For the new faces around here: Who the Hell is this Horton guy?

Horton

Below answers the Question: Who the Hell is this Horton guy?

I am John Horton, this is my website. When I ski, it looks like a big BallOfSpray. I run this place. Below is my bio. I post so you know that you know who you are dealing with.

I first skied when I was 3 and come from a water skiing family. Until recently I was better known as Dr. Jack Horton’s son. My dad is the inventor of the man-made private ski lake and a legitimate water ski legend (Water Ski Hall Of Fame - Award of Distinction, many time National Champ, USAWS Board of Directors, US World Team Doctor, Sr Judge & Driver).

In my younger days I was a somewhat promising 3 event skier. After college I quit skiing for about 5 years. After a radical career change, I came back to skiing to market CarbonFiber slalom fins. After the bottom fell out of the CarbonFins market I went on to organize and write the Independent Ski Tests for Water Ski Magazine 2006, 2007 & 2008.

I am by no means the best skier on this forum & I do not pretend to be. I am all ears when the real MM guys have something to say and try to help less experienced skiers find good information.

The below stats are really old because now I am old. The older I get, the better I was.
12 Time US National Competitor (Could be 11 times - not sure)
US National Slalom, Trick and Jump Medalist*
US National Overall Medalist **
Western Regional Slalom, Trick and Jump Champion*
5 Time Western Regional Overall Champion
Western Regional Men 1 Trick Record Holder (1991 to 2006)
Open Rated Jump**
World Ranked top 50 for Jump*
World Ranked top 100 for Tricks*
Member National Champion NLU Ski Team 89-93
Moomba Masters Night Jump Competitor*
Horton Lakes Ski School Instructor 85-93
* one or more times in the 80s and early 90s
** a bunch of times in the late 80s and early 90s
(This is all old news but it shows that I am not just some crackpot)

ForrestGump

Don't sell yourself short, Horton. Youa re most definitely a crackpot.

Horton

Shane thinks he is funny but in reality he said something more important than what I said.

What?!?

This site is about fun. I am not afraid of making fun of myself and I make fun of a lot of the regulars. We keep it friendly and we help each other. No matter your level of skiing, you are welcome.

DW

Amateur rocketry and Nascar fan should also provide people with insight to your love of pyrotechnics. . . .

Horton

True... I miss rocketry. Those were good times with nerdy men (had to go back to skiing to find wife)

I was a member of this group http://www.mdars.info/

skidawg

Don't let Horton fool ya, he is a much better skier than he scores

Horton

I run 41 every night in my dreams

Horton

By the way Dawg. I was coaching trick this weekend (please do not judge me - I know it is shamefull) - kid did not understand what I was saying so I got her in boat - Jammed my foot in her small binding (no soap) and went out on 41" HO trick. Heck I can still trick. Who knew!

Klinger

And I bet you had a blast too!!! That's why trick is still needed. Gets your mind off "Big Red" and those stupid little orange balls. I love all three, but trick is needed!

Horton

Bump becuase .... more important that the fact that I had the best ski year of my life is the fact the I skied for NLU aka ULM

thager

U Look Marvelous?

Brady

@Horton, When I looked at your bio, I didn't see 12 time national smart-ass champion. Something to be proud of for sure. Also, didn't you win the women's title twice??

Razorskier1

@Horton is a stud.

Horton

@Razorskier1‌ i am pretty sure "not a crack pot" would be enough

RAWSki

Hey Horton I skied today on my old 9600 with a Horton Carbon fin, Signed No Less!
Should I pull that baby off the ski and frame it??
(Talk about a crack pot!)

Bruce_Butterfield

@horton 'bout time you went back to the more realistic profile pic! That says more about "who the hell is this Horton guy" than anything else.

For those that don't get it, you have to see the movie.

Horton

Razorskier1

Best profile pic ever - looks just like @Horton‌

Razorskier1

@Horton -- just for you I stacked up some 35s today. 44 degree air, 52 degree water, 9mph crossing head-tail. First set 28 and eleven 32s. Sit in boat for 5 minutes to warm up. Then 32 and nine 35s second set.

Horton

I am so not worthy

MISkier

That is some amazing skiing and incredible dedication to fitness and conditioning. Back to the "Good Reminder" thread posted earlier, this is the type of discussion that motivates me in the off-season and when recovering from injuries.

I must also confess that I sometimes think of a segment from comedian Brian Regan's DVD where he discusses the "World's Strongest Man" competition. The line "let's see how many of these lead-filled grand pianos he can hurl into that third story window in 30 seconds" comes to mind here.

skidawg

Nice vid @Horton‌ - you made slalom look fast even back then!!

foxriverat

At the end of video where your jumping. The sound of the boat made me do a double take. I new that rumble sounded familiar. Sure enough was a sexy supra like mine.

Wish

My only claim to fame is beating the BallofHair at the Atlanta ProAm. Would have been pointless without his Galactic Leader notoriety here on BOS. +1 for @Bruce_Butterfield‌

Razorskier1

It looked like this when I got back to the lake. Skied two more sets.

6balls

...so well over 160 more balls today. Not bad.

thager

@Razorskier1 That's what my lake looked like too. Of course I only skied one set of 8 not so great passes. Beautiful Day!!!

Razorskier1

Ya. Ran 38 this afternoon too. It's all good!

Horton

Hey @Razorskier1‌ this thread is about me. .. 2 @ 39 today in tournament stoked!

Razorskier1

Nice skiing @Horton‌! What ski are you riding now?