Medford mail tribune., June 12, 1960, Image 45

Nancie isn't only a ski champ; she's also
among Cypress Gardens' best boat jockeys.
WATER-SKIS
(Continued,)
set a woman's jumping record in water
skiing that experts say may stand for
many years.
What kind of a jump was it? Well,
pace off 89 feet (Nancie's record-breaking
leap), visualize a young, lithe girl
soaring off a five-foot ski jump behind
a speeding boat and covering the 89
feet with ballet-like grace. It's a breath
taking sight for spectators arid an un
forgettable thrill for a skier.
Nancie didn't just go out and start
setting records, of course. "I took my
share of spills that first day," she says.
"But corny as it sounds, water-skiing
got into my blood from the start. Daddy '
sadly gave up his fishing weekends
after Shirley and I badgered him
enough. Even he finally caught the bug.
Before we knew it, the whole family
was skiing, even my 14-year-old
brother Billy, who was only five at the
time. I'll bet Billy is going to be a
champion, too, some day."
Besides determination, Nancie had
another advantage she lives near
one of the water-skiing capitals of the
world. "It's only 20 miles to Cypress
Gardens," she explains. "That may not
mean much to people who haven't been
there, but it's one of the most beautiful
spots in Florida and here's the point
they have a professional water-skiing
show there every day. I took one look
at those boys and girls skimming over
the water and said to myself: 'Nancie,
you practice and you can do that, too.'
"To make a long story short, I did
practice my whole family helped me
and I finally made the show after
some experience traveling with a pro
fessional show in 1955-1956. I won the
national title in 1958, of course, and
the rest of my tournament record is
history. History, by the way, which
won't be added to," she adds with a
freckle-flecked smile.
The explanation for that is elemen
tary if you're a young bachelor and
meet Nancie. Besides skiing for Cypress
Gardens, Nancie's native charm and
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fresh good looks made her a natural
to represent one of the major out
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throughout the country a job she did
so well that it led to scores of radio
and TV appearances from the Ed Sulli
van Show to Dave Garroway's.
One of these trips carried her to
Kansas City. "I met the right guy there
and we fell in love," she said. "Pretty
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forget about water-skiing. I'm retiring
when we get married this September.
That doesn't mean that I won't be on
skis every chance I get, but from then
on it will be strictly for fun."
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When I declined her offer to teach
me to ski, Nancie admonished me: "It
is fun, you know. There are at least
10 million water-skiers in America. I've
taught a three-year-old girl to ski (this
said slightly tauntingly). And I've seen
senior citizens In their 80s out for a
spin (this suggesting the author's de
crepitude). Anyone (hinting that the
author could be the exception) can
learn In IS minutes."
Needless to
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a knot of professional skiers allowed
myself to be taught In all honesty, I
must admit that when Nancie said 15
minutes, it was a conservative estimate.
By a stop watch, I was skiing over the
say, I gave in and before swells of Lake Louise at Cypress
dens in slightly more than 12 minutes.
Learning to ski is a simple matter
of three minutes' instruction on dry
land, then right into the water. As
Nancie explained them, these are the
fundamentals that were enough to make
an aquaman out of me:
"Sit back on the skis in shallow water.
Your knees should be nearly touching
your chest. Your arms extending back
from the tow bar should be as parallel
as possible to your uptilted skis. Re
member, when the boat starts, it pulls
you erect; if you try to pull yourself
up, you're going to tumble."
I tried to pull myself erect the first
time and did tumble. The second time,
Nancie helped me up and gave me the
feel of it. On the third attempt, I made
it and (in my own modest estimation)
skimmed over the lake with the grace
of a professional, despite clenched teeth
and the sluggish response of some
muscles I never knew I had.
Now I'm a convert and can under
stand why Nancie says water-skiing on
a "fun" basis is one of our fastest-
growing family sports. "As you know
now," Nancie told me, "practically any
one any age can learn to water-ski in
a few minutes. There are beautiful
lakes and rivers all over the country
wonderfully adapted to water-skiing.
And you can buy the whole rig boat,
skis, the works for as little as $1,200.
"Water-skiing has been good to me.
It has kept me outdoors and healthy.
When I practice for tournaments, I'm
on the lake from 7:30 a.m. till dark.
And it's going to be just as good for
my children. If they want to be water-
ski champions, I'll say: 'Go right ahead.'
Professionals don't ordinarily compete
after their early 20s, so they'll have
plenty of time to find vocations or
husbands."
Nancie's biggest thrill in a thrilling
sport occurred while she was go
ing through the same paces she had
done hundreds of times in the four-
times-a-day shows at Cypress Gardens.
"The difference was, though, that it was
at Jones Beach in New York, and we
were being televised on the Ed Sullivan
Show. I nearly fell before all those
people on shore and the millions watch
ing on TV. I caught myself just before
. I ignominiously slid along on my nose.
My hesitation wasn't noticeable to any
one watching, but I sure knew it when
my knees buckled momentarily. I was
still shaking a bit when I told Mr. Sulli
van that I had nearly wrecked his
beautiful show."
As she retires to become a housewife,
Nancie won't admit that her aquatic
thrills are behind her. "As long as I
can still do it, it will be a thrill for me.
Maybe you won't believe it, but even on
my day off, I water-ski! The titles, the
trophies, the wonderful people I've met
they're memories to last a lifetime.
But most important, once you've water
skied, you know you'll never want for
outdoor fun, thrills, and excitement"
Family Weeklu, June 12, 1960 H
Gar