2007 Show Poster

Water Skiing Of The Century(s)

The novelty of water skiing in the 40′s, 50′s and 60′s brought crowds to shows like this one at Weirs Beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. And where there was water skiing, there were Centurys. The 1960 16′ Century Resorter pulling the slalom skier had been the official towboat for American Water Ski Association competitions since 1954. Waiting in the foreground is a 1957 Coronado with a pair of Aqua Sport skis manufactured in nearby Laconia. Sitting in the background are a 1957 Arabian and a 1960 Coronado, the height of automotive styling influence, its portholed hardtop taking a cue from the Ford Thunderbird. Approaching the reviewing stand is a daring 6-man pyramid towed by a 1959 19′ Resorter. At the dock is the Weirs Ski Club’s original 1940′s 17′ Correct Craft towboat along with one of the “Miss Winnipesaukee” ride boats. At the left, a group watches from the stern of a 1958 Chris Craft Commander cabin cruiser. Along side is “Me-Ski-Tow”, a Pen Yan Swift with 25 hp Johnson motor, from Dick Binette’s Weirs Beach ski school. Dick was a national ski jumping champion and record holder, and Cypress Gardens star, indicative of the prominence of the Weirs Ski Club in those days, hosting the National Water Skiing Championships on Lake Opechee in 1954 and 1959.