Sea World superheroes ski again!

Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman is based on a true story that took place in Cleveland, OH, and through the book, I developed a connection to Carol and John’s Comic Book Shop, also in Cleveland.

In March 2015, the “John” of the shop name—John Dudas—kindly notified me that for Free Comic Book Day (this year, May 2), an art collective named the Rust Belt Monsters would be at the shop from noon till 7 p.m. painting a 12-foot mural. The subject?

None other than the Sea World superheroes water ski show that ran in Ohio from 1976-79, and which John saw as a kid.

John reported

I even had all six artists in the collective read over all the data you collected, to inspire them. Just so you know that the work you did still has positive ramifications. So thanks to you, man. It will be hanging proudly in our shop if you’re ever in town.

For the record, the [Sea World superheroes water ski show] is my first memory.

On 5/5/15 (National Cartoonists Day), the mural was hung in the shop.

Thanks to John for sharing these photos, and for organizing this fun effort in the first place.

Sea World water skiing superheroes...2013?

Artist Michael "mic?" Magtanong created a skillfully executed homage/update to the fondly remembered Sea World water skiing superhero show of the 1970s, which I have been known to mention here.

He kindly gave me permission to re-post it:

Some clever, understated touches:

• the cables for Wonder Woman, Mera, and Batman are their own devices/abilities
• the cables for the rest (and the skis for those who need them) are Green Lantern constructs
• Superman don't need no cable
• love the updating: John Stewart replacing Hal Jordan (and/or Robin, Green Arrow, or Captain Marvel), Hawkgirl and Vixen replacing Supergirl and Batgirl
• love the gay pride flag (this piece debuted online the week that DOMA was named unconstitutional)

And coloring the sky blood-red is an interesting choice. Perhaps this show took place during an invasion from Apokolips.

Kudos again, Michael, and thanks again for letting me help share your great work.

Sea World superhero skier Mark Gutleben

One of the water skiers featured in my oral history of the Sea World superheroes show who could not make the reunion in 10/12 was Mark Gutleben. He’s on the West Coast and is not working due to an injury sustained decades ago.

However, I got to see him recently anyway, via this photo he sent for the holidays.

He’s a really nice guy. I hope that there is another reunion before long and that he gets to go. I think it’d be great for both him and his former skimates.

Addendum: On 12/13/15, Mark passed away. To quote fellow skier Betsy Maher: “I’m sorry he was not able to make it to either reunion. At the 2014 reunion, I was able to have everyone sign a big birthday card for him. He had made a phone call to me on Christmas Day the past few years. I will miss his call this year.”

Sea World: The Sequel

On 10/5/12, I went to 1977.

Actually, I went to Florida. But I went because of 1977.

I went to meet people who, in 1977, were water skiers in the groundbreaking superhero show at Sea World in Orlando (and Ohio).

And whom, in 2010 and 2011, I tracked down. After interviewing more than 40 of them, I posted an oral history of what some call the most accomplished water skiing show ever mounted.

During the ski show, most of them were teenagers or in their early twenties. Their recollections were entertaining and often moving, frequently unique (how many people you know got paid to water ski?) yet familiar to anyone who has had a summer job or a summer crush. Many had not stayed in touch with anyone else from the show, and through my series, some found themselves reconnecting. It wasn’t a surprise to me when talk of a reunion surfaced.

Thanks to the initiative and considerable efforts of former superheroine Betsy Maher and those she recruited, a reunion did indeed come into being, just over a year after the final entry in my series went live. The superhero show closed in 1979, making this the 33-year reunion…and making Betsy a superheroine still. As we all know, reunions are a lot of work to organize.

I was honored to be invited but hesitant to go. After all, I wasn’t in the show. I haven’t water skied since the mid-1980s, and when I did then, it wasn’t performance caliber. (In other words, I could barely keep upright.)

But I developed friendships from afar with these people, and some of them encouraged me to get over my hang-ups and show up. 

So I took the plunge.

The two-day affair (of which I was able to be present only the first day) was the second time in two weeks that my blog series had led to a real-world event. (This one, however, was the first that I attended.)

I went down just for the night so I traveled light. That’s a genteel way of saying I didn’t bring a change of shirt or pants. Or an umbrella. Which is foreshadowing to this: it was pouring. So much for holding the cocktail kick-off outdoors, the most appropriate setting for such a reunion. My clothes got drenched in the mad dash from the parking lot to the Caribe Royale lobby; luckily, they dried before the party.

But we didn’t need to watch a Florida sunset to make this party glow. And my welcome was Florida warm:

The turnout was stellar; I would say no fewer than 150. I thoroughly enjoyed watching old friends bear hug, laugh heartily, go back in time. Many recognized me and came up to thank me for inspiring the reunion. I said they inspired me, so if anything, they inspired their own reunion.

superheroes reunited

Randy Messer, one of the skiers who had been particularly forthcoming and generous, thoughtfully brought a copy of Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, so I signed a Batman book to Green Lantern (the character I most associate with Randy—and a character also first written by Bill Finger). Other skiers asked if I brought copies to sell (which I never would have done though I was flattered that they asked).

