HISTORY OF THE VICTORIA AQUA SKI CLUB-1958 TO 2017

..Cliff Moffat- 2017

The year is 1953,when a small enthusiastic group of people first started water-skiing on the salt-water of Bamberton Inlet. They named themselves the Victoria Outboard Club. The sport was new, daring and exciting. As time marched on, any patch of flat water lured them in, including Elk Lake.

Some of the skiers forming this new sports club included Jim Leech, Bill Hughes, Cliff and Knute Johnson, Stu Mcinnis, Chuck Dumeresque, Barry Philbrook, Don Lowe, Vi Sharp, Charlie Mullen, Tim Vee, Terry Pye, Barnie Gamble, Shirley Crowe, Pat Molino, Grant Fenwick, Lyall Flett, Don Malcolm and Charley Clarke.

Spanning the years from 1953 to 1958, these skiers were the pioneer settlers for

what would later become known as the Victoria Aqua Ski Club (VASC).

Some of the very first competitions that were held had to meet little criteria, unlike today's events. Rules were few, leaving much to the discretion of the workers who designed and set up the equipment. Slalom turning balls were constructed from inflated inner tubes which would then be folded into a bundle. Boat gates were made from anything that would float. For a short period of time, the maximum slalom speed for men's division was 38 mph. Jump ramp surfaces were narrow and steep, as no minimums for ramp surface or height to angle requirements had been established. Jump ramps had no side-skirts or aprons which would protect a skier from crashing into the supporting framework if the ramp approach was timed too late. Jumpers could approach from either the left or right side of the ramp, and if electing to pass, they could ski between the jump and the tow-boat. Needless to say, injuries happened and several deaths were recorded in the United States. Several of our senior club members remember competing in these conditions.

In January of 1958, the Victoria Aqua Ski Club was officially registered with The Societies Act of British Columbia. At this time, the club had made an agreement to jointly share Elk Lake with The Victoria Rowing Club. As might be expected, boat wakes interfered with the flat water conditions competitive rowers required.

In 1960, the ski club decided that Shawinigan Lake would be a site that had the water conditions they required, and was also far enough away from any urban area that might attract additional boat traffic. This lake was primarily a summer resort area where most lake front dwellings were small cabins and were not occupied during the winter months. Boat traffic was very light during the summer, and by Labour Day weekend, most lake-front residents returned to Victoria for the winter.

The VASC approached the McMillan Bloedel Logging Company, who owned a 25 acre parcel of land on Recreation Rd. This tract of land had almost one quarter mile of waterfront and no neighbors for another three quarter mile to the north. An agreement was reached and for an annual fee of $25.00, the club could rent the entire site. During the next fourteen years, this would be home for the Victoria Aqua Ski Club. Interestingly enough, the rent was never increased during these years.

The underbrush and windfalls were removed from approximately two acres, leaving the remaining timber standing. Two hundred feet of beach area was all the space needed for 2 wharfs. Campsites were randomly selected and accommodation ranged from tents, trailers to converted buses.

Two members each built a plywood cabin (more like a shack by today's standards)-two sheets long and two sheets wide, with a flat roof. Both cabins, which were located on the north end of the beach, floated during the winter months due to the height of the lake-water. Even being roped to trees, they still faced a different direction every spring when the water receded. There was no electrical or water services to the property, and the use of an "out-house" was the norm all around the lake. Most residents drank the water directly from the lake as it was considered potable by most, including the Health Department.

A 45 gallon water barrel which was filled using a portable pump, was suspended in a tree and supplied water for a shower. Our neighbor to the south was a summer vacation site called Mountain View Resort, which had been in operation for several years. The owners were amiable and supported our tournaments.

The first slalom course was installed on the west side of the lake in front of what is now called the Provincial Park, and shortly after, another was installed in front of the club-site. Individual anchors secured the turning balls and boat guides, but the uneven lake bottom made course accuracy difficult, compared to the floating courses used today.

During the spring/summer of 1965, water conditions and weather was so skier-friendly, Canadian National ski-coach Clint Ward brought the National Team to Shawnigan Lake for two weeks training at our club-site, prior to competing in the World Championships in Australia. Brothers George and Greg Athans along with the Ashley brothers, all world class skiers, often came to Shawnigan Lake for early spring training. Our club was well known for its generosity.

