Winter water skiing on Lake Huntington

Balmy weather inspires winter water glide by local resident

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY - It certainly wasn’t the first out of the ordinary thing that Billy Boucher Jr. of Lake Huntington has ever done. But with the weather in the 60s on January 6, Boucher got the bright idea to go water skiing as he was sitting in the Lakeside Cafe drinking his morning cup of coffee.

One phone call to his buddy Mike Maas of the Lake Huntington Garage was all it took, and the team of Mad Mike and Wild Bill had it all lined up.

All they needed was Mike’s boat, Mike’s wife Mireille to act as a spotter, a wet suit and plenty of nerve.

Oh yeah, they also needed this writer to prove by way of his photograph that this stunt actually took place because despite the warmth of the air, the water in placid Lake Huntington was a severe 38 degrees.

Boucher showed up decked out in a Santa hat, sunglasses and a wet suit.

Having learned to ski at about the age of four from the water skiing instructor at Tyler Hill Camp in Pennsylvania, Boucher, son of the late William Boucher who donated the land for the Sullivan West High School, became a competent water skier. He is still, aside from being just a bit eccentric.

His one-lap course around the lake was sufficient on two counts: first, he got to show off his impeccable form; and second, he got to get out of the water before he froze to death!

It was all in good fun and the event places Boucher in the annals of Lake Huntington history. On a normal January 6, there might have been ice fishing. But on this day, a couple of guys enjoying the spring-like weather while fishing in their canoe got to see something they’re not likely to soon forget: Santa on water skis in Sullivan County in January.