No Manitoba waterskiier can boast the illustrious career of Alexander Bruce Reid; none had gone as far before him and it is unlikely that any will surpass his accomplishments in the near future.

From 1964-84, Reid dominated the strong Manitoba scene for waterskiing, winning championships far too numerous to list in this brief summary. His accomplishments at the national level were equally impressive and numerous, capturing title after title and placing high up in every event (figures, slalom, jumping and overall). In all, Reid captured four first overalls and four second overalls at the prestigious nationals.

Bruce Reid’s international career spanned ten years, from 1973 to 1983, and it too was highlighted with spectacular accomplishments and set precedents for Canadian waterskiiers for years to follow. His highest placing in the overwhelming international field of competition was sixth over-all at the World Championships in 1981. But Reid’s forte was the waterski jumping event. As master of this event, his finest moment on the international scene came in 1979 at the World Championships in Toronto. Concentrating solely on waterskiing and training year-round, the 23-year-old Reid soared to a third place finish in the Open Jump Competition. His run at the world title fell short by a mere two feet. Still his Canadian ski jumping record of a phenomenal 182 feet stood until 1988 (in any division).

In 1981, Alexander Bruce Reid retired from competitive skiing after serving 12 years on the Men’s National Waterski Team, six of those years as its Captain, and entered medical school. Dr. Bruce Reid received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1982 for his outstanding contribution and now joins the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame with his father Ian as the first father/son inductees.