Everything here looks exciting and intense. The short set up, hand throttle driving, small narrow slaloms and 72" jumpers. Even the 6' ramp was shorter and steeper angled than today's ramp. All of those factors and more, made waterskiing look more extreme. Contrast that to the perfect conditions, smooth performances, speed controled larger boats, more surface area skis, etc of today. Oh, and that audience too!
I've never been a freestyle jumper other than a pretty lame helicopter but that guy who threw that HUGE front flip is awesome!