Panther Lake Ski Club History

By Tommy Harrington

 Panther Lake which is located in Willow Springs was once a public fishing and boating lake.  Many North Carolina skiers learned how to ski and how to ski the course on Panther Lake. The ABC Ski Mites trained at Panther Lake until they acquired a lease on Youngs Pond.  At that time it was a public lake and running the course meant waiting until boaters took a break for lunch to get in a run.

   The Panther Lake Ski Club exists today because of the persistence of one man, Doc Stirman.  One day in the winter 1987, Doc and I met through a mutual friend when he drove out to Gresham Lake.  He skied with us that day and I invited him back to come back and ski which he did.  He skied as a guest for the next 2 years.  When he needed a better skiing situation, I suggested that Doc call R.H. Monday, owner of Panther Lake, and inquire about leasing Panther Lake.  I had skied off and on at Panther Lake since 1976 and knew it was the perfect place for a ski club. Doc spent the winter of 1989 talking with R.H. Monday trying to convince him to lease the lake so he could have a permanent place to ski.  In the spring/summer of 1990 a lease was signed and Panther Lake Ski Club came to be.   In 1994, Ronnie Horne became a part of Panther Lake Ski Club.  Ronnie is president of the club today.

   Panther Lake Ski Club has hosted an annual class C slalom tournament for several years (some years there have been 2 tournaments).  Panther Lake has also been host to 2 Junior Development Clinics which have been of great benefit to NC’s junior skiers.  In August 2008, the club purchased a 2007 Nautique.  Its first official club boat. 

   There are currently 11 families which are members of the Panther Lake Ski Club: the Horne, Lineberry, Cox,  Edeback, Loewengruber, Geiger, Pinkus, Nathan, Kirby, Harrington and Rutherford families.  Within the club there are 11 active junior skiers.       The club is very thankful to Doc Stirman for his efforts and to Mrs. Monday who continues to lease the lake to Panther Lake Ski Club.

Willow Spring Weather Forecast:

 Club Boat Rules

Club Boat Maintenance

NEWS:

Tommy Harrington set 2 new State Records at the 2009 NC State Championship: 

Men 7 Slalom (1@38 off)  and Men 7 Tricks (1800 points). 

Congratulations Tommy!

2009 Calendar of Events

* 2009 North Carolina WaterSki Association Schedule