80′s Skipper Bill Martinelli

This website started in 1999 and at several different points over the years, we have heard speak of an extremely passionate skipper who got media coverage in the 80s, but despite diligent research, have never able to find an article or mention about him, etc.   We were always surprised that we didn’t hear from him when the skipping project was getting a lot of publicity, because it seemed like someone in his life would have told him about it!

Imagine our surprise when we were sent this video today that at long last gives us a glimpse of the the 80s skipper in action:

It seems that Bill not only lived in Charlotte, but in Florida too based on this article about him applying for a permit to be able to skip around town with a billboard for money that was ultimately denied in Broward County Florida in 1988. We’ve also heard about a skipper from Newport, Rhode Island as well, but aren’t sure if this is the same guy.

We are thrilled to at least know the name of this early pioneer of the skipping movement so we can officially add him to the Skipping Hall of Fame and would love to connect with Bill Martinelli! If anyone out there knows him, please ask him to get in touch via email!  Or if you have stories about Bill’s skipping many moons ago to relay, we’d love to hear those too.

 

 

 

Ice Skipping

On December 26th we were due for a major snowstorm here in the Northeast. I live on a lake. The lake was frozen. I went out before the snow began to fly and walked across the lake, the water was crystal clear. I wished I knew how to skate at that point because it was like a mirror, you could see right down to the bottom and the ice was like glass, not a bump or indentation. Perfect for skating. ALSO, perfect for skipping.

I don’t know what came over me and I quite frankly did NOT care what my neighbors thought. I started skipping back to the shore and across my yard. I was picking up branches that fell from the high winds the night before. I was truly enjoying the most wonderful time acting like the child, you know, the one that is in each of us and yet rarely comes out to play. Mine did that day and she had a great time. Albeit too short, but really fun. I thought to myself, I should do this more often. I am so thrilled to see your site. What a very cool thing to do – I shall think of you whenever I skip and I have indeed been skipping a lot lately.

My skipping reminded me of Phoebe on “Friends” in an episode where she was jogging – just running and swinging her arms. Such a free spirit. I was like that a whole lot more when I was younger – I think I’d like to revert back to that stage of not a care in the world. Living in the moment is great, but really enjoying it and BEING in the moment – PRICELESS!!!! -T.L. in New Jersey

Prison Skipping

After healing from an injury that caused me to leave my last job, I landed up working in a woman’s prison. I work in the Mental Health Dept. as a Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant. On Thursdays, we go to the gym. We often walk around the gym to warm up before other exercise. I had been skipping some of the distance which the women though was silly. But, eventually, one copied me and found it refreshing and then one more and one more. I wish I could send you a picture of this maximum security facility and the women with felony crimes skipping around the gym. It brings me joy just thinking of how they float along. -NC Skipper, PJ.

Skip on Spokane!

We recently caught up with Spokane skipper Patty Sanders after she gave this excellent talk about skipping at Ignite Spokane…and we asked her about the inspiration behind it. Here’s what she had to say…

When did you start skipping as an adult? When my kids were little and we would skip together and I realized how happy it made all of us.

What do you love most about skipping? What I love about skipping is that you can not be anything but HAPPY when you are doing it. It is real live fairy dust. Skipping produces happy thoughts and gives you the thrill of flying.

Do you skip for fitness or for fun? Skip for fun!!! If you skip FOR fitness then you have expectations and then you set yourself up to being let down if the expectations aren’t met to your satisfaction and then you will quit skipping. You skip for FUN you will never stop skipping and you will become fit.

What inspired you to create the skipping talk you gave at Ignite? I wanted to do something FUN and different. Since it isn’t an every day occurrence that you see skippers I figured there wouldn’t be a lot of us competing for that subject matter…and skipping is the most fun you can have…Just thinking about it makes you happy.

My Passion is HAPPY…my motto in life has been “when the fun runs out run with it” but I might have to revise it to “when the fun skips town skip with it”. The reaction to it was wonderful. I was happy to hear how receptive everyone was to it. Many people said they are skippers already.

What would you say to someone who is hesitant/too embarrassed to skip in public? To the hesitant and embarrassed skipper I tell them GRAB a kid and skip with them. I also remind them how happy it makes them to see other people skip…you are doing that for people when you skip…it literally is the greatest public service you can do for your community. It just makes everyone happier!!!

