Baller DangerBoy Posted January 22, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 22, 2019 I hope that those of you who own some cool old vintage skis will show them off to us in this thread. I have a small collection of vintage skis at my cabin that I intend to show off here and I hope that some of you may enjoy seeing them. Where appropriate, I'll point out some of the interesting things about the ski(s) and their history. Today, I'll start off with part of my small but nice collection of vintage 1970s inlaid mahogany Connelly slalom skis. Here's part of the collection displayed together on the wall of my cabin as an "objet d' art". Here's a closeup of the cluster. The top and bottom skis have had some restoration work done on them. They came to me with a few dents and dings so I had my friend the master craftsman woodoworker do some work on them and he did a terrific job. I decided to leave the bindings off of them to show off more of the amazing inlay work on the skis. The ski in the middle, however, is a different story. It came to me in mint original condition. It's virtually flawless and has had no work done to it whatsover so it's completely original in every way. If it was ever used, it must've only been once or twice and very carefully at that. There aren't even any scratches on the base. I just took it out of the bag, wiped some fingerprints off of it and put it up on the wall. For a ski that old, it's pretty rare (and lucky) to find one in unused condition. Below is a picture of the base of that middle ski. As you can see, it's in perfect condition. It also has a very unusual inlay pattern on the underside of the tip. I've been watching every auction on these skis that comes up on eBay for the last few years and I'm yet to see another ski that has an inlay pattern like that under the tip. Usually it's just a stripe or two of yellow cedar on the underside of the tip. The pointy rounded tip is also a lot less common than the blunt tipped skis Connelly mostly made during that era. Anyways, I feel pretty fortunate to have found that ski and to own it. It's a beautiful relic of a bygone era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 75Tique Posted January 22, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 22, 2019 Don't really have any vintage skis to show, except perhaps the ubiquitous Dick Pope Jr slalom ski that I think pretty much every ski enthusiast on the planet has. (not mine - "stock" photo) Although I dont consider it vintage (it was just a few years ago, right) I am sure the younger crowd here would think my early 80's HO Mach 1 is vintage. Skis I would like to have on the wall but dont are my original wood Northland Custom Slalom, long ago lost, my first (and a lot of other folks too, I would imagine) "real" ski, the silver blue and green Obrien world team. I never owned the next step up, the pretty black with white spray Obrien competitor. For me, back in the day, that was my wish list ski. I also have no connection with, but like the looks of the red blue and silver Obrien Mach 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Zman Posted January 22, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 22, 2019 My first slalom ski was the Connelly Shortline. But that one is gone. This is one of my next skis. Recommended by a friend who set a world record on it. All I did was make big spray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Dobrodan Posted January 22, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 22, 2019 I have the same Mastercraft/Lapoint ski - even the same side. Got it from Jennifer Leachman. I skied on it for a really long time. Great ski. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ryans1418 Posted January 22, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 22, 2019 My Dads old Connelly Shortline 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skibrain Posted January 22, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 22, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller mfjaegersr Posted January 22, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 22, 2019 Love the Hooks, @DangerBoy ! Put these up on the Wall a few weeks ago, part of the home Gym motivational makeover. I’ve been thinking of restoring the Torque; you just fanned that flame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DangerBoy Posted January 22, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted January 22, 2019 Here's the pride and joy of my Connelly collection. This one came to me with some damage on one side along the top edge somewhere near the tip or just a little ways back. Again, my friend the master craftsman wood worker did a fantastic job of repairing and restoring the ski. You can't even tell where the damage was! He does high-end custom inlayed hardwood floors for a living so doing this sort of exacting meticulous woodwork is easy for him. I trade him time at my cabin for his work. Fortunately for me, he loves it at my cabin! Again, I chose to leave the bindings off to show of more of the unbelievably intricate inlay work on this ski. IMO this inlay pattern was the most stunning and beautiful that Connelly ever produced. I think if I had owned this ski when it was new I wouldn't have wanted to ski on it for fear of damaging what I consider to be more of a work of art than a waterski. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinAquaBatSkier Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 A headboard I built. Have about 30 more skis in storage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted January 22, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted January 22, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DangerBoy Posted January 23, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted January 23, 2019 Here are a couple more that are in my collection. The pair to the left are shown below. I'm pretty sure they are circa 1960 or 61. They are Penn Craft Whirlaways and they're solid mahogany. Their bottoms are quite rockered and they have no fins. The idea being you could spin around on them and go backwards or sideways or whatever as implied by the tip graphics. I just look at them and see a million ways to tear yourself apart doing the splits and whatnot. The funny thing is they're in absolute original mint condition. If they were