The 2004 Rhoni Barton Interview

(Chris Rossi) Hi Rhoni, would you mind a quick interview for my webpage?

(Rhoni Barton) No problem, it would be my pleasure.

(CR) How's life?

(RB) Life is great! It is busy as usual but in a different way this time of year. I'm working hard on upcoming articles for the WaterSki Magazine for 2004, trying new skis (which takes a lot of time when you're trying new slalom skis, new trick skis and new jump skis), and working on my house. I'm in the gym too, trying to get stronger and better prepared for next season. I have boat shows, dealer meetings, photo shooting for 2004 ads, calendars, catalogues - let me tell you, this sport is a full time job.

(CR) Are things calming down now that the pro events have come to a close?

(RB) From the way I answererd the question above, I don't think things ever calm down. I'm not even sure I know the meaning of off-season anymore.

(CR) Are you still training?

(RB) I love to ski. Even if I'm not necessarily training for tournaments, I love to be out on the water. Like I said, right now I'm doing a lot of ski testing. I'm trying to learn more about me, how I ski, and what things will give me the greatest advantages.

(CR) For the record, can you state your name, birth place, age, occupation, and sponsors?

(RB) My name is Rhoni Barton. I was born in Torrance, California. I'm 27 years old. I'm a professional waterskier and the Senior Editor at WaterSki Magazine. My sponsors are Ski Nautique boats, O'Neill wetsuits, Costa Del Mar sunglasses, Wiley's bindings, Performance Ski and Surf and Masterline Ropes and Handles.

(CR) Do you remember your first competition? How old were you and where was it?

(RB) I remember my first regionals. I was seven years old and running the course on two skis. My dad had specially designed my combos. They were concave skis, with bevels and everything. They were actually red, with white lightening bolts painted on them. I could run 32 mph in the course on those skis. He wanted me to have good 2 ski riding skills because he knew I would learn to jump one day. Anyway, I was at my first regionals, almost crying when I left the dock for my turn because the other girls were making fun of me for being on 2 skis. (remember when I grew up there wasn't any of this girls 1, girls 2 stuff - we were Junior Girls (13 and under). I pulled out for the gates, turned in, and fell cutting towards one ball - yes, it was my first pass. I swam into the beach devastated, crying and everything. My dad put it into perspective for me and those girls didn't make fun of me for too much longer.

(CR) Were you always an above average skier growing up?

(RB) I think growing up on the west coast back then kept me pretty sheltered from thinking about what level of a skier I was. We had two other girls in our ski club, Brandy Nagle and Casey Dale, and they were both really good skiers as well. The three of us battled it out all the time so I guess I just assumed that our ability levels were normal. We kept it pretty fun, swimming at the lake a lot, playing marco polo and skiing weekend tournaments for McDonalds and Baskin Robins gift certificate prizes. I remember someone telling me I set a trick record and I didn't even really know what it meant. I just don't remember ever skiing for rankings or records or whatever when I was a kid. I skied because it was fun.

(CR) Where did you ski growing up? Did you live on a lake or belong to a private ski club?

(RB) I grew up skiing in Canyon Lake, California. We had a ski club there - it was really big. We would trailer our boat to the lake, launch it, and park at this huge long dock and sign up on "the list." Sometimes, on the weekends, there would be 18-20 names on "the list" and you'd have to wait your turn. The lake had a center dock so when the skier before you was out on the course, you'd idol to the center dock to get ready. As the skier before you would whip in to the big long dock, you could take off from the center dock for your turn. My dad and I would go to "the back," as we called it and trick a lot. The finger of Canyon Lake where the slalom course was laid out had a bend and the lake continued far back after the course. Trickers, barefooters, etc. could ski back there, 2 boats at a time, while waiting for your turn on the slalom course. It's no wonder I became such a good trick skier!

(CR) When was your first pro event and how did you do?

(RB) My first three event pro competition was the Masters. I was 15 and had actually been invited to compete in the Junior Masters. However, a few weeks before the Masters, I competed in this Masters last chance tournament. In this tournament, if you tied or beat the fifth ranked score on the World's Standings List, you could compete at the Masters. Well, I beat the fifth ranked score on the list so I opted not to compete in the Junior Masters but rather the Masters. I finished second overall.

(CR) What was it like competing against all of the best skiers?

(RB) Like I said earlier, growing up on the west coast kept me pretty sheltered. I had never attended a pro event as a spectator or anything. I'd only seen the pros and best skiers in the magazines and on tv, and wow, did there used to be a lot of tv. So, you can imagine what I was like at my first Masters, seeing all these skiers in person for the first time ever. I was on the dock with them getting ready to ski and asking for their autographs. It was so cool!

(CR) Who was your idol in skiing? Why?

(RB) As a kid growing up, it was definitely Deena Mapple. I always wanted to be an awesome three-eventer and Deena won everything. She was who everyone talked about and she was who we knew we'd someday have to out-ski to ever win.

(CR) What are your career accomplishments so far?

