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2015
Gary Warren
Awarded in
Gary Warren became a professional show skier at age 16 doing doubles and barefoot exhibitions throughout the western states. Early on he performed show acts and barefoot exhibitions at the 1963 Nationals and 1961 World Water Ski Championships in Long Beach. This led to Gary being hired as a show ski performer at Cypress Gardens in 1963. It was at Cypress Gardens that Gary further perfected his skills in all show skiing acts and later toured across America and Canada. Following his service in the Army, Gary was hired to do the ski shows at Marine World in California and became the Show Director in 1972. Gary developed and began directing professional water ski competitions. Hosting competitors from all over the world, the media coverage brought much notoriety to the sport with coverage on major television networks. In 1979 Gary introduced a Professional Barefoot competition and in 1980 it doubled as the 2nd World Barefoot Championships. During Gary's 13 years at Marine World, not only could he do virtually every act in the show but he also became one of the pioneers in using the Delta Wings Kite and designed on of the first "super jump ramps". Following his time at Marine Worlds, Gary has continued to be involved in promoting the sport around the country.