Diane Smith, one of the few skiers I’d met prior to the reunion, brought something way cooler than my book—her original Sea World nametag:
 

Diane Smith, Kerry Lloyd, Betsy Maher

Debbie Blake, Sherry Runion, John Macqueen, Woody Johnson, Wes Stone, Tom Ingram, and Donna Dewerdt Jarvie sweetly apologized to me for not responding or participating in the series. I understood. Some were dealing with personal issues, others thought I was a crackpot. Both legitimate reasons! (And Sherry, you did participate, just under the wire!)

A highlight of the evening was when Tom Weber took to the stage to welcome everyone. He reminisced eloquently and then began a story from the summer. It was hard to hear but I did make out my name. At that point, someone gently shoved me onto the empty dance floor. Tom gestured for me to come on stage, which I did.

While driving and listening to the radio, Tom continued, he caught an NPR story about Batman and a writer named Bill Finger. Tom quickly realized that the guy telling that story was the same guy who had bugged him the year prior to answer a bunch of questions about the Sea World superheroes show.

Tom expressed gratitude on behalf of the group for my inadvertent role in getting the old gang back together. I was, yet again, touched.

I came observing bear hugs and I left receiving them. That’s a successful reunion. See everyone—and more—at the 34th?

 Steve Fontaine, Gay Schwartz, Sharkey Schwartz (no relation)

 Dave Madeline, Sheri McNary, Steve Fontaine, Brad Whitmore

 Mary McMurtrie, Kaci Whittenton, Karen Weber

 Lori, Doby Beusse, Tom Weber

 Randy Messer, Paula Nelson

 Jeff Parnell, Kerry Lloyd, Brad Whitmore, Andy Hansen

Bubby Snow, Dave Madeline with some of Diane Smith's superhero collectibles

And look what I passed heading back to the airport...

 

Meeting my third Sea World skier

Over Super Bowl weekend, I gave three talks in the Miami area (none about football).

One was at the enchanting Books & Books bookstore in Coral Gables. Adding to the specialness of the evening was a surprise attendee: Diane D. Smith, one of the former Sea World water skiing superheroes I interviewed for my big blog feature last summer and the third I've met in person.

Here is me with the first two and here is me with Diane:

Diane and her husband kindly drove more than three hours to be there, knowing we didn't know when our next chance would be. In the interview process, she was one of the most generous and illuminating of the skiers. She told some great stories and has been more than complimentary and gracious about the finished feature.

Thank you again, Diane, for giving of your time and spirit to my project.

Bring back the Sea World superheroes poster!

In early 2010, I began to track down a bunch of former Sea World water skiing superheroes to interview them; I ultimately found more than 40, including seven of the ten in the famous poster above.

Not long after, I began thinking "reunion."

Lest there be any misconception, I was not one of them, so I was not doing this for my own benefit, but I sure would love to see it happen on their account. And sure enough, some of them had the same idea and have something in the works for fall 2012.

However, the kind of reunion I had in mind was not only a personal one but also a promotional one at a comic book convention. Because one of the two Sea World locations that featured the superheroes show was Orlando, and because many of these former show skiers still live in that area, it would seem that the best candidate to host such a reunion is MegaCon.

While speaking with MegaCon's head organizer, who seems open to the idea if circumstances allow, we came to the possibility of reprinting the poster, most likely with one small addition (MegaCon logo?) to distinguish it from the original, and distributing it for free at the convention at which skiers appear.

This poster was not published by DC Comics and does not feature DC licensed art, so I was hoping/expecting that the only real hurdle would be securing Sea World's approval. Sea World said yes if DC did, but because of unspecified legal factors, DC said no.

As you might have guessed, I appealed. DC (nicely) said no again.

The poster has something of a cult following among DC fans and offering a "retro" version in a controlled environment seems consistent with many other reissues and "nostalgia products" DC has approved; one example is the Retro-Action line of DC poseable figures (done in the style of the beloved Mego figures of the '70s), though they are, of course, sold rather than given away.

I think the buzz that reprinting this poster would generate would make whatever obstacles may be present worth surmounting.

Who wants to see this poster reproduced for MegaCon (and, by association, a Sea World superhero skiers' reunion)? I would ask for a show of hands but I don't want the pyramid to collapse...

First-ever guest on the Superman Homepage live radio show

In which I got to talk about my "Super '70s and '80s" blog series (100 interviews with "lost" stars of superhero pop culture), my 2012 book on Bill Finger and Batman, and the never-before-revealed connection between the Superman Homepage and Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman. My segment starts at 12:16 (though the whole show is worth listening to):

Listen to internet radio with SupermanHomepage on Blog Talk Radio

I've known Steve Younis, the gracious ringleader of the Superman Homepage, since 2005. At around 8 p.m. on 11/7/11, Steve messaged to ask if I'd like be a guest on the SH Internet radio show. The first-ever guest, apparently, hard as that was for me to believe! I said I'd be honored and asked when. He said they do the show Monday nights at 11:30 p.m. EST. I said I was already planning to be up that late for other obligations, so we spontaneously scheduled the interview for that very night.

Thank you again, Steve, for the opportunity.

Super ‘70s and ‘80s: Thank you to all who participated

Introduction to series “Super ‘70s and ‘80s.”

Between 12/09 and 7/11, I compiled this series; what started as a few unconnected interviews ended up being an expansive, cohesive feature that, when pasted into Word, fills more pages than I would be sane to reveal.