The last weekend of July-1967,the VASC hosted the Canadian National Water Ski Championships on Elk Lake. This was a monster success, drawing several thousand spectators daily, along with television coverage, CBC radio coverage and newspaper reporters. Eight provinces brought teams, coaches and managers. Water and weather conditions were perfect, resulting in high level performances. Brothers Knute and Cliff Johnson were Chief Judge and Tournament Coordinator respectively.

The club purchased a 16 foot wooden inboard ski boat in 1960 .It was powered by a Buick V-8 motor, and after being refurbished, proudly displayed the VASC logo on the hull. Most members owned out-board motor boats, with the exception of three. Jim Leech's boat was 12 long and powered by a turbo-charged air-cooled Corvair motor, which could only be described as "scary fast". Bill Hughes' 16 foot Glen-L" White Mist" was equipped with a 3 carb-389 cu. in. Pontiac Bonneville motor and Pat Molino's 18 foot Buick powered inboard named "Rastus" . As expected, the serious skiers wanted to practice behind the more powerful in-boards.

Fuel for the "VASC club-boat" was supplied by the club, with skier-usage being paid by "the honour system". Scheduled maintenance and ascetics were to be performed by some of the more skilled members, but as both items proved somewhat less than successful, after three years the boat was sold.

In year 1970, McMillan Bloedel Logging, our landlord, traded our club-site for a tract of northern timber owned by the BC Government. M&B informed the club that it would have to vacate by the end of 1974. The government re-named the club-site the "Old Mill Park", because a large sawmill had operated on this location from the late 1800's to approximately 1940. Many of the old wharf pilings can still be seen on the waterfront.

The VASC now had four years to re-locate so an appointed five man committee began searching for a suitable location. Little thought was given to the prospect of the club ever owning its own property because the club bank account was minimal and hard assets few. All that concerned the membership was having a place where they could water-ski.

All areas between the Malahat and Nanaimo were investigated, but to no avail. By early

1974 and time quickly running out, it was discovered that an American owned the site we now occupy and he was fearful that the Provincial Government was considering implementing a "foreign owned holding tax", which he did not favour. After meeting and negotiating a sale price of $25,000.00, the five man committee quickly made the purchase.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District was the legal body that governed Shawnigan Lake and this land was scheduled in Area C. The CVRD established 19 as the maximum number of pad/sites this piece of land could legally accommodate. Because this land was zoned "single family-residential", the CVRD classified our property use "non-conforming," and any future request or application would be considered on a "one time basis only". The 19 pad/site proposal was accepted.

The Victoria Aqua Ski Holding Company was formed with share values issued to 19 parties, of whom all were to be VASC members in good standing. A mortgage was purchased and registered. The Holding Company was a separate entity from the VASC, and was established in such a legal fashion that guaranteed the VASC always had a permanent site of operation. Several years later, the Holding Company was replaced with the Victoria Aqua Ski Co-Op.

Members attended a special meeting, and eagerly selected a first, second and third choice for the 19 available pad/sites, chosen through a random drawing process.

From the original 19 Co-op members, 5 are still owners while the remaining 12 pads been re-assigned. Annually, the Co-Op elects 7 members to become directors who then handle the affairs of the Co-Op. The directors then elect one of their own to serve as chair-person to oversee directors meetings.

Land clearing on the new club-site began, using a caterpillar tractor generously donated by KC Johnson Construction (Cliff and Knute).The land below or west of the railway tracks was primarily covered with brush and wind-falls. The remnants of a previous basement excavation was filled in, and is the location where our clubhouse is now situated.

At this point in time ,there was no approved crossing over the railway tracks, so legal access was not available from Lavinia Road.. The Government neglected to develop the old site for several years, which fortunately allowed the temporary access to our land.

Eventually a permit for a legal crossing and sewage line was obtained from the E & N Railway, allowing a driveway to be installed from Lavinia Rd to the club-site. By this time, the property had been cleared and fenced and the planning began for the location of 19 concrete pads and a club-house. A concrete block building was then constructed to accommodate a pump and electrical room, along with male and female shower/washrooms. A later addition housed kitchen facilities, ski-locker, multi-purpose floor area and two cupboards.