(RB) 1994, 1996 Masters Overall Champion 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003 US Open Overall Champion 1999, 2001, 2003 Moomba Masters Overall Champion 1999 OZ Ski World Cup Jump Champion 1999 Pan Am Games Jump and Trick Champion 1999 British Masters World Cup Jump Champion 1995 US Open Trick Champion 1994-1998 Collegiate National Trick Champion 1995-1998 Collegiate National Slalom, Trick, Jump and Overall Champion 9-time United States World Team Member 2001, 2003 World Team Champion 1997 World Games Slalom Champion former Women's World Overall Record Holder

(CR) What one event sticks in your head as the best ski moment of your career? Why?

(RB) I would definitely say the day I set the World Overall Record. It is so hard to get all three-events right in the same round on the same day. That day, I was just on and all three-events were jiving.

(CR) How are you a different skier now then when you started pro skiing?

(RB) After two major injuries, the second one which kept me out for nearly 14 months, you realize you aren't invincible. Also, when I was younger, I never thought about winning. I just went out and skied because the expectations weren't there. Now, as I get older, I expect to ski well, I put more pressure on myself and I think that makes winning a whole heck of a lot harder.

(CR) Can you take us through a typical day in the life of Rhoni Barton? We would all like to know what it's like to be a pro for a day!

(RB) Do you really want to know? Just kidding, I guess this would be a typical day for this time of year, the off season. 7 am - Wake up 7:15 - 8:30 work on computer, e-mails or whatever 9 am - 12:30 - ski a few sets (probably 3) 12:30 - 1 - make a lunch to eat in the car and get changed to either go into work or go get some interviews/stories done 2 - 8:30 work on magazine

(CR) Does training for 3 events ever get old? It must be overwhelming sometimes? What keeps you going?

(RB) Training isn't what gets hard but making sure all three events are going well at the same time is really tough.The other thing that gets hard is improving in all three events. What I find helpful is actually skiing with specialists in each of the given events. Of course, this can get challenging with scheduling and time constraints but it makes a world of difference.

(CR) Do you plan on 3-eventing your entire career?

(RB) I hope so, if my body will hold up.

(CR) You work at WaterSki Magazine right?

(RB) Yes.

(CR) What is your position there?

(RB) Senior Editor.

(CR) What's it like to work for the largest publication for waterskiing?

(RB) I'll tell you what, it is a lot harder and more time consuming than I ever thought. Sometimes, one article, with interviews, writing time, photo shooting, art lay-out, captions, and checking and correcting can take in excess of 30 hours. Then, when you see those 6 pages in the mag, it looks like it took no time at all. It's unbelievable. What I've really enjoyed is being able to give back to the sport some. It's been great to work with all the athletes and get their insight, ideas and knowledge into the mag. We're also trying to grow the sport and the magazine provides great opportunities for that.

(CR) You must hear all of the gossip working there huh?

(RB) Of course, I'm privy to lots of inside information but I've learned to play dumb. The less I know, the better.

(CR) Is there anything we don't know about that is coming up in the future as far as events go?

(RB) Like I said, I play dumb. Can't really tell you a thing.

(CR) What is the worst crash you've ever taken? Tell us what goes through your mind while it happens and the result of the crash.

(RB) The worst jump crash I ever took was at the Masters, ski flying. I went straight out the front and because I was ski flying, I felt like I was in the air forever. My dad used to tell me to blow the air out of my lungs right before I hit the water so I wouldn't knock the wind out of myself. However, on that crash, I kept blowing out the air in my lungs and then sucking it back in really quick. I kept thinking about him telling me that and I bet I blew my wind out and sucked it back in 10 times in the air before the crash. I still knocked the wind out of myself.

(CR) Can you list your skiing injuries through the years?

(RB) 1994, broken left collar bone - jump crash, hit the ski 1999 shattered right patella - slalom crash, hit the ski I seem to have a problem running into my skis. I've had the usual sprained ankles, sore back, etc. but these two were the biggies.

(CR) Skiing is not for wimps I guess!

(RB) No, not really.

(CR)Who have you skied with over the years that has made the biggest difference in your skiing? Why?

(RB) Wade Cox - he really taught me the difference between showing up to compete and showing up to contend for the title. He also taught me how to train to peak. Jack Travers - He took me under his wing when my dad died and is probably one of the only reasons I stayed in the sport. Jay Bennett - a huge supporter, someone who has talked me through big life decisions, a sounding board, and has helped me organize my training Chet Raley - keeps my head straight, teaches me to trust myself and is another huge help with support Mike Ferraro - has taught me so many tricks I can't count them all, keeps the sport fun and in perspective Ryan Green and Sarah Gatty Saunt - my consistent, day-in and day-out training partners that make sure I get the time on the water Geraldine Jamin - a constant slalom inspiration and a great consistent day-in and day-out training partner

(CR)What do you drive?

(RB) a Jeep Grand Cherokee

(CR)What's in your cd player right now?

(RB) Jack Johnson

(CR) What color are your eyes?

(RB) green, do you want to know what kind of underwear I wear too or what?

(CR) We'll save that for the next interview! Have a great day and thank you very much.