Along the way, I was fortunate to meet seven of the people I interviewed, most of whom I’d been curious about since childhood. As it happens, those seven people represented five of the ten subseries in this series without repeats.

Thank you again to you seven...

with Jody Spence and Reyna Blasko, Sea World skiers
April 2010, Las Vegas

with Bo Rucker, the pimp from Superman: The Movie
May 2010, New York

with Liberty Williams and Michael Bell, the Wonder Twins from Super Friends
July 2011, Los Angeles

with Garrett Craig, Captain Marvel from Legends of the Superheroes
July 2011, Los Angeles

with Mick Smiley, "Magic" singer/songwriter
July 2011, Los Angeles

...and, of course, the other 93.

Super ‘70s and ‘80s: Sea World superheroes water ski show—the skiers, part 10 of 10

Introduction to series “Super ‘70s and ‘80s.”

Introduction to subseries “Sea World superheroes show” (including list of interviewees).

Skiers, part 9 of 10—the skiers' lives today.

SWSH = Sea World superheroes

THE MEMORIES

Do you have any film footage of the SWSH show?

Andy Hansen: I might have a few Super 8 (no sound) shots my mom and dad took of my brother Roger and me.
Cindy Barhoff (Clasen): I did, but my husband taped over it (Ohio State/Michigan game). What’s more important?

What other memorabilia, if any, did you save from the SWSH show (posters, programs/souvenir booklets, etc.)?

Linda Knapp (Moffett): I wish I had taken more pictures and that we could have had the technology back then that we have today. I have some photos and a few show programs in boxes in the attic. I also wish I had pictures taken with Sunja and me. She was a very neat animal and it is sometimes hard to convince people that I worked with a water skiing elephant.

Odd that neither Superman and Batman (the most popular characters) nor
Aquaman (the unofficial star of this show) are on the cover of this program.

I managed to find and interview just about everybody listed here.

Randy Messer: I have the superhero ski show poster and I bet there aren’t too many left.

Jeff Parnell: Nothing. I was young and not thinking about tomorrow. My biggest regret is not having pictures to show my kids. I have often thought about asking Sea World if I could look thru their photo archives and get copies. Maybe that is something you might try. Have you done that already?
Andy Hansen: A few photos. Really not enough for all of the memories.

How do you look back at your time with the SWSH show?

Al Kelley: Great experience with several people that I really valued and would love to see again.
Betsy Maher (Hawkins): It was a blast! Staying in shape and getting paid to water ski. Meeting some very talented and wonderful friends.

Margie LaPoint (Bates) and Doby Buesse

Bill Peterson: Was the break I was looking for to get into water skiing full time.
Bill Schwartz: One of the best times of my life. I was lucky to be able to be part of the Sea World water ski team. It was a great stepping stone in my life and the friendships there are deep and eternal.
Bubby Snow: They were the best times of my life.
Carl Lipsit: Great memories, lots of fun, good camaraderie, killer tan, and most importantly, I got paid to ski! How can you beat a gig like that, especially when still attending high school?
Cindy Barhoff (Clasen): One of the greatest memories in my life collection. I still share it with my class every year.
Dave Madeline: I’d do it again. Most everybody that you talk to would probably say they would do it again. It’s such a good job for a young person. I think I wasted a good portion of my life there. I wasn’t a doctor, I was a water skier. A lot of them went to college and did this on the side for the summer. It was a good way to get through college.
Diane Smith: I am old now and have lived a full and rewarding life. I have experienced numerous now-forgotten events, but I will forever remember those few years that I was a Sea World show skier. Hopefully, with [your] interviews, these memories will remain even when I am gone, as now, for the first time (thanks to your project), they are written and will be preserved and then shared with my children and their children. Thank you for collecting my remembrances and those of the outstanding athletes who were the superheroes of Sea World. It was the most special (and hardest) thing I ever did.
Gary Thompson: One of the best shows we ever did! It revolutionized ski shows forever. It was essentially the beginning of truly themed water ski shows that presented characters and told a story. Story-driven shows versus exhibition water skiing.
Greg Galloway: It was my favorite show of all the ones I skied in.
Janalee Zimmerman (Addleman): I loved it! It was the best memory to have made! My parents were nuts to let me do that at such a young age! But I’m glad they did! :-)
John Gillette: Great memories, fun time, rich relationships, some of which I maintain today.
Linda Knapp (Moffett): It played a large part of me growing up. I often wonder what happened to some of the skiers. It was a lot of hard work and was definitely a lesson on working as a team. I am really glad that I was able to ski professionally even though I am paying now with annoying body aches.
Mark Gutleben: It was fun skiing and playing around in the sun.
Mary McMurtrie: The best time of my life. An amazing opportunity with the most fun people I have ever met.