Several years later, the flat roof was replaced with a pitch roof which was extended 12 feet out from the west wall, providing a covered meeting area. Trailers, campers and 5^th wheels were the first accommodations to sit on the 19 pads. After the first cabin/building was erected, more and more co-op members opted for this type of accommodation.

Early spring-1974, another slalom course and jump was installed in front of our new location, using the new metric layout which was now the standard adopted by the International Water Ski Federation, and accepted world-wide. Previously, all courses were measured by the Imperial System of feet and inches. The USA was the only country that refused to accept the Metric System, finally conforming in 1980. For liability reasons, both the slalom course and the jump were duly plotted and registered with the Dept. of Transport

A ton of credit should be given to the various committees and individual workers who had to meet and satisfy the wills of "the powers to be".

These two incidents might describe our popularity with our neighbors to the north and south.  Some neighbours were very suspicious and skeptical of a ski-club operating in this residential neighbourhood and were also annoyed that they had possibly missed the opportunity of buying the property. One particular individual would "cruise" beside the slalom course when a skier would try to practice, and when asked politely why he had to drive back and forth on this 900 foot stretch of water, explained that he was going out for a boat ride!!

Another neighbour gave the club an invoice for a new high pressure water pump, claiming that it failed due to clogging with silt created by our boat-wakes. To stop any further controversy, the club paid the bill. After some investigation, it was discovered that his plastic water line ran across the club property, and had never been approved by anyone, including the previous owner of our land. As a peace offering, we allowed his line to remain in place. All was quiet for a year or two then he sold and moved away. Over time, the VASC has more than paid it's dues to be accepted as a member of Shawnigan society.

The club was now ready to hold its first tournament on their new site, and opted to host the BC Open. Many high level Canadian and American entries were registered. The ski-gods provided flat water and hot weather. Jeff Jobe (Jobe Ski Manufacturing), landed his father's amphibious helicopter on the beach at the south end of the club-site, really adding to the glamour and excitement. The spectator attendance was huge, including local media and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Minister of Sports and Recreation opened the event, and at the conclusion, he commended the VASC on a job well done.

From 1960 to 1974, the VASC hosted many sanctioned competitions, including the BC Open, The BC Festival Of Sports, the Island Open, the Western Canadian Championships, the Provincial Championships, the BC Summer Games, the Canadian National Championships, and the VASC Sanctioned Novice Tournament.

Along with skiers from elsewhere in Canada, many elite competitors and ski manufacturers from the United States attended our club events. Prominent names such as the Goodman family, Lew West, Mike McAllery, Gene Skogland, Herb O'Brien (O'Brien Skies), Roger Teeter (founder of EP Skies), Pat Connelly (Connelly Ski Mfg), Jeff Jobe (Jobe Water Skies) and Denny Kidder (Kidder Skies) competed and sold their products. Skier registration numbers often exceeded one hundred .Days and work-shifts were long. A thousand spectators attending an event was not uncommon.

Many club members competed in these tournaments, several setting national records. While attending these events, some filled the positions of chief of competition, tournament chairperson, judges and drivers. Our club has always had an abundance of national rated officials. For many years, VASC members have been elected to positions on the executive body of Waterski Wakeboard BC, Waterski Wakeboard Canada, and have worked diligently as officials, always being instrumental in the decision making process regarding water- sports. For several years, one particular club-member was elected to serve as the Western Canadian Representative on Water Ski Canada's executive board and also helped form and govern the WSC Hall of Fame Committee.

ln these early years of waterskiing, BC, Ontario and Quebec were the shakers and movers for this sport in Canada. Many of the VASC club members traveled and competed in all three events. These skiers were young, ambitious and eager to show that losing was not an option. Washington, Oregon and California clubs had been hosting tournaments for many years. Most states in the US had active ski-clubs, as USA Waterski had been operating since 1939. This enabled many Canadian skiers to compete in an international event. The first two waterski clubs registered in BC were the VASC and the Vancouver Water Ski Club, and by 1985, 8 clubs were operating within the province.

