Biography

Vital Statistics

Birth date:                                Birth place:

Current Residence:                   Isle of Palms, South Carolina

Height:                                     Weight:

Occupation:

Began Skiing:   6                        Began Competing:

Events: Slalom, Tricks, Jump

Division:  Leg Amputee (Womens) without prosthesis

Sponsors:

Hobbies:

Career Highlights

• Silver Medal as US TEAM Member at ’01 World Championships in Australia
• Individual Silver Medal for Overall ’01 Worlds
• Individual Gold Medal for Jump '01 Worlds
• Individual Silver Medal for Slalom '01 Worlds
• Individual Bronze Medal for Tricks '01 Worlds
• 2000 National Overall Champion
• 2000 National Slalom Champion
• 2000 National Jump Champion
• 2000 National Tricks Champion
• Gold Medal as US TEAM Member at '99 World Championships in England
• Individual Gold Medal for Overall '99 Worlds
• Individual Gold Medal for Jump '99 Worlds
• Individual Gold Medal for Tricks '99 Worlds
• Member Florida State WaterSki TEAM
• Graduate of Florida State University with Bachelors\ of Science in Telecommunications Production
• Skis in the Leg Amputee without prosthesis division

Best Performance

Records

Ski Club Affiliation

Future Career Plans

Most fun skiing experience

People I look up to or who have helped me

Camie learned to ski at the ripe old age of 6 because skiing was a family activity and Camie didn't want to be left out!  Interestingly enough she had pretty much the same reason for learning to ski with a disability.  Camie was tired of being the designated boat driver, so 2 weeks and 2 days after the loss of her leg Camie learned to slalom off a "boom" (the real name is barefoot boom; it's a pole about 2" in diameter that attaches to the tow pylon to place the skier next to the boat rather than 75 feet behind it.  It's also much easier to balance off a 2" diameter boom than a ski rope) Camie's boom was a gift from the SPECIAL WISH FOUNDATION.  Camie spent the next six months learning how to get up on a slalom (single) ski behind the boat.  She learned a few tricks on a kneeboard (she skis without a prosthesis).

Life sent Camie to the Blind WaterSki Nationals in Florida and she watched the athletes ski, she thought "if these people can do this SO CAN I!"  Her fate was sealed upon meeting Katie Mawby  and Jim Grew (USA Water Ski).  Camie was given the opportunity to slalom and trick ski at the event, her performances so impressive (and the sport so young) Jim Grew asked if she'd like to be on the US TEAM!

Camie's first waterSki competition was the 1989 World Trophy held in Perth, Australia, where she performed well in tricks, and got around 1 buoy in slalom.  (Not like she was under any pressure or anything:)  Camie missed the 1995 Worlds because she was attending the University of Florida and they wouldn't allow her to compete as it wasn't a "university sanctioned event":(  Camie was on the University of Florida's WaterSki TEAM (the collegiate skiers are by a vast, vast, majority able bodied - Camie competed along with able bodied skiers, not disabled) in 1995 and 1996.  She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications Productions.  

After graduating Camie worked at MGM Studios on film projects and commercials.  She has since given up on that career, instead preferring to work with ANCHORS AWAY a recreational program for people with disabilities.  They teach folks of all ages, with all types of disabilities all they are ABLE to do in/around water/boating.  They offer adventures like harbor cruises, fishing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, waterSkiing, etc.  Did I mention that Camie also got her Captain's License (for driving big boats)?

SHINING MOMENT

Camie's shining moment was definitely at the 1997 WaterSki Nationals.  She'd practiced all spring with Dad as her Coach (and idol).  On her first day of competition she tied the World Record! Tying a World Record felt great, but it wasn't complete because she was missing family.  The next day she beat the record she'd tied the day before . . . her Dad had arrived only moments before she skied and was able to share her victory and jubilation.  Camie's from a very close family; her Mom, Dad and sister typically travel to US events.  Camie's Dad has traveled the globe to attend all four World Championships she entered.  Camie's Mom has been to 3; the 1999 World Championships in England was the first time Mom had left the country.

Camie is sponsored in part by MasterCraft Boats, who provide her with a ski boat to teach others to ski.

You can see that Camie always takes time for children.  That's her and KeNyA at the '99 World Championships.  KeNyA thinks Camie should be on a "Got Milk?" billboard.  So do I:)  

(P.S.  That's not Camie's leg on the "Look Ma" page, Camie wears a metal leg.  Many people think she should cover it up, Camie is proud of her leg, it reminds her that she isn't stoppable!

That's Camie and her man Marshall in Australia.  We'd gone to a  TEAM dinner at the Kilgour Estate Winery near Geelong, along with delicious food, and great companionship was a spectacular view of Melbourne across the bay.  It was a bit breezy as you can tell by Marshall's hair.  Messy hair or not, it's a great shot of a lovely couple:)

And by the way, at the Worlds of 2001, Camie won the Silver Medal (Overall) Individual Gold in Jump, Silver in the Slalom event and Bronze in Tricks.  All this while pregnant!  See what I mean about Camie being un-stoppable:)

So many folks have misconceptions about "disabilities"; some one asked if Camie's baby was going to be born an amputee!  FYI - the answer is no, Camie wasn't born an amputee either.  Just because you have to have something amputated doesn't mean your genes are affected (if it's a leg, your blue jeans are affected:)