Water World’s Calypso Cove is synonymous with many things: Screamin’ Mimi, Tortuga Run (a.k.a. the ‘Crazy Lazy’), and Bermudas.
For Greg Hoffman, it’s the KYGO belly flop contest.
Greg Hoffman performs a signature flying squirrel belly flop at Water World in Federal Heights, Colorado.
“This all started back in 1989,” Hoffman said. “KBPI did it first, and I heard about it when I was up at Colorado Mountain College, but back then, it was also a costume contest.”
Hoffman liked creating a big splash.
Well known as a flopper from his days at Broomfield High School and around the Broomfield Swim and Tennis Club, Hoffman began belly flopping and doing backflips. At first, it was just a fun thing he did for the kids, who would cheer, laugh and want to join in.
Flopping as “Conan the beer baron” he entered the KBPI competition — an event that cannonballed Hoffman into the belly-flopping scene.
“When I entered the KBPI contest, I wore my dad’s CU helmet and a loincloth,” Hoffman said, “but I didn’t win, since at the time I was only 20 and you had to be 21 to win.”
Greg Hoffman dress up as ‘Olga the Russian Lady diver’ ahead of taking part in a belly flop contest at Water World in Federal Heights, Colorado in summer 1997.
The following summer in 1997, Water World and KYGO began hosting their annual belly flop competition.
Hoffman entered the contest as “Olga the Russian Lady diver,” sporting a red, women’s one-piece swimsuit with swim cap, and a wig with long braids.
Greg Hoffman dress up as ‘Olga the Russian Lady diver’ ahead of taking part in a belly flop contest at Water World in Federal Heights, Colorado in summer 1998.
“That’s when I won my first trip to Puerto Vallarta,” Hoffman said. “It was amazing.”
Hoffman entered the contest the following year for the second time and won for a second year in a row. By 1998, it was no longer a costume contest, so Hoffman had to rely solely on his athletics to win the contest.
“That’s when I started doing the flying squirrel,” Hoffman said. “That’s the one where I puff out my chest and I reach back to grab my ankles. The crowds would go absolutely wild.”
The flying squirrel became a signature flop for Hoffman, but not the only flop in his arsenal.
By the early 2000s, he had perfected seven different styles of flops: The flying squirrel (Hoffman’s signature flop), a standard belly flop, front flip belly flop, back flip belly flop, 12-foot belly flop, seated belly flop (starting from a seated position) and a helicopter belly flop.
The August 2007 cover of Nickelodeon Magazine previews a story about, at the time, Broomfield, Colorado resident Greg Hoffman’s belly flopping contest participation at Water World during the 1990s and 2000s.
Hoffman didn’t enter the contest for a few years, but when he returned in 2006 and 2007 for a chance to win again, he blew the competition out of the water. He drew crowds to the contest, even being featured on ESPN’s Top 10 plays of the day, and in an August 2007 edition of Nickelodeon Magazine.
“That win was the best,” Hoffman said, “we took the kids to Cancun. It was such a great summer.”
Greg Hoffman, shown flying through the air, was featured in August 2007’s Nickelodeon Magazine, participating in the Water World belly flop contest, one in which he won the competition four times.
Hoffman reigned as champion of the belly flop for four years, although not consecutively, and was asked by Water World and KYGO not to participate the following year.
“They told me I could no longer participate because I won too much,” Hoffman said while chuckling. “But it brought me 10 years of ‘fame’ and it’s something really cool that my kids got to experience.”
Like Hoffman’s public flop career, Calypso Cove’s run is ending. This is the last weekend before its permanent closure.
Calypso Cove celebrated 28 years of the annual event in July, so what’s in store for the future of Calypso Cove and the belly flop competition at Water World?
“While the redeveloped area won’t be the right fit for the future, we’re already exploring other options in the park and are confident that we’ll be able to offer plenty of belly-flopping fun next summer,” Community Relations Manager for Hyland Hills Parks and Recreation Kellie Flowers said.
“Calypso Cove and its attractions have been part of Water World since the 1980s, and decades of guests — and staff — have made memories there. We’re incredibly grateful for those moments, but as the area reaches the end of its life cycle, the time has come to re-imagine it for the future,” Flowers said. “Our goal is to keep creating Summer’s Best Memories for generations to come and we’re thrilled that the Belly Flop Competition will continue to be part of that story.”
And as for defending past belly flop titles?
“As for past champions, we would love to welcome them back!,” Flowers said. “As long as contestants follow the rules, they are welcome to compete year-over-year and defend their title.”
Greg Hoffman splays out for a standard belly flop dive at Water World in Federal Heights, Colorado during the 2007 KYGO and Water World contest as patrons cover their eyes in horror from behind.
Which as Hoffman pointed out has the poetic ending for Calypso Cove come true: “If you wanna be the champ, you gotta beat the champ.”
Stay tuned flop fans.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source denvergazette.com ’