An outboard tournament boat called a Hydrodyne was available from the BC Region, and offered for club use when hosting an event. It was powered by a pair of 125 hp Mercury motors which were very efficient but extremely thirsty for fuel. The theory behind this offer was, that all clubs would have the opportunity to use a tournament rated boat if they had nothing suitable within their own organization. Over time, with more club members purchasing rated boats, clubs became self-sufficient and the Hydrodyne was sold.

For the first fifteen years of operation, the VASC had a team of skiers that practiced and displayed ski-shows at various public events, including Qualicum Days, the Oak Bay Tea Party and Buccaneer Days-Esquimalt. The club received cash for performing, the greatest amount I remember being $300..Shows consisted of bare-footing, jumping, tricking, pyramid building, kite-flying, para-sailing, clown acts and a female "show-ski" team. A portable aluminum jump (8ft x 16 ft) was transported to shows.

The club entered a parade float in the Victoria Day Parade several times, using the portable jump, ski-boats and "show-girls".

A trophy known as the Inter-Club Cup was first awarded in the mid l 970's to the ski-club having the highest number of competitors and officials attending tournaments throughout British Columbia, in a given year. Varying numbers of points were granted to these people and to the hosting club. The main purpose behind this award was to encourage club participation at the competitive level and also train and qualify new officials. The format of the Inter-Club Cup was engineered by a VASC member, who also calculated it's scoring for 10 years. The 8 clubs that formed the BC Region competed fiercely for this cup and the bragging rights of "the win".

Summer-1971,the Lions Club-Port Angeles and the Lions Club-Victoria promoted a 17 mile ski-race across and back over the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Canadians started from the James Bay launching ramp, while the Americans departed from Port Angeles Park. Skiers from clubs in Port Alberni, Lake Cowichan and the VASC registered. Gary Doughty (VASC) won the race, being towed by club-member Norm Hensen. Water conditions and weather were excellent.

The race was held again the following year, but unfortunately with very heavy fog, rain and huge ground swells, no one completed the course. There appeared to be very little evidence of patrol by US or Canadian Coastguard. Skier registration was vague due to poor communication between the two Lion Clubs. Somehow the young and ignorant survived!

Herb O'Brien (O'Brien Skies) had just recently completed a big flashy inboard drag boat named "The Big O". It was flat bottomed, had little freeboard and was very fast. The Americans hailed it as the winning tow-boat, long before race-day. The boat, being built for flat water conditions, swamped and nearly sank. The Canadian coast-guard was called and towed it to Victoria, the closest shoreline and demanded for safety's sake, that the boat be trailered back to the US. The Americans quietly rented a trailer and departed.

Beginning spring of 1972, the BC Government introduced and an event named The BC Festival of Sports. The VASC was approached and asked if it would appoint two delegates to meet with the Festival Committee and present a tournament format. This was done and a sanction registration form was submitted and accepted. The competition was held at Shawnigan Lake and was a great success. Skier registration exceeded 80. Costs for transportation to and from the eight Zones in the province, boat fuel, food, accommodations for competitors and chaperones and skier registration was supplied by the Festival Sports Society. A vinyl jacket with commercial sponsor logos and a "goody bag" was given to competitors and all who worked on behalf of the tournament. History was in the making, because after six years, this competition was to become known as the BC Summer Games. Again, the VASC proved a leader, helping create BC water-ski history.

The first BC Summer Games water-skiing event was hosted by the Kelowna Water Ski Club in 1978, and virtually all the boat-drivers, judges and site organizers were from the VASC. The tow-boat was supplied by VASC president John Brown, and continued and continued to be official tow-boat for the next 5 years. All clubs in the province relied on the VASC's supply of high level officials when they were hosting a tournament, particularly the" Games".

Prior to 1970, almost all skies were constructed from wood, and were built in the US.

Some of the more prominent manufacturers were Joe Cash, Western Wood,, Connelly, O'Brien, Wally Burr, Maharaja and Taper-flex.

Grant Spencer, a Vancouver Ski Club member, hand-built slalom and racing skies that were trade-named Ski-Slipper. Most wooden skies were laminated from various types of wood and looked attractive but were subject to severe warpage, hence the shift to fiberglass and carbon-fibre. Some of the more talented members of our club also tried their hand at ski-building.

