The Friday Flyer • September 11, 2015

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
Storm topples several big trees in thecommunity Pg.A3
'American Idol' David Cook rocks two shows attheLodgePg.A10
Head to the Lodge pool for final Flick-n- Floatofsummer Pg.
Klarich show includes water sports legends
Canyon Lake skier/showman Tony Klarich cel- ebrated his 50th birthday by skiing on 50 different objects in different costumes, along with providing a history of water sports, during his August 22 show at Long Beach Marine Stadium. Below he rides "squirrel skis," a pallet, a paddle and a crate.
BY SHARON RICE
EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER
Some people may think Tony Klarich is squirrelly and a little bit nuts. Some may call him a big baby. A clown. A grandma’s boy. A showoff. He is – or was – all of those and more during his “California Skier 50 for 50” event at the Long Beach Marine Stadium on August 22.
Known as “the guy who skis on anything,” Tony has been selected to the U.S. Show Ski team that will be participating in the 2016 Show Ski Worlds. Not that that’s anything new for the Canyon Lake legend. Tony has performed on skis and other towed objects all over the United States, as well as at shows in Canada, Ecuador, England, Monaco, Russia and Swit- zerland, to name a few. He is a 10-time national and world champion on kneeboard, wakeboard and hydrofoil.
As for the Long Beach event on August 22, the spotlight was on Tony as he successfully rode 50 different items in one day to celebrate turning 50 years old. At least two dozen Can- yon Lakers and many family members were among the more than 500 spectators on hand to enjoy the show.
But it wasn’t just about Tony. Several Can- yon Lake water sports legends contributed to the action, including his uncle Mike Murphy, who at this event broke the world record for riding the tallest hydrofoil at 11 ft. 3 in. This beat the old record by about six inches.
Mike, 67, a legendary waterman, has been hydrofoiling for more than 50 years and has been at the forefront of foil design for several decades. Mike was one of the original patent
holders for the first sit-down hydrofoil, the Air Chair. He later went on to found Sky Ski in 1998. He has set world records and been crowned a Big Air World Champion. Years of foiling success have lead to his latest business, Next Foils (NextFoils.com).
Another Canyon Lake legend and former pro wakeboarder, Ron Stack, has been riding with Tony and Mike for more than 20 years on wakeboards, hydrofoils and wake kites. In 1994, Ron created the vertical pylon extension, Air Boom. Today he continues his tradition of innovative creation with his high-end chopper bicycles (AirBoom.com).
Chuck Sacks, owner of California Skier boat dealership in Lake Elsinore, was the ti- tle sponsor of the 50 for 50 event. Chuck has been active in all the local water sports clubs for decades, and has partnered up with Tony for several large events, including the “40-40- 400” and four “Flight Worlds of Hydrofoil- ing.” (CaliforniaSkier.com)
John Whitlow was the co-announcer at the 50 for 50 event. He is a longtime resident of Can- yon Lake, active in the water sports community and most often heard behind the microphone during the Fiesta Day Ski Shows each year.
Ben Sims has been in the community for several years and is the regional representa- tive for Hyperlite Wake Co., which creates wakeboards, wakeskates and wakesurfers. Ben participated in one of the 50 for 50 rides by flipping his wakeboard over Tony, who took photos from a tube.
uuCONTINUED PAGE A14
PHOTO BY MIKE CLARY
PHOTO BY MIKE BOETTGER
PHOTO BY MIKE CLARY
PHOTO BY MIKE CLARY
PHOTO BY MIKE CLARY