Nancy Radant Combes: Would not have traded it for anything.
Paula Nelson (Bloemer): Since you have me reflecting, I think it probably was a great preparation for me later joining the circus (my favorite job ever). We were asked to learn a myriad of stunts and tricks and paid to do it. Before Nike’s motto “Just Do It,” water skiers had [the] motto “Go For It.” Having come from an arts and dance background, I was rather confounded by their passion and intensity for the sport. But that is why they didn’t mind the costumes—they were doing what they loved.
Randy Messer: For most of the skiers, I imagine the draw was the skiing with the superhero aspect secondary. I was an art major with my eye on becoming a comic strip artist like Charles Schulz (still has yet to happen) so for me, the combo of skiing and superheroes was a dream come true. I woke up every morning anxious to go to work. It was a dream of mine since the age of five (1958-59) when on vacation I saw a Cypress Gardens ski show. As a lad growing up in a small Iowa town I could not imagine a better job. When Sea World called to say I was hired, I had $200 dollars left to my name which was just enough to get me back to Iowa if nothing panned out in Florida. I rose through the ranks and loved almost every minute and would never have left were it not for having to choose between marrying Robbi or staying with Sea World. Fortunately I was hired by Marine World Africa USA to run their ski show. I always regretted leaving Sea World.
Shirley Duke: It started out as just a summer job between college, but if you’d observe your surroundings, it taught me a lot about corporate America, good leadership, hiring people with the right skills and talents, providing resources that allow your people to perform to the best of their abilities.
Steve Fontaine: Some of my most happy and carefree memories. Of course, I had no money then but I had fun anyway.
Suzanne Schwartz: With complete and utter fondness and nostalgia. We consider ourselves so lucky to have worked for Sea World (we both worked there for about 10 years) and to have been a part of the ski show. To be able to make a living (albeit meager) by performing with an incredible team of people was just a joy. Sharkey and I have the extra bonus of sharing those memories together...so we can still reflect on them together today.

Do you have a favorite memory about the SWSH show?

Al Kelley: Tom Weber not going up in the kite and the kite landing on the roof of the stadium; scary situation that was diverted due to the driving of Dave Madeline. Tom was attempting to fly in a hang glider that was attached to the boat that Dave was driving with a 1,000-foot rope. As the boat accelerates, the kite rises to about 700 feet then releases from the rope and the pilot free flies the hang glider onto the stage at the end of the show. Tom did not strap himself in on this flight so the kite went up by itself; thanks to quick thinking and driving, Dave was able to steer the hang glider away from the audience of about 3,000 people.
Christina Ashley: Meeting Dan Poor, a high diver in the show. We were a couple and really had a wonderful life together while we were at Sea World. We are still good friends today.
Cindy Barhoff (Clasen): Whenever the song “We Are Family” comes on the radio, I think of Sea World. We were together 24/7, and that was one of our warm-up songs.
Dave Madeline: There are so many good things. One year at Christmastime the superheroes pushed disabled kids around the park. I was a boat driver and dressed as the Penguin. We weren’t skiing, just taking them to the whale shows and showing them different things. It was a big, big deal.
Diane Smith: I lived many miles from Sea World at the time and shortly after beginning there, I decided to be adventurous and I drove my Yamaha (“Today is the Day”) motorcycle all the way to work. Part of the trip was via the “Bee Line” (now known as the “Beach Line,” a major highway). I wore my required Sea World uniform and with my nearly knee-length, blonde hair, braided down my back and hanging from behind my helmet like a show-pony’s tail, I arrived at the park without incident, though some of the guys with whom I worked advised that I should not repeat this as it was dangerous. I was proud that day since my adventure was new. When I entered the ski department, the female lead, Gay Peteet, said, “That is not all that you will be accomplishing for the first time today. You will also be going to the top of the pyramid as Supergirl.” After those two new challenges, it became routine to ride my motorcycle to work and to perform as “top girl.” Also, I especially remember my first day and my last one. Both times, I did not want the experience to end.
Doby Buesse: The night shows were a blast. I always thought they were better from a spectator viewpoint. The action is more focused because of the spotlights. Skiing in the dark was a thrill. With the bright spotlights you could only see the water directly in front of your skis. Made you feel like you were traveling faster than you really were.
Greg Galloway: The Penguin costume was awesome.
Jacque Cook (Kuntarich): It was the dream job. I wrote Gary Thompson to say thank you for giving me my best job of my whole life. After that, Dan Poor said the same thing. I had a kick-ass job (most recently) but Sea World was the coolest.
Jeff Parnell: When it was cold, if you sprayed another skier, that was war. John Macqueen sprayed me with the boat one day so after the show I clamped his fuel line on his boat so he had just enough fuel to get out to the set and drop off his skiers then he would run out and be a sitting duck. I’m not sure how many times I sprayed him but I remember how good it was. One show I was Robin and Greg Galloway was Batman. We got the kid in the boat and while the bad guys were chasing us Greg (Batman) was asking this poor kid about girls and beer. I was wondering what this kid was going to say to his parents when he got back to his seat. Well, we never heard from his parents or their attorney, so that was good. To this day I wonder what that kid thinks about Batman and Robin.
Kaci Whittenton (Hedstrum): All the laughter on land and water and special friends made.
Kerry Lloyd: Just being so healthy skiing. Still healthy now. I’ve hit golf balls every day for the past 11 years. There’s a really good chance you’ll see me playing a Senior Tour in golf.
Linda Knapp (Moffett): There’s nothing quite like landing on the beach and hearing several thousand people applauding for you.
Lori Taylor: How terrible we all looked in the Supergirl wig.
Mark Gutleben: It was quite exciting to learn back barefoot.
Roland Hillier: The opportunity to go to the country of Jordan and teach the royal family and be the coach of the Royal Jordanian Ski Team.
Sherry Wickstrom: Yes: 1) meeting my first love, Dave; 2) taking measurements for the costumes, the magic acts, the elephant.
Steve Fontaine: Partying with my buddies and going to nickel night at Rosie O’Grady’s. But nothing compares to the feeling you get when the fans goes wild.
Suzanne Schwartz: There are sooooooo many…I don’t think there is one that stands out. Opening night of a new show…the funeral of “Flash” the goldfish…doing the Boca Raton road show…some of the antics in the locker room…

Lois Lane—Nancy Radant Combes, Catwoman (sans mask)—Mary McMurtrie,
Batgirl—Annette Botti (Hoffman), Mera—Sherry Satterfield Runion, Black Canary—Diane Smith,
pink tank top—Shirley Duke, Wonder Woman—Linda Knapp (Moffett)

Could you guys get back in the water now and still do any of it?

