley, the founder and heart and soul of Wiley’s Water Skis.

 

Paul died at home on Sunday February 23rd, in Ketchum, Idaho – one of his favorite places in the world.

His loving wife Fran was with him.

 

Paul started making his beautiful wood waterskis in his garage in 1965. He eventually quit his day job and opened Wiley’s in South Seattle.

 

Paul was an artist and a salesman. From the beginning crafting the highest quality wood waterskis, to today where we continue his legacy of outfitting skiers and riders with the latest in technology.

 

As one of the first water ski manufacturers, he helped to make Seattle a thriving center of hand-crafted skis. Paul was a mentor to many, and employed hundreds of young water sports enthusiasts over the years.

 

We will miss him.

He was a wonderful, stubborn, ridiculously funny, and generous man!

 

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I’m sad to hear it and proud to say I wasted hours in his shop, just wandering around and spending money on things I’m sure I didn’t need. That place is iconic in waterskiing and should be on every skiers list of Waterski places to go.

I’m sorry for all of you who knew him and feel his loss

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This is indeed a huge loss for Seattle and waterskiing. Many prayers for his family.

 

My best Paul story was the day I was looking at some skis when a guy came into the shop and tried to barter, and not in a friendly way, with Paul over the price of a used ski. Paul just kept raising the price until the guy gave up. He then tried to buy it at the original price and Paul just said no. When the guy left the shop, I couldn't help but break out laughing.

 

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In 1973, I bought my first “real” waterski – a Wiley. Early in our marriage, having no money, Paul sold us an unfinished blank and explained how to finish and set up the ski as only Paul could. We still have both skis. Over the years, Wiley’s provided us skis, vests, wetsuits, ropes, gloves, and many accessories. As we walked into the store on one occasion, Paul hollered, “Clean up your language! Lady in the shop!” Within moments, the language returned to normal in the iconic shop filled with posters and smells of varnish and sawdust. That day, we left with a new ski bag. Thanks for the great times. Our condolences to the family.
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Wiley's is a great shop. Didn't know Paul but have dealt with Darren and even though never been to the shop have had my own Wiley's experience. Couple years ago my daughter's old original CDX1 needed a new binding which of course is the old style plate etc. Darren said he could rebuild, but then said he had "an old ass Animal hanging on the wall" that he'd sell me for $25. Sold. Showed up - like new - accompanying receipt says "Old ass Animal binding". , Yep, a great shop. Always sad to hear of icons passing.....
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Wiley’s ski shop is truly water skiing mecca. You have to go there. Over the decades it has just gotten better because it essentially stays the same. Darren and the team there are the absolute best. When I walk into the shop and smell the neoprene it just takes me back to my first visit there as a young teen. All of my skis, except for one, were purchased at Wiley’s.

 

I have a favorite Paul story. I’ve likely told this before, probably when Herb O’Brien passed, but it is worth telling again. I was 17 or so and by this time I knew that water skiing was “my” sport. I loved it. I and my best friend decided that we needed some shorty wetsuits so we trek up to Wiley’s. Someone there helped us each pick out a suit to try on. I got a Ski Warm and my friend gets an O’Brien. We change and emerge from the changing rooms. As we do so Paul sees us and comes over to give his assessment. He pulls here and there, looks up and sees Herb O’Brien walk into the store. He calls out, “Herb, come over here I want to show you something.” I instantly figure out that this is HERB FREAKING O’BRIEN!!!! I’m nearly shaking and don’t remember if I said anything else. Paul grabs me and says, “Look at how snug this suit is around the middle (I’m 6’1” at this point and maybe 150 lbs dripping wet). This is a good-fitting suit because it won’t trap extra water.” Paul then grabs my friend and pulls at the suit around his waist and back. “Do you see how loose this is here? This is way too much material and if this guy jumped into the water it would balloon up like crazy.” Herb checked out the suits, took note of the critical review and then continued to talk to Paul. As I recall they walked away to go look at skis or something else.

 

I purchased that Ski Warm suit that day and wore it for years. Paul later told me how important it was to hang a wetsuit properly and instructed me on how to assemble a good hangar for a wetsuit out of some plastic hangers, pipe insulation and duct tape. I still have the Paul Wiley wetsuit hangar I created in the 80’s and I use it for my current suit - a Camaro BlackTec that I purchased from Wiley’s.

 

To everyone at Wiley’s and all of Paul’s family and friends - my thoughts and prayers are with you and I grieve for your loss. Paul will be missed.

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Thank you Paul Wiley. We have been coming to your S.Seattle store for many years. He had a great sense of people, a sense of humor that, when we were younger, was over our heads but we grew to love it. One time I went in there with a used D3 Nomad. The Inserts were stripped. They fixed it on their workbench,and reset the fin to stock and then told me to go on my way with no money exchanged. I had bought a few things there before.

They have customer service and an awesome spirit and the best stuff and that's why everyone goes there. Then there was Paul himself, who was just hilarious and very kind. What a great guy.

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