BROKEN SKI AWARD RECIPIENTS

The dubious honor of receiving the Broken Ski is bestowed on a Metroplex Ski Club member each year for some blunderous action they have been given credit for - whether deserved or not! The recipient adds an item to the ski to signify the act that earned this distinction.

1984 - JOHN WILSON Lake Texoma - John and two friends borrowed a ski from a stranger to show off by building a pyramid. After the ski was kicked off to build the pyramid, John ran over the borrowed ski with the borrowed boat. Thereby creating the broken ski for this award!

Contribution: The Broken Ski

1985 - BILL COLP Bill owned a 300ZX… Here is his version of the story: The car was a brand new (actually 7-month old) 300ZX. I wasn't going skiing, but heading from work at TI (Central and LBJ) to play intramural softball in Allen. (It was a Tuesday evening and I remember it clearly). I also was not "speeding" when I wrecked out, although I most certainly totalled it. I was driving north on Highway 5 between Plano and Allen and attempted an imprudent pass. It's a long story, but it was technically legal but still stupid. Even though it had nothing to do with skiing, because I was a MSC officer (and had been for a few years), and because I had saved up for so long for that car, John (Wilson) and Rick (Malak) decided that me wrecking out my Z was the biggest bonehead move of the year. No argument from me, but the truth isn't as glamorous as the tale.

Contribution: Nissan written on the bottom of the ski

1986 - MIKE WARNER Duck Hill Mississippi - Mike partied all night with a girl he had met and missed his turn at regionals - by 60 seconds!

Contribution: Cold pack

1987 - CHAD BAKER North Lake - Chad dropped Mike Warner’s new camcorder in the lake while video taping him bare footing.

Contribution: Picture of camcorder

1988 - TONY WATKINS Tri-Lakes - Tony totally missed his ride at regionals by oversleeping.

Contribution: Alarm clock

1989 - GARY OWEN Marine Creek - Gary tied off his boat to the dock using the pylon with the rope stretched across the drivers seat. The boat was still running. And according to Murphy’s Law, some wakes hit the boat. The rope moved up against the throttle and pushed it into gear. And of course the boat went on shore.

Contribution: Prop (dinged prop)

1990 - JANE ABEL Marine Creek - Jane lost control of her boat in the turn-a-round when her steering cable broke and she wound up in the willow trees. They had to “cut” the boat out.

Contribution: Willow leaves and saw blade

1991 - FONDA HALFACRE Marine Creek - Fonda attempted to sink one of Jim Buxton’s promo boats,

(PETERSON) (which he was not too happy about and told her so), but then she had to go and try again.

Contribution: Boat plug

1992 - BARRY HESS Barry was having a fabulous year jumping but one day decided to go in-line skating, in an empty swimming pool. His season was cut short by a broken ankle.

Contribution: In-line skate wheels

1993 - ROBIN PHILLIPS Willow Bend - Robin was driving at a tournament when in the turn-a-round the steering cable broke and the boat ran completely on shore.

Contribution: Barney boat

1994 - MARK PETERSON Cypress Hills - Mark had a wonderful year jumping and finished the year off nicely at regionals when after completing his first two jumps, passed his third. He skied around the jump, did a 180 turn with one hand in the water for style, and completed his performance by landing on his back on shore at the feet of spectators.

Contribution: Rocks in the binding

1995 - DAVID DERASAUGH Marine Creek - David made a splash at boat certification - literally. Bruce Carr was on the platform in dress clothes attempting to replace a buoy when David accidentally hit the throttle throwing Bruce into the water with the Coast Guard present and performing their task of boat and water safety instruction.

Contribution: Wallet, play money, and life jacket.

1996-BILL STEARNS & Tri-Lakes - While vacationing in Louisiana, Bill and Melinda decided to attend

MELINDA HICKMAN regionals. Melinda left for a few hours unbeknown to Bill. Once Bill realized her lack of presence he began looking for Melinda but to no avail. The day of competition was drawing to an end as well as the sun setting, and Bill began to be a little concerned about Melinda’s whereabouts since she had taken their rental car, his wallet, clothes, airline tickets, pretty much everything he had with him! Bill could not understand where she would have gone for such a long time without letting him know and he was “pretty sure” that they had not gotten in a fight! All did eventually end well, Melinda did not run away with a hunk skier after all but instead did return to pick up Bill at the end of the day.

Contribution: A Toy Car.

1997-TERRI STOKER Marine Creek Lake - This is the BIG One!!! The CAR!!! Terri arrived at Marine Creek Lake for a leisurely afternoon by the water. She pulled up to the combination gate, got out, unlocked the gate, returned to her car and pulled through, and then… got out of her car to close the gate… turned around to return to her car only to see it rolling down the hill, dodging trees, and clipping a jump meter stand before its entry into the water with the windshield wipers a flappin’! It floated for a while… maybe thinking it could become a boat?

Contribution: A photograph of the half sunk car.

1998-CHUCK COMPHER Marine Creek Lake – Upon the completion of an after work ski set, Chuck Compher

headed up the hill at Marine Creek Lake to go home. He stopped at the gate to chat with Bill Stearns for a few moments and then commenced to continue pulling out through the gate. But, he decided to do some re-work on the gate and his boat in a not to favorable way…He caught the gate with his boat and platform.

Contribution: A platform clip.

1999-RONNIE MARTIN Cypress Hills – At Regionals, Ronnie fell and broke his ankle in his slalom event. This prevented him from attending Nationals in Bakersfield, CA. To most of us this would just be a ‘missed’ year but to Ronnie this was earth shattering! You see, Ronnie has not missed Nationals in almost 20 years and has NEVER missed a Regionals Competition.

Contribution: His Ankle Brace.

2000-CHUCK COMPHER THE FIRST REPEAT RECEIPENT The New Trinity River Site and Somewhere along the way on his Annual Water Ski Trip to Maine. First, at the new Trinity River site…Chuck lost a ski in the water and did not find that day, well…the rains came, and when the rain comes the river flows and the water flows over the damn and over the damn with the water was the ski…lost ski down the river. Then this past summer on his annual trip to Maine, Chuck got in a bind while attempting to turn around with his boat trailered behind him. He ends up running into a house with his boat and trailer! The house he runs into is a celebrity, the host of the television show “The Antique Road Show”.

Contribution: To Be Announced.

2001-TO BE ANNOUNCED xxxx