HAYDEN LAKE — It was an unlikely goal to pursue. 

Jonathan Dance had an idea to have his parents, Richard and Julienne Dance, break a Guinness Book of World Records challenge. 

“We’re old fogeys, but we water ski and so he contacted the Guinness Book of World Records and asked how you get an application,” Richard said. 

On June 16 at 8:45 a.m. on O'Rourke Bay, observed by water sport enthusiast Cody Garn and photographer Robert Jolley, the Dances took five attempts to break the record for oldest married couple slalom skiing together simultaneously with deep-water starts. 

“We like to water ski, we’ve just never waterskied together,” Richard said. “We decided to do it before we left for this one-year church mission that we should do it before we go.”  

The couple also may have added to the challenge by adding another level of difficulty.

“We thought it was waterskiing on slalom skis one ski each. I don’t know if you had to do it to make that kind of record, but we did,” Richard said. 

Mastering the deep-water starts together as a team also posed a problem. 

"It took us several times to do it because I’m 170 pounds and my wife is 95 pounds and so it would pull her up and not pull me,” Richard said. 

A tussle with a dog the night before their attempt also landed Julienne with a bruised hip, shoulder, elbow and hand.   

“I wasn't sure if she would be able to grip the tow handle, but she did,” Richard recalled. 

The couple had only a few days to slot in their entry before beginning a one-year mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Detroit on Belle Isle.  

The record was filmed by Jolley and they're awaiting their results. 

“It’s exciting we had our hands raised in the boat. We were pretty happy campers to try something and do it,” Richard said. 

The self-described "Dance Team" pose for a photo after Julienne and Richard Dance made their Guinness Book of World Records combined slalom skiing entry. From left: boat driver Dallin Dance, Carter Dance, Julienne Dance, Richard Dance and Dave Dance.

    Julienne and Richard Dance prepare themselves to take on a water-skiing Guinness Book of World Records challenge.