Betsy Maher (Hawkins): Yes. Good idea for a reality show.
Al Kelley: Absolutely, although I wouldn’t last as long…55 and not getting any younger!
Bill Peterson: Some of it. Probably many are too out of shape to do the more difficult acts.
Bill Schwartz: Yes, as a matter of fact a small group of us got together [the summer of 2009] and put on a small ski show here in Orlando. On [the small downtown] lake [where I live] is a small restaurant called Julie’s Waterfront. Julie herself is a avid skier and has always catered to fellow skiers. She asked us to put on a ski show for her 25th anniversary. We quickly called in a few former Sea World skiers and incorporated them with our fellow lake skiers to put together a show ski team. Of the group of skiers who were in the superhero show were myself, Nancy Radant Combes, Mary McMurtrie, and Greg Galloway. We had children ages four to nine perform in the show as well. And the star was a skiing dog. The restaurant promoted the event and it was a full house of her regular guests, fellow lakefront owners, and friends of the skier families. The show was a big success and we decided to make it a annual event.


Cindy Barhoff (Clasen): I was only a summer employee, but the full time people could probably do it in their sleep.
Diane Smith: Yes, but you must allow practicing with each other a bit before you watch! Skiing is a sport you and your muscles don’t forget.
Gary Thompson: Some could.
Greg Galloway: Absolutely. Within the last year Nancy Combes and I did a doubles routine at a show with some old skiers.
Janalee Zimmerman (Addleman): YES! OF COURSE!
Jody Spence: Sure, some of it!
John Gillette: Most probably could do something, but not like we did.
Kaci Whittenton (Hedstrum): After a personal trainer has about a year to work with me!
Linda Knapp (Moffett): I like to think that I can, however we’re not getting any younger!
Mary McMurtrie: ABSOLUTELY.
Nancy Radant Combes: Some of us put on a show in October 2009. So much fun!
Paula Nelson (Bloemer): I do not think I could, but I’m sure some of the others could.
Randy Messer: Can’t speak for others but I could.
Roland Hillier: Not even a chance.
Sherry Wickstrom: Yes, with a couple of practices, no problem.
Shirley Duke: At the 10-year reunion nobody had changed; I bet we could’ve built a pyramid. Now maybe that’s a little different. The “pilot light” is still flickering but you never know. As I said, I still have all my equipment.
Steve Fontaine: I’d like to think so!
Suzanne Schwartz: Sure! Errrr…some of it!
Andy Hansen: LOL! Sure. It wouldn’t look quite the same, though.
Jeff Parnell: Sure, as long as someone pays the hospital or work comp bills.
Doby Buesse: I could do most of it but I would feel it the next day.
Carl Lipsit: Of course we could. Superheroes never age!

In Las Vegas in 2010, I was thrilled to be able to meet in person two of the skiers, Jody Spence and Reyna Blasko:


10/5/12 addendum: Sea World superheroes reunion!

Next: Superman: The Movie.

Super ‘70s and ‘80s: Sea World superheroes water ski show—the skiers, part 9 of 10

Introduction to series “Super ‘70s and ‘80s.”

Introduction to subseries “Sea World superheroes show” (including list of interviewees).

Skiers, part 8 of 10—after the show closed.

SWSH = Sea World superheroes

YOUR LIFE TODAY

What do you do for a living?

Al Kelley: Senior Director, Marine Mammal Operations.
Andy Hansen: Wakeboard Camp [a water ski/wakeboard school he started].
Bill Peterson: Retired.
Bill Schwartz: Property manager/real-estate investor and father.
Bubby Snow: I run Bubby’s Water Shows. Taught water skiing.
Carl Lipsit: I was in the Army for 26 years and retired as a Colonel in 2008. I now work for a firm as a Vice President with responsibilities for the international operations of the company as well as the contracting staff personnel. The company is heavily involved in biometrics, forensics, identity management, and advanced armoring systems (vehicle and personal), and we provide scientists and engineers working on a variety of issues.
Christina Ashley: Real estate broker.
Cindy Barhoff (Clasen): 4th grade teacher.
Dave Madeline: Jeweler. Goldsmith.
Diane Smith: I am a retired teacher and Professor of English who taught all grades from elementary through college-level.
Doby Buesse: UPS driver.
Gary Thompson: Produce and operate ski shows and live action stunt shows.
Greg Galloway: I own my own money management firm.
Jacque Cook (Kuntarich): I had a brain aneurysm May 6, 2009. It was because of water skiing. I had to retire from my job; I was a make-up and hair artist [for everyone] from the president (I had secret service clearance at the White House) to hip hop artists. I was Johnny Cochran’s makeup artist, John Travolta, Gloria Estefan made me my first Mojito. I was always on a plane. I was home only 5-7 days a month. I’ve won a couple Emmys. I worked on the Witness Relocation Program.

