Long-time CL skier celebrates 92nd birthday

Imre Weil has been a member of the Canyon Lake Ski Club since January 1970 when there was only one house in Canyon Lake. At the time, there was no north causeway and no ski jump, but there was a ski club.

Imre recently celebrated his 92nd birthday sitting on his Longhorn Drive driveway as well wishers drove by.

After breaking his hip, unfortunately, he was in a wheelchair accompanied by his caregiver during the celebration. His broken hip occurred from a fall in his Canyon Lake home.

Imre Weil

Imre’s injury, though, did not deter his loyal friends at the Ski Club from celebrating his birthday. They paraded by in golf carts and cars with signs, flowers and balloons, some stopping to give hugs and handshakes. All were kindly and thoughtfully wearing masks as a COVID-19 precaution.

“After I broke my hip, they spoiled me more than ever,” Imre said. “A couple brings me dinner every night.”

Even though Imre is in his nineties, he said he still plans on getting back out in the water to ski in a few months when he has recovered.

Imre is proud of the Ski Club, his involvement and its accomplishments.

Recently, before Imre broke his hip, he competed in a skiing national championship. He said he was the oldest skier there, outranking the second oldest skier by 20 years.

Members of the Canyon Lake Ski Club paraded by the home of Canyon Laker Imre Weil to celebrate his 92nd birthday. Imre has been a member of the club for 50 years. He was still skiing before he broke his hip last month. Photo courtesy of Tina Rotes

The Ski Club was founded in 1968 as a non-profit organization. In 1971, soon after Imre joined, the club hosted its first ski show for property owners. The ski show was so well received that the club was invited to organize and perform a ski show at Lake Havasu in Arizona.

The club has boasted more national and international champions than any other ski club in the country, Imre said. The club welcomes beginners as well as champion level skiers.

Imre has been a part of Canyon Lake’s Ski Club since its infancy. The Ski Club started out strong and continued that way, just like Imre. Imre is not only a tried and true Ski Club member, he is a long-time Canyon Lake resident as well. He and his wife, Betsy, bought their first Canyon Lake home in 1978. The couple used it as a weekend home for a couple of years, having their permanent residence in Santa Monica. Two years later, they made the transition to living in Canyon Lake full time.

Although Imre’s wife, a popular Canyon Lake Realtor, passed away a year ago, she was able to live in her “dream home” on Longhorn Drive for many years. Imre said he plans on living in her “dream home” as well for as many years as he has ahead of him.