Resident of White Bear Lake, his hometown. He grew up on Bald Eagle Lake, where he still lives. First learned to water ski in 1948 at the age of 22. In 1951 on their honeymoon, Tom and his bride Anzle bought their first boat in Winnesquam, New Hampshire, a 15 foot fiberglass runabout with a WWII 50 HP Evinrude engine designed for use on storm boats.

Water Skiing Highlights

• One of the founding members of the Bald Eagle Water Club in 1953
• President in 1954 and 1968. Honorary life member
• Joined the American Water Ski Association (AWSA) in 1954. Built a ski jump with AWSA plans, and first installed a slalom course in 1954
• Skier and Assistant Show Director for the Bald Eagle Water Club Shows from the first show at Howard lake in 1954 , Iowa Falls in 1955 & ’56 to shows in the early ‘60’s
• Tournament Director for the first Bald Eagle Water Club tournament in 1954 on Bald Eagle Lake
• Helped organize and compete in the first Minneapolis Aquatennial Waterski Tournament on Lake Calhoun co-sponsored by the Bald Eagle Water Club in 1955. 1st in Mens Class A Slalom, 2nd in Mens Class A Jumping, and 1st in Mens Class A Overall
• Has installed the slalom, trick, and jump courses for the Aquatennial from 1955 to 1974 at Lake of the Isles,the 1959 Midwest Regionals at Lake Nokomis, the 1960 and ’65 Nationals, and most of the Island lake tournaments thru from the late ‘60’s thru 2002
• Founding member MWSA 1960, helping to develop its bylaws
• President, 1964. 1965
• One of the first skiers in Minnesota to run 34 MPH in a sanctioned tournament
• One of Minnesota’s first bare footers
• Competitor since 1954 in slalom, and tricks. He jumped in the 1950’s on the 6 foot jump and once again in 1974
• 1962 Midwest Regional Trick Champion, held at Minocqua, Wisconsin
• First nationals as a competitor in 1962 at Callaway Gardens, competing in Senior Men Slalom and Tricks
• 1969 Nationals 6th place tie inSenior Men Slalom, Berkeley, California
• 1981 Nationals, 4th place Veteran Men Slalom, Destin, Florida
• Numerous Nationaland Regional Titles in slalom and tricks thru 2002
• Minnesota State record holder
• Hydrodyne Award winner
• Gary Duhamel Award winner
• Ski Nautique Promotional Team member from 1974 to 1988

Retired mechanical engineer with Hamm Brewing Company and 3M. Marrried to his next door neighbor Anzle (dec. 1995 ), and now to Ida. Father of Paul, Ross, Steve,  and Evelyn, all skiers in their own right. Grandfather of  6.

Tom also enjoys snow skiing, being a veteran of 25  years with the National Ski Patrol at Wild Mountain,  and was a winter resident of Aspen, Colorado.

Tom has always been known as one of the top skiers in the state of Minnesota, the mid west, and the nation. He loves the sport and the people involved in it. He’s never at a loss with something good to say about skiing, from the early days to the present, and is an inspiration to everyone.

Nito learned to ski in 1952 at the age of 14 on Lake Owasso and was taught by a neighbor,  Jarle Leirfalom, who was then the Minnesota DNR Commisioner. After serving in the US Navy,  he joined the Bald Eagle Water Club around 1958. He is currently a resident of Shoreview  where he grew up and still  lives on Lake Owasso.

• Joined the Bald Bagle Water Club in 1957 or 1958
• Committee member for the 1960 and 1965 National Championships, sponsored by the Bald Eagle Water Club and held on Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis
• Skied in the Bald Eagle Water Club shows from 1958 to 1977.
• Skied in tournaments from 1958 to present.
• Founding member MWSA 1960
• Held various offices with Bald Eagle as President, Vice-President, Show Director, Tournament Director, and Announcer
• President and Vice-President of MWSA
• Promoted Wednesday night Water Club shows at Island lake, which eventually became the tournament site for the GMO, Minnesota State, and the Island lake tournaments
• Led the Bald Eagle Water Club show to Kenora, Canada, their  first international show.
• Promoted the “Show of Stars” for the Aquatennial and the 1960 and ’65 Nationals, combining the talents of various Minnesota Skiers and National skiers
• Promoted and worked for Saucier Skis of Minneapolis
• Originator, with Ab Crosby, of the annual Hydrodyne Award, given to the skier with the highest overall NOPS points at the GMO
• AWSA Midwest Region Executive Vice-President (EVP)
• Instrumental , along with Ed Buhr, Jack Ostberg, and others, in getting AWSA to recognize Ralph Samuelson, in 1972, as the true “Father of Waterskiing”. Ralph first skied on Lake Pepin in 1922 behind a Boeing flying boat using homemade 8’ wood skis. A monument in Lake City along the shore commeroates the event. His skis are on display at the Minnesota History Museum.
• Served on the seeding, technical , and Waterways Education Committees for AWSA
• Served on the original AWSEF Board of Directors
• Served on the Scholorship Committee for AWSEF
• Helped create a pilot project with the Ramsey County Sheriff of a  water surface use management concept designed to work with lake specifity, ie. lake associations can do a better job of managing their specific lake, rather than big government
• AWSA Senior Driver, Senior Judge, both Emeritus Status
• Appointed driver and judge at many Regionals and Nationals
• Appointed judge at the National Show tournament
• Tommy Dorwin Award winner for sportsmanship at the Midwest Regionals
• Hydrodyne Award winner
• 1974 National Senior Mens Jumping Champion, 126’
• Many top five Nationals placements
• Many Minnesota State Championships
• Many Midwest Regional Championships
• Last rated as EP Jumping, Masters Slalom, Expert in tricks
• Currently listed as an expert with TASA, investigating and testifying on various water related lawsuits, having done so since his early days with waterskiing. Nito has never lost a case.

Nito, with his former wife Joy, raised 3 daughters Coral, Liana, and Maile,   on Lake Owasso.  They all skied with the Bald Eagle Water Club Shows and competed  in tournaments. He’s a former  employee of  Saucier Ski Company, and a retired truck driver.

He’s been known as a top skier, judge, and driver. Nito has been involved at all levels, from the local club level, volunteering with The Courage Center, to the national Tournaments and serving on national boards. He’s never shied away from doing things and has shown great enthusiasm and opinion in doing so. Nito has and continues to serve the sport of waterskiing very well.