There was a women’s reunion after my aneurysm. When John Macqueen heard about the women reunion, he said I’m going to throw a party and say it’s my birthday but it was really just a chance to get together. You [might] think, [they’re] just ski bums, but everyone is very successful and many are multimillionaires.

Janalee Zimmerman (Addleman): I graduated from college and got hired by the Somerset School District and I’ve been teaching there ever since. I’ve been teaching first grade for 29 years.
Jeff Parnell: Real estate.
Jody Spence: Manage a department at a timeshare company since 1994 in Florida, and then they transferred me to Vegas.
John Gillette: Operations manager.
Kaci Whittenton (Hedstrum): I am a petroleum landman, which is a independent contractor who in my case runs title for projects for oil and gas exploration.
Kerry Lloyd: Teach hang gliding. I’m [also] a pilot.
Linda Knapp (Moffett): I just retired from teaching. I taught second and fourth grades and most recently sixth-grade English. I told my students about skiing and being a professional athlete; however, they couldn’t really relate. Some of them were under the impression that they would go straight to the NBA after high school (with no desire to practice, of course). It’s hard for them to visualize a ski show since they pretty much don’t exist anymore and there aren’t any in Virginia. As far as the superheroes, it would be very difficult to explain that. A lot of adults have never seen a show.
Lori Taylor: Mow grass and manage a rental property.
Margie LaPoint (Bates): I teach kindergarten. A great age to relive Batman, Spider-Man, etc., at Halloween!
Mark Gutleben: Not much. Collecting social security and disability.
Mary McMurtrie: Massage therapist and unit secretary for a hospital.
Nancy Radant Combes: Special ed teacher.
Paula Nelson (Bloemer): I am a substitute teacher.
Randy Messer: Programmer.
Reyna Blasko: Wine specialist.
Roland Hillier: Own real estate rental properties and have taught science at Union Park Middle School since 1983.
Sherry Wickstrom: Transportation Security Officer (TSA) Homeland Security.
Shirley Duke: I am an Equal Rights Officer with FEMA. I am a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and I was a volunteer mediator with the 9th Judicial Court in Orlando. I used a picture of me as Wonder Woman during one of our “Guess The Mediator” quizzes when they recognize several mediators at the end of the year.
Steve Fontaine: I am an irrigation contractor.
Suzanne Schwartz: I’ve worked in sales operations for a high-tech company based in Silicon Valley for the past ten years. I’m fortunate to be able to work from home. Sharkey recently left the large construction company he was working for (doing tool repair and general maintenance).
Tom Weber: Work for a publishing company.

Do you still water ski?

Al Kelley: It’s been about 10 years.
Bill Schwartz: Yes. After Sea World I began competing in three-event water skiing (slalom, trick, and jumping). I went on to win many titles and championships in State, Regional, and National competitions. I won the 1997 nation overall title. I have not competed the last few years but do ski on a regular basis. I plan to compete [again].
Carl Lipsit: Whenever I get a chance! Normally, only when I get down to Florida and visit friends.
Dave Madeline: In the last few years, I’ve been lucky to get out once per summer. Now I have a boat and I’m restoring it. I’ll use it to ski more, start teaching my grandkids, nephews, nieces.
Doby Buesse: Yes, I wally around on the slalom and wakeboard.
Janalee Zimmerman (Addleman): Yes. We still have a lot on Lake Stonycreek. I barefooted for my 50th birthday! Not very far though! LOL.
Kaci Whittenton (Hedstrum): No. Busy busy busy.
Kerry Lloyd: No, haven’t since 1997, at Holiday Park in Germany. I was the show director that year. It’s the hardest place in the world to water ski—way small, way tight, way dangerous. It’s only for the big dogs. So I did it once just to do it, and then I was done and haven’t skied since.
Margie LaPoint (Bates): I have nothing to do with water skiing anymore. I snow ski (Nordic) and ski race. I have raced my bicycle for many years since my water ski days, and now that I am older I run in races to complement my snow ski racing. I love living and playing and still think, feel, and look young.
Mark Gutleben: Oh yeah!
Randy Messer: Live on a lake and water ski occasionally. Can still perform most tricks. Several other former show skiers also live or have lived on the lake. It is our kids that use up the gas now.
Shirley Duke: No, I retired from competitive water skiing in 1996. But I still have my skies, wetsuits, medals, and memories.
Suzanne Schwartz: Up until two summers ago, our summers were still spent at the same lake that Sharkey grew up on. However, the Bureau of Reclamation chose not to renew the leases to the resorts on that lake and closed everything down. It’s too much of a hassle to get your boat launched (basically one ramp for the entire lake) so we’ve not been. We are probably going to sell the ski boat.

If not, do you still have a presence on the water somehow (swimming, scuba, boating, fishing, etc.)?