ever used it couldn't have been more than once or twice. They were advertised on eBay as an "estate sale boathouse find". My theory is that the original owner bought them thinking they'd be heaps of fun and then either injured or scared themselves so badly on the first run or two they were immediately relagated to the boathouse rafters and never saw the light of day again for 55 years until being sold with a bunch of other old stuff in an estate sale. Now they adorn the walls of the TV room in my cabin and make me smile. :) The pair to the right above the TV are from either the 50s or 60s. Maybe someone can chime in here and help me narrow it down a bit? They are Elgins, made for Simpsons Sears and Simpsons. They hark back to the time when outboards were in their heyday and many major department stores (e.g. Simpson Sears, Montgomery Ward, etc.) had their own in-house brands of outboard motors. Simpson-Sears outboards were Elgins and these skis were sold under the same brand name. These skis were certainly used but are are in very nice condition. The graphics are great, I just love them. I removed the fins for easier mounting and display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Taperflex Posted January 24, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ MISkier Posted January 24, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted January 24, 2019 I actually gave my last vintage ski to one of my ski buddies that was looking to complete his collection of old skis that he’s owned. EP Super 2 - circa 1980 The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bjkesler Posted January 24, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2019 I bought the taper flex ski as a young teenager. it was going to be the greatest new tech. mahogany core with formica top and bottom. really didn't fly. That was just before Obrien started building tunnel skis. Bought my first Obrien ski for $59.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Nando Posted January 24, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 24, 2019 @Jody_Seal- love that CG Ricky McCormick Trick-Master- from when boards were really boards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ lpskier Posted January 25, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted January 25, 2019 The Wall of Fame Lpskier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller PacMan Posted January 25, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bjkesler Posted January 25, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2019 check out this collection Its a fence next to a small cafe at Bear Lake in Utah. Had to have been a couple hundred feet long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Brewski Posted January 25, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Edbrazil Posted January 26, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 26, 2019 Anyone with some AquaSport skis to show? They made top jumpers in the era of wooden skis. Don't think they stuck around when composite skis came in, starting in the late 1960s. Also, their founder/owner Larry Brown died relatively early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Zman Posted January 26, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 26, 2019 @lpskier I like all those vintage EP skis. Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DangerBoy Posted January 26, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted January 26, 2019 Here's another part of my collection. These are in a kids bedroom that I call the "rocket room" because of the rocket themed waterskis displayed in them. I think these pairs are from the late 50s or very early 60s but maybe someone here can help me fix the date with more certainty. Anyone? The skis in both of these pairs are heavy and about 7 feet long. The red rocket Sea Gliders pair make me chuckle. The bindings are set quite far back and the rear pocket on the slalom ski is set way far back; almost at the tail of the ski. The fin on the slalom ski was huge. It was thick metal about 6" deep and weighed a ton. With all this weight so far back on the ski, the skier had to be doing a wheelie the whole time. I can't imagine what it would've been like to try and slalom on that thing. It had to have been very tricky. Canbar Clippers Sea Gliders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RAWSki Posted January 27, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 27, 2019 The collection that hangs on our great room wall. I have skied on 3 of the 4 . Decades ago . Might be time to try the "wake special" next season. (Bottom ski - wide and long). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DangerBoy Posted January 27, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted January 27, 2019 @RAWSki Love the skis especially the wake special. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DangerBoy Posted January 27, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted January 27, 2019 This one's from around '74 I think (please correct me if I'm wrong). It's also pretty rare as far as I can tell or at least they're hard to find. From the company that brought you those burgundy colored utility balls we all played with in school, the AMF Voit Dragon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller waterskicorey Posted January 28, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 28, 2019 The wall in my garage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Booze Posted January 29, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 29, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Zman Posted January 30, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 30, 2019 @Booze Awesome collection! No wonder you're so good! You've skied a lot of skis! