Dr. Ted Eisenstat: Barefooter, Legend

The following article was published in December 2024 in the Diseases of the Colon & Rectum Journal, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
By Theodore E. Eisenstat, M.D.

While on vacation with my family as a young boy, I learned to water ski. I gained interest in the sport and continued skiing at the Jersey Shore during summer vacations. I even taught water skiing in the summers while in high school. Eventually, I taught my two daughters to water ski; however, they had no interest in skiing without skis.

In 1986, a 72-year-old gentleman came into my office whom I recognized as Banana George Blair, who also lived in New Jersey. He was well known for his barefoot waterskiing all over the world in his yellow barefoot suit and for passing out bananas, hence the nickname. He was also known as the world’s oldest barefoot water skier and continued to ski into his 90s. George had moved to Winter Haven, Florida, where he became a featured act at Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show. At that time, I was 44 years old, and I visited George at his home, where he taught me to barefoot water ski.

Barefoot waterskiing began at Cypress Gardens and was popularized and documented in photos by Dick Pope Jr in 1947. I would eventually have the thrill of barefoot waterskiing at the “Gardens” when I competed in the Banana George endurance tournaments there in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Barefoot waterskiing has continued to be a passion for me for 38 years, and I have traveled up and down the East Coast, competing and participating in different kinds of barefoot waterskiing events.

One event I particularly enjoy is the New Year’s Day tournament held on Lake Norman in North Carolina. Video link HERE is about the 2023 tournament and presents a good description of the sport, including methods of starting and tricks. In previous years, temperatures have dipped to as low as 28°F, which allowed icicles to form on the boat and freeze hair during the competition.

Here in New Jersey, I belong to a group known as the “Jersey Boys.” We barefoot water ski, travel, and compete together all over the United States. The group includes a retired medical oncologist, a practicing family physician, a retired railroad worker, a retired firefighter, and myself. The average age of this group is 72, and we all ski year-round, even in the snow and ice. The “Jersey Boys” gained some national notoriety by being featured on a video episode of “Growing Bolder” in 2018. Video link HERE.

Barefoot waterskiing is an extreme sport that is thought to be a young person’s sport. As society changes, not as many young people are attempting to learn how to water ski or compete, leaving senior skiers to carry on the tradition. I have competed in traditional tournaments that include tricks and wake slalom. I also compete in figure 8 competitions and endurance contests. These days, I am not as competitive in the local or national events as I once was. I am still able to place first, second, or third place, depending on whether 1, 2, or 3 people compete in the “Super Veteran” (older than dirt) division. Currently, most of my skiing is recreational; however, I still like to attend and participate in competitions.

I am unaware of any other competitive barefoot water skiers in our society, but I am sure I am the oldest at age 82. I would like to believe skiing has helped me avoid burnout and allowed me to stay active. My mentor “Banana George” set the example, and the “Jersey Boys” video describes how I am “growing bolder, not older” as a barefoot waterskiing Society member.

Copyright © The ASCRS 2024 DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM VOLUME 67: 12 (2024)