An Ocean Race Against All Odds

Bob Nordskog and Harry Cordellos have a little post-dawn ocean water skiing expedition planned today.

They expect to leave Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island by 6:30 a.m. and arrive in Long Beach at the Queen Mary--a 31-mile trip--no later than 8 a.m.

To Nordskog, a 72-year-old powerboat racer, and Cordellos, a 47-year-old blind water skier, the trip didn’t seem out of the ordinary.

“We’re doing it because we want to improve our time from the last time we did it,” Cordellos said. The pair made the trip last year in 3 hours, 21 minutes.

Nordskog, a resident of Van Nuys and holder of no fewer than 45 national speed records, took another view.

“The reason we’re doing this is because you have to be crazy, and second, because I happen to be your buddy,” he said to Cordellos. “I wouldn’t even bother if I didn’t think you could do it.”

There is little sense in doubting Cordellos’ courage or ability. Blinded by glaucoma shortly after graduating from high school in San Francisco, he has run in 91 marathons and competed in the Iron Man triathlon competition in Hawaii.

In addition, Cordellos built by hand the single ski he will use in today’s voyage.

Cordellos and Nordskog met through the Southern California Optimist Club, which was putting on an event for blind children. Nordskog was asked to teach the children how to water ski, and obliged.

Soon after, Nordskog was presented with the idea of towing Cordellos from Long Beach to Catalina.

He’d heard that Cordellos was a fine athlete and wasn’t disappointed at sea.

“He fell a few times but not until we were more than half way to Catalina,” Nordskog said.

By that time, ocean conditions had grown treacherous, and the rest of the trip was a battle of Cordellos’ endurance against high winds and choppy seas. They stopped once to rub leg cramps Cordellos was suffering.

Cordellos thinks the earlier experience will help him this time. “The first time--when I drank half the ocean--left me with pretty horrifying memories,” he said. “Anything less will be a good feeling.”

“Anything more, and we abort,” Nordskog added.

That prospect, however, seems unlikely. Cordellos has overcome more than choppy seas before. And Nordskog continues to dominate powerboat racing at an age when most others look for more relaxing hobbies.

“Mother nature will probably stop me one day,” Nordskog said.

Harry Cordellos could only smile. He, as much as anybody, can appreciate a man who loves a challenge.