A Perfect Day in Mesquite, Texas

I have an unusual, but simple story. Doesn’t happen every day.

Last year, I’d started a new job and had to take the bus for a couple of hours to get there. I noticed I was feeling down before I got off the bus and said to myself…”This can be a bad day, or a really great one. It’s my choice!”  So I started singing quietly to myself the theme from Legally Blonde, “It’s a Perfect Day,” and skipped across the street as I got off the bus.

I’m 39, so this must have been amusing to the people in the 3 lanes of traffic it took to get to the median. I had to stop there to wait for the other 3 lanes of traffic to get the rest of the way across. I looked to my left and saw a piece of paper on the grass. I assumed I’d dropped a receipt and then looked again and noticed it was money….I thought I’d dropped a dollar as I’m always digging in my purse and bent down to look.

I’m never completely awake until 10 or so, so I thought my eyes were just kinda fuzzy. I unfolded the paper and saw a $10, but continued to unfold it and it was a $100 bill. I really needed the money, as I had just started working and hadn’t got my first paycheck yet. I saved it ’til the end of the day, just in case some one were to come into the office and claim it. No one did, so I ended up with the new shoes and a dress I needed to look presentable for my new job. Talk about Divine intervention! Whoo!

It might seem a little shallow to some, but that is my skipping story. I also encourage friends to skip with me. They all think I’m crazy, which is not far from the truth, but I find that every time I skip, something really great happens! It’s true! -Dawn in Mesquite, Texas

Boogie Oogie Oogie

The other day I was walking and running around the lake enjoying the beautiful morning, so into my music and then “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey played. Before long I realized I was skipping and dancing down the road. I got laughing at myself, especially when a passing car honked at me and cheered. It had been awhile since I heard this song but when I do I automatically start to skip so I thought of you and decided I must shared this song with you. You can’t help but skip to the music. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Happy Skipping,

Donna Cunningham
Keene, NH

New York, New York

I’ve been running for the past three weeks and today I remembered why I stopped running in the first place… because I HATE IT!

So, I decided to SKIP instead! What a refreshing and wonderful exercise! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner! It immediately made me smile and lifted my spirits!!

Mel in New York City

True confessions of a closet skipper…

Richmond, Virginia–I am 51 and have been a closet skipper for years (only skipping when I knew for sure noone, not even my husband, would see me!), but after discovering your website, and the fact that there are many other “grownups” just like me who like to cut loose the kid inside, I am now becoming more bold about skipping openly. I still haven’t “soloed” yet (skipping all by myself in front of other people), but now I will skip in public with friends who are willing, and, in the morning instead of “walking” my dog before I go to work, I skip while he bounces along smiling up at me! He thinks it’s a game for him (which makes it easy to do in front of strangers!)–A skipper named Sherry.

What if this works?

This email from a skipper in Ohio named Theresa says so much.

Sometimes when I’m imagining this happening, I think “What if we are successful? Will the Joy of childlike ways become unimportant and ordinary.” Then it comes to me, Joy will only become deeper and deeper for the people on this planet!!

I Skip & I Love It!

From a skipper named Sabrina in Provo, UT….

I caught the Donny & Marie segment on skipping. It was so inspiring to see Kim Corbin’s pure love of skipping shine through. Her energy was infectious. So I just had to try it myself. I loved to skip as a child & have played around a little as an adult with it. But never considered it as an exercise routine. I have a treadmill collecting dust & I am not a runner.

After the show I went outside & tried it. All I could do is smile & laugh. It was a great feeling. I felt my child within soar. Of course you have friends & family tell you you’ll look foolish or people will laugh. But that is the best part, you are going against the normal way of thinking & doing what makes you feel good. It is quite liberating.

I have not yet included it as a regular exercise yet. But I will be. I have plenty of my friends kids that want to join in the fun, too but my adult friends don’t know what they are missing. Maybe I can infect them too.

This 38 year old is celebrating my child within. What a great way to kick off a day then skipping down the street with a huge grin on your face. No one can bring ya down. I am proud to say yes I Skip & I love it!!!!

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