For water skiers, no location is as storied as the banks of Lake Eloise, the home of Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven. It is fitting that the central point in the sport’s centennial celebration is here in Florida’s Sweetest Spot.
Nowhere else in the sport has had more records broken or inspired the continued evolution of the sport. Water skiing may have been invented in 1922 by Ralph Samuelson on Lake Pepin in Minnesota, but Dick Pope, Sr.’s Cypress Gardens and Central Florida’s Polk County transformed it into a global sport and entertainment phenomenon.
1917 One of the first newsreel-men ever seen in Winter Haven, shot a film of a 17 year old stunt man cutting fancy capers on an aquaplane. (Dick Pope Sr.)
1942 Julie Pope organizes the first ski show at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, FL.
1944 The first ballet on water ever filmed was performed on a Jitter board.
1947 Water ski shows are established on a daily schedule at Cypress Gardens and became the longest continued daily entertainment production in the world.
1947 Dick Pope Jr. is the first barefoot water skier to be recorded by photograph.
1947 Chuck Sligh holds the first record in long distance jumping at 49ft.
1948 The first 2 tier human pyramid.
1949 Practicing trick skiing for the World Championships, Willa and Red McGuire design a special binding that swivels. Willa then adapts Swivel to ballet and soon creates graceful routines for girls.
1950 Water Skiing World Championships were held at Cypress Gardens. (Dick Pope Jr. and Willa McGuire Overall Champions)
1952 City of Winter Haven incorporates a water skier in the logo.
1952 “This is Cinerama” program featured performers of Cypress Gardens and jump boats, one which was piloted by the first women jump boat driver in the world Betty Skelton Erde.
1952 Dick Pope landed one of his largest promotional deals; convincing a major film studio to shoot a motion picture at Cypress Gardens. “Easy to Love”
1952 Florida Southern College formed the first collegiate water ski team under Glenn Kirkpatrick.
1953 Cypress Gardens Skiers built the first 3 tier human pyramid for the movie “Easy to Love”.
1953 Ken Tibado becomes the first person to perform a two ski barefoot jump out.
1956 Cypress Gardens show skiers appear on the Ed Sullivan Show with first triple Helicopter.
1957 Water Skiing World Championships at Cypress Gardens. Joe Cash and M. Doria are Overall Champions.
1957 1957
The first World Kite Championships were held at Cypress Gardens. Ken Tibado, a Cypress Gardens Skier, won the event.
1957 Winter Haven resident William Clifford was the associations First President.
1972 First US National Delta Glider Championships were held at Cypress Gardens.
1973 The first International Barefoot Tournament was held at Cypress Gardens.
1975 First four man front flip was the Ramp Masters of Cypress Gardens.
1976 360 Swivel Ski skills were introduced by Sally Winter and additional skills from Betty Bonifay.
1976 The American Water Ski Association expands their operation headquarters and moves to a new location in Winter Haven. Also included is a preview of the Water Ski Hall of Fame Museum.
1979 Cypress Gardens troupe performed the first four tier human pyramid.