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller OldGuysRule Posted January 31, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 31, 2019 This pair of Kimball water skis came from my dentist as a gift. I believe they were the first fiberglass water skis. I did put them on and skied around lake a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller OldGuysRule Posted January 31, 2019 Baller Share Posted January 31, 2019 I think this Kimball fiberglass slalom ski is dated 1957. Note the huge fin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller OldGuysRule Posted February 5, 2019 Baller Share Posted February 5, 2019 My old trusty Taperflex from the 1960's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller wettek69 Posted February 5, 2019 Baller Share Posted February 5, 2019 @75Tique I always wanted that O'Brien Competitor as well. Apparently the image on it is not spray, it's actually the trees and shoreline on Herb O'Briens favorite lake (Radr Lake?). One of the members here told me that when I made the same comment about the spray. Had to settle for a World Team Comp as the Competitor was out of my price range at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller IGski Posted February 5, 2019 Baller Share Posted February 5, 2019 @Edbrazil 1960's AquaSport Jumpers for sale on Ski it again. Asking price is a bit out there....lol. http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?endless=summer&topic=Search&postid=27088 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted February 7, 2019 Baller Share Posted February 7, 2019 If anyone is interested I have CNC'd graphics into old skis. Unlike my skis once the graphics are cut they may have to be painted. My skis have a contrasting second layer of wood that makes the graphics pop. Some of the old skis do have a lighter inside which looks pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DangerBoy Posted February 8, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted February 8, 2019 @dbski can you show us some examples of your work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted February 8, 2019 Baller Share Posted February 8, 2019 I've only cut a few vintage skis and they were not mine so they are at the owners. They look just like my skis but as I said the lettering and graphics are painted. I attached one of the first skis I ever did with painted graphics. This was before I devised the two layer method to form contrasting graphics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller EricKelley Posted February 9, 2019 Baller Share Posted February 9, 2019 This photo is of my old Majerajah ski and the boat that goes with it. Supposedly the boat, a Rayson Craft was built for Bob Majer. The boat and the ski are a lot of fun and get a lot of use. I'm going to take a try at the course this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller EricKelley Posted February 9, 2019 Baller Share Posted February 9, 2019 By the way the picture with the ski is not me, it is my nephew. My son and nephew like some of the really old school stuff. They are in the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DangerBoy Posted February 12, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted February 12, 2019 I guess you could consider these chairs as part of my vintage waterski collection. I collected skis for quite awhile to get enough to make these two chairs. I'm now working on getting enough to make at least one more. They were made for me by the same master craftsman woodworker that did the restorations on a number of my inlaid mahogany Connelly Hooks and Comp 2s you can see in my first post. I came up with the original design of these chairs taking the best elements out of several different designs I saw on the Internet. We also copied the ergonomics off the most comfortable Adirondack chair I had ever sat in to make sure these chairs would be ultra-comfortable. We succeeded in that aspiration. They're really comfortable. I had only planned for the back rests to be made from three whole ski tips with the two side ones angled in a bit to approximate curvature for the back. It was my friend's idea to spend a great deal of time and effort on his tablesaw making high precision cuts on those ski tips so we could get real curvature on the backrest. I think it looks pretty good done that way and it sure helped make the chairs comfortable. You might notice that I didn't have quite enough skis to finish the second chair so my friend contributed some solid mahogany from his stash for the seat slats and front legs. Mahogany has excellent weather resistance so it'll hold up well on the deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brenttiffany Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted September 29, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted September 29, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Woody74 Posted September 30, 2019 Baller Share Posted September 30, 2019 The Kidder I skied on in highschool (circa 1993) and my friend's Dad's old Cut n' Jump that I keep asking him for. lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Cent Posted October 1, 2019 Baller Share Posted October 1, 2019 Nice Kidder. Still have I’ve just like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Woody74 Posted October 1, 2019 Baller Share Posted October 1, 2019 Cent, the Kidder is still mint! I plan to ski it again next summer to see how it feels compared to my HO Syndicate Omni :smiley: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted October 1, 2019 Baller Share Posted October 1, 2019 Barge comes to mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller DangerBoy Posted October 2, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted October 2, 2019 Just picked up this old Kimball fiberglass slalom ski for cheap. Perhaps @Melissakimball or someone else here could identify approximately what year or decade it's from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tellison Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I picked these up this summer to play around on, as well as to save my Kidder from being used by friends. Amazing how such similar shapes feel so different. The EP is twitchy and loves to dive into turns, while the O'Brien is pretty mild mannered actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller teammalibu Posted October 2, 2019 Baller Share Posted October 2, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Cent Posted October 2, 2019 Baller Share Posted October 2, 2019 Woody my Kidder is also mint. Brand new and never used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jaypro Posted October 2, 2019 Baller Share Posted October 2, 2019 My dads Chuck Stearns Shark from the 70s and My OBrien TRC forms the 80s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.webp.8497384650ada8a3e4f1fd5dd6c3fb2a.webp)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now