31-time National Overall Champion Frankie Dees has contributed to the great sport of water skiing for more than 50 years as a competitor and a coach. Dees first learned to water ski in 1964 and competed in the Nationals in Jr. Boys the same year. Dees won his first trophy at age seven, broke the junior boys jump record at age 12 at 94 feet and by age 16 he had been pictured in Life Magazine and honored by Sports Illustrated. In 1968 he became the youngest skier to win the coveted overall Masters Title. 

 

The following year at the 1969 Masters, he won slalom title.  Dees skied in the open division from age 14 to age 37 and won overall national titles in every division.  Winning jump national titles more than 40 times, Dees set the Mens 5 jump record in 2008 which he still holds to this day. 

 

Throughout his career Dees racked up 49 gold medals at the National Championships.  Dees worked at Cypress Gardens for 15 years as a show skier, and coached at the Chuck Dees Ski School for more than 40 years. Dees also did a lot of research and development work in the 1980’s and 90’s with various boat companies while running water ski promo programs for MB boats, Ski Centurion and Malibu Boats. During Dee’s skiing career, he also had the opportunity to ski twice in both the Moomba Masters and the European Masters.