Reprinted from The Winnipesaukee Times
Water skiing was first introduced to the lake five years
ago when two boys in an outboard rig toured the lake
selling the skis from cottage to cottage. The sport had
been popular in Florida for three or four years at this
time and feats of jumping the wake of a boat or skiing
with the tow bar behind the knees were considered quite
sensational.
The following year, two boys from Florida who had skied
professionally there, opened the first water skiing school
in New England at Wolfeboro. The sport was taken up immediately
and the boys found enthusiasm high and the pupils quick
to take up the finer points on the sport. Progress was
made in the stunt riding part of the favorite water sport
with the backward skiing and toe carry tricks added to
many of the skiers' accomplisments.
This year also marked the beginning of skiing exhibitions
on the lake and ski jumping was taken up by a few of
the more daring. Doubles riding was done in these shows
by an attractive couple and the over-and-under jumping
stunt was performed to the amazement of many of the lake's
visitors with one skier passing underneath the jumper
while the latter was in the air after having left the
jump.
Dana Jones made his first appearance as the "fellow
in the red flannels" acting as the winter skier
who wanted a skiing lesson on winter skis. This clown
act was performed a the Railroad Men's convention in
Chicago last summer.
In 1948 the instruction was taken over by Dana Jones
and Jack Greim who operated out of Wolfeboro and they
went to various parts of the lake to give lessons.
This year also maked the beginning of the Lake Winnipesaukee
championships that were held at the Weirs with the women's
and men's competition being won by Mrs. Virginia Wales
of Wolfeboro and Dick Edgcomb of Governor's Island.