Christina Ashley: Yes, I am a water baby. I live on the water, sell waterfront properties, fish, swim, boat, scuba.
Doby Buesse: Most definitely. Surfing, scuba, wind surfing, lying in the boat reading the Sunday paper or drinking a cold beer.
Gary Thompson: Yes…we are very high profile on the water, always attracting attention.
Jody Spence: No, not water. I have been a horse girl all my life, so I do a lot of riding.
Linda Knapp (Moffett): We own 74 acres with an 11-acre lake on the property. We still enjoy water sports and have jet skis, a rope swing, canoes, etc. During the summer we are on the lake a lot.
Randy Messer: Windsurfers were brand new back in late ‘70s. Windsurfing became my favorite activity for many years and I still get out regularly. I never wanted to leave show skiing and have worked out for the past 20 years building strength and maintaining fitness in the slim hope that one day I may perform again. I am 57 and am in better shape than when I skied in my twenties and thirties.
Roland Hillier: Designated driver for my grandkids.
Shirley Duke: My husband and I sold our Hydrodyne and took up kayaking. I love being on the water. We have two horses who also love to be in the lake. We’ve been married for 44 years. Water skiing was our first date.
Steve Fontaine: I’m in the water every day at work. I also kayak.

Do you have children and, if so, how old are they?

Al Kelley: Three grown children, four grandchildren.
Andy Hansen: 24, 22, and 19.
Bill Peterson: Kyle is 35 and daughter Kaci is 30; she was named after a fellow skier, Kaci Hedstrum.
Bill Schwartz: 17-year-old daughter.
Bubby Snow: Daughter 28, son 24.
Carl Lipsit: One boy and one girl, ages 11 and 5.
Christina Ashley: I have three boys, Charles 26, Christopher 22, and Wilson 20. Their last name is Nock.
Cindy Barhoff (Clasen): 25, 23, and 20.
Dave Madeline: One girl, schoolteacher, Emily, Maryland near Annapolis; one grandson.
Diane Smith: I am blessed with two wonderful daughters. The older is 27, a graduate of UPenn Dental School, and currently at the University of Michigan completing her orthodontic residency. The younger is a graduate of Princeton University who is currently in her second year at Emory Law School.


Gary Thompson: Two daughters and five grandchildren.
Greg Galloway: Two boys, Clark, 18, and Drew, 17.
Jacque Cook (Kuntarich): Son 21, daughter 18.
Janalee Zimmerman (Addleman): We have four children. Katie is 25 and teaches at North Star Elementary School nearby. Sam, 20, is a sophomore at Duke. Lastly we have twin sons, Joe and Jordan, 18.
Jeff Parnell: 2, 7, and 9.
Jody Spence: 27 and 25.
John Gillette: 15, 21, and 22.
Kaci Whittenton (Hedstrum): Meegan, 26.
Kerry Lloyd: Two wonderful children, 27 and twins. Boy and girl. Daughter married now for going on four years. I got three grandchildren. She doesn’t go to the hospital to have babies. Has them at home in the bathtub. Got it on video. She lives in Windemere, part of Orlando. My son has got his credentials for being a minister. He’s a manager of a Chick-fil-A and has been with them since high school. He’s a musician—way, way good. Plays with that group Between the Trees that were #3 on Billboard charts. He lives in Orlando.
Linda Knapp (Moffett): One daughter, Katie, who is married and built a house on our property. She is 28 and is a chemist. Her husband is from the Czech Republic and is a police officer.
Lori Taylor: 26 and 22.
Margie LaPoint (Bates): I have two daughters, 23 and 24.
Mark Gutleben: No, too bad. Never been married.
Mary McMurtrie: Daughters 29, 28, and 23.
Nancy Radant Combes: Two girls, 18 and 22.
Paula Nelson (Bloemer): Two daughters. One is 24 and one is 20.
Randy Messer: Daughter 18, son 16.
Reyna Blasko: 27 and 28.
Roland Hillier: Three your age [mid- to late-30s]. Six grandchildren.
Sherry Wickstrom: A son, 26 years old.
Shirley Duke: One daughter (27) and two sons (25 and 23). I have a granddaughter who is four years old (I’m a young grammy).
Steve Fontaine: I have a daughter from my first marriage who is 21.
Suzanne Schwartz: Son Ryan is 31 and daughter Afton is 27.
Tom Weber: Five ranging from 30 to 16.

Do your kids water ski?

Al Kelley: Not yet but I plan on teaching them.
Andy Hansen: World Champion wakeboarders, wakeskaters.
Bill Peterson: They both water ski and snowboard. Both water skiied competitively, Kaci up to the National level. Kyle won the Junior World Championship overall and Junior Masters Overall; he was World Trick Ski Champ when he was 21. Now both just ski for fun—Kyle lives in Denver and snowboards mostly for fun.
Bubby Snow: Both professionally.
Carl Lipsit: Unfortunately no. They have not had the opportunity to learn. However, they do snow ski.
Christina Ashley: They all do; not professionally.
Gary Thompson: They all ski. It is required. My daughters were both Sea World skiers in San Diego.
John Gillette: Dad’s requirement, like it or not!
Linda Knapp (Moffett): Katie skied when she was two and was slaloming by 5. She skis occasionally.
Mary McMurtrie: They all water ski, none with passion though.

What do your kids think of your time as a water skiing superhero?

