Phillip Smyth wrote:
I talked to a women years ago that told me a story
about her husband and a guy who was famous in Australia Gelignite Jack
Murray,even before Powell in FL. I believe that they may have been the first
barefooters out a place called Lake Cagellico in western NSW. The back deep and
lots of tricks were all started in Australia by Gary Barton, Rudy Stout, When
the USA came to Australia for the first worlds in Canberra in 78 they were in
ore of our footers in Australia. and the starts we/ Aussies were doing Flying
backward Tumble turns to one foot stand up. I loved the starts competition. but
it was slow and not spectator friendly. Ask away anything I can help with.
regards Phill
Here is my reply:
I am now researching the 1947 to 1965 time frame in
the USA. We need some people, say 2, or 10, or 20 people from the Australia AND THE USA, and anywhere else in the world that one might think, that pioneered
milestone barefoot achievements, to step up and volunteer. It
will involve investing time and doing work with and for the WBC history/timeline
committee. We will, among other things, post any RELEVANT, CONCISE, VERIFIABLE
information on the WBC barefoot forum, for interested barefoot skiers to
review.
To do this, go to THE WBC website:
http://www.wbcforum.activeboards.net/forums.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.wbcforum.activeboards.net/forums.html then
under "WBC public forum", click on "History Timeline", then enter the password
"timeline" and submit COMPLETE INFORMATION...VERIFIABLE AND IN DETAIL WITH EMAIL ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS, STORIES, AND MEDIA SUPPORT WHEREVER POSSIBLE, CORROBORATED BY WITNESSES, DRIVERS, OBSERVERS, CAMERA PERSONS, ETC.
COMPLETE INFORMATION INCLUDES:
Names, which are nice, but we want a lot more... the specifics
of date, where, how done, (in other words, a brief story)...including witnesses
we can contact, newspaper articles, video/films/etc. Then, to verify, we'll
need the names of corroborators, like boat driver, passengers in the boat,
person taking photos/film or video and any other verification that strengthens
the "milestone achievement" claim. (What do any of you, reading this, consider a 'milestone' achievement and how would you be sure the info is verified?...we want your input on the "ground rules" by which this committee will operate, starting after the world tourney)
In order for milestone achievements/information to be considered, this information has to be
put on the barefoot forum, WHERE DOZENS OF PEOPLE CAN SEE IT AND HELP VERIFY OR
DISPUTE IT. When we get verification, great! When we get dispute, also great! Because then we can ask what the real facts are. If the person that disputed
the claim has no facts that dispute a legitimate milestone claim, it will
strengthen the claim, rather than refute it.
A personal email cannot help because we want dozens of
others to see the info and be able to corroborate it's authenticity. ONCE
AGAIN...WE ARE LESS INTERESTED IN A PERSON'S NAME RIGHT NOW. The milestone achievement
is what we want, with any and all details and corroborational information...the
name of who did it will naturally follow and be included.
Any name mentioned (of a live person) must include email
address, country of the person and phone number. If the person has passed
on, we need the above info of the spouse, and his/her children, the same info of
FRIENDS WHO WERE "THERE" in the boat, and in another boat, and on shore...who were witnessing/filming/videoing the milestone event.
This is the only fair way to handle all the info that we will
gather...THE WBC PUBLIC FORUM, THEN, CAN FILTER THE INFO IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS
GIVEN.
Your email is very interesting and has general information. Here is just ONE example
of what 'general info' get's us:
I have a piece of (astounding) general information from a
letter by Jon Broderick...it says...and I will quote:
"And I remember Bobby and Gene Marotti of Winter Haven,
Florida who actually were the first barefooters, ever. They used to tell the
story of being the first on Lake Howard in Winter Haven to barefoot ski. They
were hired part time at Cypress Gardens with the mission of teaching Downing,
(Dick Pope, jr.) to ski barefoot. After that, Marotti's were not
needed."
Our current perception of who was the first barefooter in the USA (and we
believe the world) was Dick (first name: Downing) Pope Jr. as
shown in 1947 newsreels the world over. Recent information has told
us that AG Hancock showed barefooting to Pope and the Cyprus Gardens skiers, but Hancock had to leave on Holiday with his family, so was not around for the filming of the
newsreels.
So now here came this 'blockbuster' information that Gene
and Bobby Marotti were the first to barefoot in the USA (stated by Jon B. as
"the first on Lake Howard in Winter Haven (FL) to barefoot ski") and thus we
presume, the first ever barefoot water skiers.
Karen Hughes Larson (wife of a former Cyprus Gardens skier
George Hughes) has sent Bobby M's email address.
Three initial things will be done as a result of this revelation:
1. write Bobby M., asking about the information that they were
the first footers ever and ask him for his brother Gene M's email address to ask him the same
question. And 2. Ask Bobby M., Gene M., Karen Hughes Larson, and Jon Broderick
for corroborating info...names/email addresses/phone numbers of the driver,
passengers, eye witnesses on shore or
other boats, the exact dates, place,
film/video of the event, newspaper articles, pictures, etc.
And, 3. We will post this all in the WBC History Timeline forum,
making public, for the first time, the claim that Bobby and Gene were seen to be
the first barefooters in
history...sometime before March 7, 1947...the current date credited with the
feat.
Now the world can digest the claim and offer response. Should
anyone have any pertinent, verifiable, (either corroborating or conflicting)
input, it's time to step-up and share.
Thanks in advance for going to said "WBC forum". When there,
please submit THE WHOLE STORY! Emails with little detail will not be pursued
(and can not be followed up...with no addresses, phone numbers, dates, the
story, the newspaper/magazine stories, etc. Surely one can understand that there can be
no follow up if one has just a name or two)...only a well researched story with all the facts will result in
follow-up.
Hope you, Phil Smyth, (and everyone else) can understand
this!
Thanks again! Please stay in the loop.
Mike