pc

It’s 8:30 PM and I had direct anterior hip replacement surgery a little over twelve hours ago and am reading this thread with interest! Just one month ago I competed in the Over 35 Worlds in France (6th in Men 65-70) and expect to come back strong and skiing better than ever next March. This winter I’ll be on snow here in Minnesota by January. I think that the key is to go into surgery early and in good shape and follow the PT instructions to the letter and not overdo it.

It’s 8:30 PM and I had direct anterior hip replacement surgery a little over twelve hours ago and am reading this thread with interest! Just one month ago I competed in the Over 35 Worlds in France (6th in Men 65-70) and expect to come back strong and skiing better than ever next March. This winter I’ll be on snow here in Minnesota by January. I think that the key is to go into surgery early and in good shape and follow the PT instructions to the letter and not overdo it.

Bald Eagle Lake, located near White Bear Lake, has had a permanent course in the same location (on the west shore) since 1954. It’s anchored and surveyed. A group of skiers regularly chase balls, mostly in the mornings.

Bald Eagle Lake, located near White Bear Lake, has had a permanent course in the same location (on the west shore) since 1954. It’s anchored and surveyed. A group of skiers regularly chase balls, mostly in the mornings.

Kris skied in his first nationals in 1965 and established himself as one of the best with a win in the Jr Boys slalom event with a score of 51 buoys plus 1 additional. Second place finisher Donald Krueger also had 51 but with only 1 additional. In 3rd was Ricky McCormick with 46, Mike Graser in 4th, and Bob LaPoint in 5th. As for me in my second nationals, I was back in the pack with 29 plus 5 additional.

Soon after Leroy began competing he placed third in Boys Slalom at the 1965 Nationals in Minneapolis behind Don Ennius Jr. and Kenny Dabbs, and ahead of Mike Suyderhoud, Gerald Winnard, and Frankie Dees. At the 1966 Masters he took the slalom title against the likes of World Champion Rolland Hillier, Dennis Rahlves, Joker Osborn, Joe Cash, Larry Penacho, and Mike Osborn. He won men’s slalom with steadily improving runs of 37 1/2, 38 1/2, and 39 1/2 buoys (those after 36 scored with 24 feet off the line at the maximum 36 MPH). His fellow Californian, Dennis Rahlves, placed second. Incidentally, Dennis, a former world record holder in Mens jumping, is the father of Olympic snow ski racer Darren Rahlves. The two end gates in the slalom course were shortened 15 yards closer to the first and sixth buoys which was roughly the same placement adopted by the WWSU for the 1967 Worlds to be held later that summer in Sherbrooke, Quebec. In addition, in an effort to hurry the tournament up, each skier started out with 12 points credit and starting speeds were advanced to 34 MPH and 30 MPH for women. The each skier continued his run until a buoy was missed. At the Miami Nationals in 1966 Burnett, skiing in the Boys slalom event, proved that his recent Masters win was no fluke by running 50 buoys for the national title, the last two with 36 feet off the line. By comparison, the mens slalom winner, Tom Decker, also of California, scored 41. Coming in second behind Leroy was Ennius Jr, with 40, Suyderhoud with 39, and Bruce Martin (the 1969 Mens slalom champ) and Johnny Blackburn, both with 39. I’m guessing that Suyderhoud must have gotten 3rd with consecutive plus additional buoys which was the rule then. The top five Mens slalom finishers were Decker, Chuck Stearns, Dennis Rahlves, Jim McCormick, and Paul Merrill and Larry Penacho who tied for fifth. The line shortening lengths at that time were 12’ off, 18’, 24’,30’, and 36’ off. I believe that 33’ off came at a later date but am not sure. All of this information came from articles in August -September 1966 and October-November 1966 issues of The Water Skier magazine. Some of this information are quotes from the articles with my editing.

Leroy was an amazing skier, look at his Obrien in the turn. I had the good fortune to ski with him a couple of times near his house in the Delta. His dad Ted was one of the best when it came to setting up twin rigs.

Leroy was an amazing skier, look at his Obrien in the turn. I had the good fortune to ski with him a couple of times near his house in the Delta. His dad Ted was one of the best when it came to setting up twin rigs.

To Mitch, Dave, Susan, and the entire Ross family. Please accept my condolences. Jim was an amazing man and touched so many people, both on the water and off. He was always interested in people and led his life by example. May he Rest In Peace and his memory live on. PC

So sad to read this news of Eddie. He gave so much to the sport and will be missed by everyone who knew or heard of him. RIP Eddie

Congratulations!