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Skiing Through Life - Five Decades on Lake Oroville

With a love for waterskiing, and each other, Mike and Anne Ronco
have been taking to Lake Oroville on skiis for more than 50 years.
Now both 82 year olds, their bond is stronger than ever, both on and
off the lake.

Mike and Anne met as Juniors in High School, and have been insepara-
ble ever since. Mike, who was taught to ski by an uncle when he was
13, taught Anne to ski, and the rest is history. They married in 1962,
and found Lake Oroville when it opened in 1969. They haven’t missed
a year on the lake since that time, spending their early years camping.
In 1982, they purchased a summer home in Kelly Ridge, where they
spend June through September, annually.

Lake Oroville is unique, with the four arms of the Feather River coming in, he said. “It’s consistent - it never gets too crowded, and there’s
always a good place to ski.” Mike said they always ski mid-week, and es-
pecially enjoy skiing late afternoon near the dam.

The benefits of waterskiing are many. “We’re both believers in the ‘use it
or lose it’ philosophy, Mike said. “Skiing has enhanced our health and our
social lives.” Both Mike and Anne agree that if someone is in reasonably
good physical condition, there really are no obstacles (including age) to
staying active. The only thing that’s changed for them as they’ve aged is
their frequency of skiing. They said they generally ski once a week now.

“Boating gets you out and into nature, enjoying the environment and all of
the gifts we’ve been given,” Mike said. “It’s been a key to enjoying life.”
Boating allows you the opportunity to access areas that aren’t accessible
otherwise, and helps further take advantage of a healthy lifestyle, he said.

February 2023 Page 28