Often, as you looked out over Shawnigan, you would see some of our club barefoot skiers racing down the lake at speeds up to 40 mph, on glass- flat water conditions. At one time, the Canadian Water Ski Association,(now Waterski-Wakeboard Canada) presented crests for proficiency. Several of the club's senior "footers" own one. As smooth water conditions have diminished compared to past years, bare-footers are in the decline. In 2016 , a small group of young club-members were seen practicing "footing" and hopefully will continue to do so.

At least once a year, life- saving and safety courses are held at our site. The course conductor, a BC Paramedic and club member, demonstrates how to apply CPR and the use of a defibrillator. Accreditation is awarded upon course completion.

A relatively new event, wake-boarding, was included in WSWB Canada's mandate in 1980.Very few members of the VASC showed serious interest in the sport. Recently one particular club member has worked extremely hard to promote the sport within British Columbia, and at the same time, his son has trained long and hard, and as a reward he is now competing at the world level. This is just another example of the enthusiasm displayed by the new blood that has joined

our group.

The VASC has the unique distinction of hosting the first and only water-ski tournament in Victoria. July-1988, the club organized and staffed the BC Summer Games Waterskiing event on the Gorge Water-way next to the Gorge Park. Traffic, spectators and excitement was monstrous.

Television, radio and press coverage was on-site the entire weekend. This proved to be a very challenging endeavor for the club, due to the extremely narrow channel of water and the tidal current. Water conditions were not the best, but complaints were few. Numerous tow-boat repairs that were performed by Jim Leech helped keep the show moving. BC's premier opened the event, and later, a Games Committee spokesperson appearing on a television news broadcast, applauded the efforts of our club members. This event was definitely high profile giving our club huge public exposure.

For many years the Tourette Society of Victoria has been a guest at our site, enjoying a day of skiing, tubing, swimming and barbequing. Various club-members volunteer the use of their boats and gasoline. Locally, many community initiatives also receive volunteer labor or cash donations.

Water-ski and wake-board training camps are held several times each year during the ski season. Participants pay a nominal fee to cover the costs of boat fuel and the hiring of a coach. Club members volunteer to supply and drive, using their own boats.

The VASC Sanctioned Novice Tournament has been held more years consecutively, than any tournament in Canada. In its early years, this event was not sanctioned, purpose being, to give an opportunity to anyone who might have a desire to pursue competitive skiing, without having to compete with experienced competition. An event known as the Money Jump was introduced some years ago, and it is now the "centre ring" event, with prize money as high as $1500.00

VASC skiers have been prominent right to the World Championship level, including one who set a World- Women's Jump Record. Many have acquired Canadian National and Pan-American Championships medals .As mentioned earlier, a young wake-boarding member is now competing at the world level. One female club official recently displayed her skills as a calculator at the Pan American Championships held in Bogota, Columbia .

A record capable tournament named the Victoria Open RC is held annually, on a private ski-lake called Borderline. The site is located near Blaine Washington, just a few miles south of the Canada/US border. This competition is hosted and chief- judged by John Goodman, one of the site owners, and is assisted by sons Terry and Ron. 

This event is open to all competitors, although the principal objective is to provide a controlled site where Canadian skiers and officials can further their skill levels, and also provides an opportunity for a Canadian skier to establish a National Record. VASC members contribute the majority of the workforce required in order to hold an event of this calibre.

The VASC Annual General Meeting is normally held early spring, along with regular business and election of officers. Awards are presented to competitors and club-members who have demonstrated exemplary skills, assistance and leadership during the previous year.

Ever since 1958 when the Victoria Aqua Ski Club became registered with the Canadian Water Ski Association ,all club-members have been tirelessly promoting water-sports, water safety and sportsmanship.

I have purposely refrained from naming individuals whenever possible, for fear of inadvertently failing to name or recognize any one member's accomplishments.

Much has transpired from 1958 to 2017, but you can be rest assured, that the Victoria Aqua Ski Club will continue to create more interesting water-sports history, which can then be added to this account.