Career
He competed for the United States in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Germany, winning two silver medals in the water skiing (though as water skiing was a demonstration sport in 1972, they are not included in the medal tables). Grimditch would go on to establish 10 United States. national jumping records and four world marks in the sport. He earned 16 national titles and was the first skier to earn jumping records in the Junior Boy"s, Boy"s and Men"s divisions simultaneously.
Grimditch was known as a child prodigy qualifying for his first national tournament in slalom at just nine years old and winning the world jumping title in Copenhagen, Denmark at age 14.
Due to a concussion, he began wearing a helmet which became common to the sport—though not a requirement—thereafter. Perhaps most notable among his world records is the one for longest ski jump, breaking his thrice-held previous records by jumping 180 feet in the air in 1975.
Grimditch went on to place fourth in American Broadcasting Company"s World Superstars competition. "Winning the Superstars was one my greatest emotional highs," Grimditch said.
The Superstars multi-sport training regimen may have altered Grimditch"s water skiing career, however, and injuries associated with participation in Superstars would limit his contributions to the sport on the water in subsequent years.
Grimditch moved to television color commentary to give analysis of water skiing events after his skiing career was concluded. Trademarked water skis and helmets bore his name, he provided consulting advice to ski and boat manufacturing companies to provide guidance in the sports" development, and it was said that half of the skiers competing in national competitions in the late 1970s used skis based on his designs. Since leaving the water skiing field, Grimditch began his own fitness company in Florida.
