My path appears to be the most uncommon, yet most conventional? I started at 6 on my step-dad's lap though growing up I didn't get to ski more than a handful of times per summer. Bought my first boat right out of HS and yanked that thing all over the river for a couple summers. In 1984, it must've been via WaterSki mag that I found AWSA, whom in turn provided a list of 'local' clubs I could contact to find 'help', you know, people with a similar 'issue'. So - I wrote a letter - GASP! And I got one back, which led to a phone call. I joined the club and skied there two seasons, mostly with a kid about to graduate HS (and a great skier) - MMC! We went to a handful of tournaments together, including my first at Crescent Bar, WA - 2nd place in Novice. I moved across country in '87 and bought my first Nautique while living in Atlanta. Skied a tournament in Chattanooga in '88 (3rd in Novice). Resumed free skiing like a madman, no bouys, again from then until 2016 - see below.
A couple of 'small world' bits to bring it full circle:
I moved back to Portland, got married, and bought our first house in 1995. Went to the Boat Show that year and reconnected with MMC - and learned that we now lived about 200 yards apart! In 2001, we moved our family out to Banks, a mere 3 miles from the lake where it started...yet I never skied there and MMC and I lost touch again...until 2016 when we reconnected at Warman Lake. Looking forward to starting the season there soon...and this MAY be the year I finally enter another tournament too... :-)