Andy Hansen: LOL. They don’t ask much about it. I don’t talk about it with them.
Bill Peterson: Kyle remembers it vaguely; they both hear the stories and think it was pretty cool.
Bill Schwartz: My daughter just calls me a big kid.
Carl Lipsit: They think it is funny. I think they would love to perform in the acts where you get to jump boats and jet skis off the ramps.
Diane Smith: Of course they are proud that “old mom” was able to be a show skier at Sea World. It was their favorite theme park [when they were young] and when we would watch the ski show, I would narrate to them what was happening behind the scenes. I always watched in awe, hardly believing that I used to do all those stunts.
Jacque Cook (Kuntarich): When they grew up, it was like a normal lifestyle for them. I was out of the house at 17. By the time I was 19 I was a world champion. I was also going to college full time. I was the only girl to do that. Some of the guys did. After the superheroes show, some of the girls did.
Janalee Zimmerman (Addleman): They are impressed, however they also think it’s funny! You know teenagers! Moms are never cool!
Kerry Lloyd: They don’t even know. They’ve seen pictures. They’ve seen me in entertainment for so many years it’s just another character. At Dixie Stampede in Tennessee, when my kids were ten, they did a special holiday show for six weeks built around them, my kids were so cute. My kids were in it—two little characters traveling across America in the 1800s on a wagon train. We home schooled. They traveled with me all over the country.
Linda Knapp (Moffett): It’s hard to say since that was way before she was born and it was just a job.
Mary McMurtrie: That we were awesome.

Batgirl—Nancy Radant Combes, Flash—Randy Messer, Mera—Kaci Whittenton (Hedstrum),
Black Canary—Annette Botti (Hoffman), Aquaman—Bob “Bullet” Borth

Nancy Radant Combes: They think it was an awesome experience. One of them wears my old ski sweatshirt even at college.
Paula Nelson (Bloemer): Since I was also an elephant-riding circus performer, they just think it was another peculiar occupation that I had B.C. (before children). My older daughter Jenna, an artist and vintage clothing re-designer, had a picture of me as Wonder Woman jumping a boat on display at her shop so I suppose she thinks it was pretty cool. The shop was called Sickboy Vintage in Tallahassee.
Randy Messer: Just recently found a tape of a superhero night show. Quality is marginal but watched it with son who thought it was kind of impressive.
Reyna Blasko: They laugh.
Sherry Wickstrom: He is more impressed with my skiing at Cypress Gardens. He saw an old-timers show I skied in.

Have you been interviewed before about the SWSH show?

Cindy Barhoff (Clasen): The Cleveland Plain Dealer did an article about interesting summer jobs.

Reyna Blasko: I was Wonder Woman in an article for the armed services, I think. It has been so long.

What did you first think when you learned why I was contacting you?

Bill Peterson: Great idea. I like anything that promotes water skiing.
Carl Lipsit: Thought [you were some] wacko dude until I confirmed with some friends that it was legit.
Cindy Barhoff (Clasen): I thought “I did not ski for very long in comparison to the full-timers.”
Diane Smith: When I heard your message on the answering machine, I thought, “What a very nice and pleasant young man. What can it be that he wants?” I wanted to learn more about you, especially since you would be getting to know me. I read all that was online and ordered your book Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman.
Jacque Cook (Kuntarich): I have never been contacted like that before. I called Betsy. She said “I already scanned him. He’s legit. He’s got illustration.” A lot of us talked about you and they don’t understand it but I understand your passion. I told them I’m going to help you.
Linda Knapp (Moffett): Wow—the memories flooded my brain.
Margie LaPoint (Bates): I guess my reaction was one of surprise!
Mark Gutleben: I was stunned and shocked. It was kind of exciting knowing that a story was being written up on what we did.
Paula Nelson (Bloemer): How bizarre!
Roland Hillier: Someone is planning to do a makeover show.
Shirley Duke: It brought up all the wonderful memories again. I’m excited about your project and feel like a 30-year-old again, [though] I’ve never been much of a couch potato. Too bad we can’t all be in the same room together.
Steve Fontaine: It put a smile on my face.

If a comic book/pop culture convention paid your way, would you attend and sign autographs for fans?

Al Kelley: Unlikely but possibly.
Andy Hansen: Sure, why not? That would give me more incentive to stay in shape! Grins.
Bill Peterson: Depends on money, where, and when.
Bill Schwartz: Yes, gladly.
Bubby Snow: Possibly.
Christina Ashley: Absolutely. How fun would that be.
Dave Madeline: I can’t believe they would pay the way for someone to sign autographs. Sounds like a Star Wars get-together. I felt silly for signing them at Sea World. Remember, these people are water skiers and boat drivers. Let’s say yes for giggles.
Gary Thompson: Maybe.
Greg Galloway: It would depend on where and how much.
Janalee Zimmerman (Addleman): Yes.
Jeff Parnell: Sure, why not. It would be another excuse to get together and party.
Jody Spence: Sure.
John Gillette: Yes.
Kerry Lloyd: Yeah, I probably would, for a day.
Linda Knapp (Moffett): It would be fun to go to a convention; however, we just wore costumes and skied. Sure, I’d like to go.
Mary McMurtrie: Sure thing.
Nancy Radant Combes: Seriously? I doubt that would happen.
Reyna Blasko: Maybe.
Roland Hillier: I’d rather the fans keep the memory and have young stand-ins.
Sherry Wickstrom: Sure.
Suzanne Schwartz: Not sure.

Next: skiers, part 10 of 10—the memories.