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WATERSKI MagazineThere is this: A wily Wayne Grimditch with eyes riveted on the ramp, straddling the thin line between restriction and rage. Getting every square inch out of his 72-inch EP jumpers, he explodes off the lip of the ramp, floats chinstrap-over-ski-tip, and comes down in first place.
And there is this: A smiling Wayne Grimditch, adorned in a white tank top with a big red, white and blue “Superstars” logo emblazoned across his chest. The 160-pound guy the world's never heard of walks amid the world's elite athletes, victorious at the 1978 made-for-ABC-television Superstars event.
Both images represent greatness in sport: Grimditch the world's best water ski jumper and Grimditch the world's best athlete. Both are reasons why our top 10 list would not be complete without him. After Ricky McCormick made water skiing a household word with his appearances on talk and variety shows, Wayne Grimditch gave it respectability. He gave it a face. He gave it a touch of Hollywood.
You could argue that Grimditch's win against the best football players, track stars and cyclists in the world did more to further the sport than any of his 16 national titles, 10 national records, four world marks and three world championships ever did. And you wouldn't be wrong. In two hours of weekend network TV, Grimditch proved to the world that water skiers weren't just the guys who didn't make the baseball team.
Though he did. Grimditch not only hit for average in baseball, but as a youngster he starred in squash, track and field, diving, bowling, weightlifting, swimming, tennis, cycling, rowing, show skiing, ice skating, soccer and football, where he was a Florida all-state player. Making the U.S. ski team at age 14, however, proved too attractive to pass up.
“What I really enjoyed most about water skiing,” says the four-time U.S. team member, “was the preparation. Working out and training was a great confidence builder.”
The work ethic and attention to detail instilled in Grimditch by his parents, national-caliber figure skaters in their day, paid handsome dividends, as evidenced by the contents of his trophy room. Along with the host of national and world trophies sit two silver medals (slalom and tricks) from the 1972 Olympics, in which skiing was a demonstration sport. Grimditch, however, never set out to win.
“Winning can frustrate athletes. I think the whole winning philosophy is flawed from the standpoint that if someone doesn't win, that doesn't make him a loser. I approached skiing as fulfilling my goals and being the best skier out there. I was disappointed when I didn't win, but I tried to focus more on performing to the best of my abilities.”
In his time, Wayne Grimditch was the best skier out there. He will be remembered as a winner. The kid that set the records. The man who owned the ramp. One of us who beat the world. – Rob May
