Rob Bocock was first introduced to waterskiing in the mid-1950s by a group of friends in Saint Anne de Bellevue, Quebec most of whom he had met through his job as a first officer with Trans Canada Airlines. He was hooked immediately and within weeks purchased his first towboat.
In 1958, Bocock moved to Hudson, Quebec and collaborated with another Trans Canada Airlines pilot, Clint Ward to establish the Hudson Water Ski Club where they put on many shows throughout the summer. In 1961 Audrey Gallagher, one of the members of the Hudson Water Ski Club, along with Bocock and Ward attended their first tournament, the 1961 Canadian Championships in Picton, Ontario. During the 1962 water ski season the Hudson group were a fixture at tournaments in Eastern Canada and sent a fairly large contingent to Minnedosa, Manitoba for the Canadian championships where Bocock achieved a second place overall finish in the tournament.
The following summer, Bocock was successful in winning a number of tournaments including his first Canadian overall championship at Caledonia, Ontario. This led to a position on the 1963 Canadian National Water Ski Team and a trip to Vichy, France for the 1963 World Championships where he placed 13th overall. He was member of the water show team at Expo 67.
From 1963 to 1993 Bocock succeeded in winning 12 Canadian championships including first overall at least once in each of the five age divisions current at that time. He was also the first Canadian to trick over 2000 points and over the years held numerous records in jump and one in slalom.Following his competitive days, Bocock got involved in tournament boat driving and in the design and building of water skis. During the late 60’s and early ’70s he worked with both the major Canadian water ski manufacturers, Sea Gliders and Canadian ABC, and was involved in the design of virtually all of the competition water skis manufactured in Canada at that time.
Also during the late 1960s Bocock served on the Board of the Canadian Water Ski Association, a position that he filled for a number of years. He was eventually made coach of the National Water Ski Team and during the 1968 and 1969 seasons hosted a number of tournaments including the National Championships. He served as President in 1979. The early ’70s found him predominantly rigging and supplying boats and motors to the Regions and during this period Bocock became Chief Boat Driver for the Canadian Water Ski Association, a position he held for many years.
Bocock continued to be appointed to drive at the National and International levels and over a period of 30 plus years drove in three World Championships – he was Chief Driver in the 1979 World Championships in Toronto, 6 Group championships and over 25 National championships not to mention dozens of Eastern and Western championships and countless smaller tournaments.
For nearly 35 years boats owned or provided by Roblin Enterprises, the company he founded with his wife, were in use at virtually every major water ski event in Canada.