Page 1 - The Friday Flyer ● JANUARY 25, 2019

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • JANUARY 25, 2019

Three board of directors seats Chamber to honor CLEPC members take
Community Award Oath of Affi rmation

up for election in May Pg. A3 winners at Gala Pg. A7 Pg. A8

Canyon Lake skier “Barefoot” Bill von Zabern is PHOTO BY BERT BARBAY
remembered by many for being an amazing athlete
who challenged the limits of human endurance.

Remembering skier Bill von Zabern

BY DAVE DAIN the boat flagging them at the dock. Bill’s friend Kevin Ski Club as a competitor, performer, coach and judge.
SPORTS COLUMNIST, THE FRIDAY FLYER Thayer immediately drove Karen to the boat where Bill He was an accomplished barefoot skier and won sever-
On Jan. 5, 2019, the Canyon Lake Ski Club, Wake- was. al titles, including a National Overall Championship in
board Club and ShowCal Skiers held their annual Polar Karen, a nurse, quickly realized Bill had no pulse the Men’s 2 at the 2000 US Barefoot Nationals. Shortly
Bear Day event on the main lake. This year happened and immediately started CPR. They continued CPR thereafter, Bill refocused his efforts into the sport of
until the paramedics arrived. Bill was rushed to the hydrofoiling. In 2004, Bill became the Flight Worlds
to be a special event for many in attendance. This hospital where he passed away the age of 42. Accord- Overall Champion. in the Masters division.
marked the 10th anniversary of the passing of Bill von ing to Karen, Bill died of natural causes. Bill’s real claim to fame came on Nov. 3, 2008.
Zabern, who passed away at this event on Jan. 3, 2009. Have you ever noticed the giant letters at the parks This would be the day that he would attempt to break
Bill’s morning run started off in grand fashion with around the community? The idea for these letters came a record for consecutive flips on a hydrofoil (air chair/
a flying dock start and then barefooting up the lake. about after Bill’s untimely death. Those letters are there sky ski as known by most) without stopping or falling.
After barefooting, he switched to his hydrofoil. Bill to help the first responders find you in a timely manner. The number he was chasing was 1,416 set by Geno
was doing his normal routine with some flips and had If you ever have an emergency in one of the Canyon Yauchler. It was a 14-year-old world record that most
just completed a wakeback roll when he suddenly col- Lake parks, be sure to refer the letter when dialing 911. thought would never be broken.
lapsed into the water. Bill’s wife Karen quickly noticed Bill was an active member of the Canyon Lake Club uuCONTINUED PAGE A9