At 92 years and 286 days old, Bob Hutcheson broke the Guinness World Record for oldest male waterskier in the world.
The lifelong Muskoka resident took up the challenge on Bella Lake on July 19, 2019 with witnesses there to attest to his accomplishment.
“There had to be some legal person there and an athletic person and some other witnesses. They had to watch and witness and sign their life away, and I just had to jump in the water and get pulled around by a boat,” Hutcheson said with a hearty laugh.
Now 94, he officially received his Guinness World Record title via a Zoom call on Dec. 16.
“People kept saying, ‘why don’t you break the record?'” he told Doppler this morning. A woman from Huntsville—Edith Murphy—holds the record for oldest female waterskier, Hutcheson noted. She earned her title on Lake Vernon on Aug. 11, 2004 at the age of 90 years and 109 days. “That’s what got us interested. My family kept saying, ‘well, you do that, why don’t you go out? Mainly it was the encouragement of my family rather than needing the glory.”
Hutcheson started waterskiing in 1949 at the age of 23. “We didn’t have powerful enough boats unless they were very expensive, so we used to build our own waterskis,” he said. “We made them wider than normal waterskis, depending on how heavy the person was who was skiing…and we used to splice our own ropes.”
Hutcheson still skis, both on water and snow. He loves powder and heli-skiing, and he spends most winters in the mountains. “I won’t be able to this year,” he said, adding that he fell in love with the mountains at 12 years-old and can’t wait to get back there.
He said that trying to break a Guinness record is a good challenge for anyone to take on. “It keeps you younger to have some job to do whether it’s to learn a computer or go waterskiing or do anything that gets your fancy and just decide to be as good as you can be at it. That’s the wonderful thing that’s kept me alive at my age, always having something to conquer. My kids want me to go heli-skiing next year. They’re going to wait until I’m 95.”
You can see Hutcheson’s title at guinnessworldrecords.com.
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Bob Hutcheson is probably one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met! 55 years ago he gave me my first job in Huntsville and gave me the start I needed as a teenager. Take care Bob. What’s left for you to do Bob? I guess flying up to the Space Station!
We are very proud of our Uncle for this achievement, which is amazing … Bob has achieved the status as our dearly loved Patriarch of our Family. A constant force of encouragement and love since I can remember. I know I speak for all my siblings and cousins. While our Father’s were absent from our lives, Uncle Bob stepped in. I believe Bob has been able to achieve so much in his life with this positive attitude and his zest for life. A great example for all to follow.
Congratulations Bob, wish I could still do it at my advanced age. The boys and your grandchildren must be very proud.
Bravo, Bob! Following your advice and example, may we all do as well in our endeavours. Cheers! (from the Netherlands).
Sooo inspiring. Congratulations Bob.
Another notch on your belt Bob, you and Doug M are a unique pair, and show us how to age with style.
Congrats and Merry Christmas
In 1952 I met Bob at Muskoka Air Trails where he would rent from Tommy Douglas the airport “crash” boat to go water skiing for the day. Motor was a 25 horse Evenrude and Bob on a tight turn could almost bring that boat to a stop, and it looks like he has never stopped, congratulations. I hope in the future I can make some powder turns on his beloved mountains, I am 10 years younger and with a bit of luck can follow in his tracks. Keep yodelling Bob.
Toby Keith wrote this song “Don’t Let The Old Man In” for Clint Eastwood at 88
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h6CDGpAIPc&ab_channel=JacquesUntel
I thinkToby needs to write one for Bob at 94, because he is the epitome of Not Letting The Old Man In.
CONGRATULATIONS BOB!! You are one of a kind, keeping up the Hutcheson family traditions of an all round supporter of your town, its activities, and All Saints’ Church, as well as an accomplished athlete. It has been a pleasure to know you, and even though I now live in St. Catharines, I still feel I am a Huntsvillite! It is an absolutely wonderful Muskoka area, and you are a citizen to be proud of, as was your father before you, and looks like your children are doing justice to the Hutcheson name also.. Nice to know you are still active!
Good for Bob, I wish my Dad were alive to hear this. He worked handyman jobs for him back in the seventies
What an accomplishment. Praise be to Mr. Hutcheson. No more needs to be said. Douglas Middleton
Congratulations Bob!
Congratulations Mr.Hutcheson on your accomplishment!
Congratulations, Bob! Not only are you in the Guinness World Record Book but now, so is Huntsville!! Very proud of your achievements!