WEIRD Watersports From the Past

In this video we share some of the weirdest water sports from the second half of the twentieth century (pre-kitesurfing, of course). Let us know which one - if any- you'd be willing to try!
Footage Credit: Cypress Gardens Archives, National Archives, Shutterstock
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[@jbjuggler]

Thanks for the great video of early Kite towing! I flew in the Tow Kite Championships at Cypress Gardens in 1979. We were flying our regular hang-gliders with added stronger control bar, and floats. What a rush, the first time I launched off the beach with a 500' line to the boat. SUPERMAN!! That is exactly how I felt. Those early flat kites were just our-right dangerous! You said in your commentary, "if a side gust hit". Yep, you were toast!!

[@OurKiteLife]

That’s amazing! Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience. Was it hard to learn? Must have been exhilarating when so high up.

[@M9Diry]

That looks so much fun, I’m surprised these sports died out, especially water ski delta and water shoe walking

[@robohippy]

Well, Bill Bennet did not invent the 'delta' wing. The original design was by Francis Rogollo, and it was a consideration for space shuttle/capsule reentry as it had a slow descent speed, a 3 to 1 glide angle, and you could steer it. For a while, they were called Rogollo wings. The first attempts to use it were called 'bamboo bombers' on the beaches of Southern California. They were made from bamboo and plastic that was duct taped to the frame. "Never fly higher than you are willing to fall!" The design was picked up by Bill after that. The bamboo bombers were actually featured in the National Geographic magazine, maybe 1969 or 70.

[@OurKiteLife]

thanks for additional info, we just sourced a documentary that said Bill invented those, but as always there's more to the story

[@normipaiva]

Water shoeing is the most awkward looking pastime I've ever witnessed.

[@dougdemonde]

Well done, that was so much fun, especially as a child of the 60s - groovy, loony tunes water sports... I would go for them all but if I choose one then under water skiing in non shark infested water :-). I would need the 60s music you played to go along with it. - Good work break- Thanks!

[@OurKiteLife]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 it was a fun one to research and make! Not sure I expected anyone to pick underwater skiing 😄

[@maxff123]

Wow that was so interesting to watch, I really enjoyed the autogyro and delta kites

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks, glad you liked the video!

[@JamesLamb]

Awesome. Before I learned to kiteboard I was looking into gyro copters, but the airport where they were was farther away than the beach. And kiteboarding is less expensive! 😎

[@OurKiteLife]

We bet you probably like kiting more than you would ever like gyro copters :)

[@Valsiphez]

Nice footage and really diligent research!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! It was a fun one to put together 🙂

[@alisonestrop8404]

What a fun video love the 60s groovy music - we have come a long way so glad for the options available to us today I guess I would have given ski flying a shot is that what it was called 🤣 thanks for this!

[@abacaxifamily]

I was missing your content for a while, but this was a funny idea. I didn’t even know of some of these sports 👍🏽😂😂

[@OurKiteLife]

Happy you enjoyed it! 😊

[@wiepkejan]

Fantastic! That was tv level production!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks 😊

[@skiboardordie]

Great video! For the whole time, I was like: they were serious about this! :))))

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! Some of these sports were pretty ridiculous 😄

[@Love2RideItaly]

Wonderful!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks!

[@TylerKaraszewski]

When the WWII U-boats showed up, it should have switches to the "Not what you think" narrator voice. :)

[@travelcard1]

Awesome ! :D

[@geokite]

Good show!!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks 🙂

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

Keep up the good work

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

Best vid I see all day

[@playfuladventurer]

amazing. those people were really creative with their sports :)

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

Amazing

[@bernardkriel1]

im speechless . .. . wow ..so glad that all was before my time :)

[@OurKiteLife]

Same here :)

[@walkerford5136]

Delightful! Where did you get such footage??

[@OurKiteLife]

Some from Cypress Gardens archives and some from stock footage site :)

[@ParaKiteGliding]

Skyskiing 😂
Gyrokite on the other hand... 😮

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

Crazy

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

Cool

[@SurfSailKayak]

Lol. We're lucky to have skipped most of that.

[@OurKiteLife]

Agreed!

[@oceanlance]

Yeah groovy! Would prob try just the handgliderish delta kite. Anything else is way too groovy for me.

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

That’s crazy

[@jellezondag6116]

What is that plane called at 4:04? An how does it work. It looks super cool. Does anyone know this?

[@wissamkite]

I would have tried the delta plane

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

Keeeeep ittttt up

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

You got it

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

You are good

[@alanvictoria9105]

👌🏻👌🏻✌🏻✌🏻

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

You do you

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

You cool

[@surfn-]

Well.... that's some awkward pioneering.

[@OurKiteLife]

Looks like they had fun though!

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

I can help you

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

I have a vid idea

[@SKIFAMHUNTFAM]

Hit me up