Biography

Vital Statistics

John R.  Reid, Jr                              Fountain Valley, CA

Age 52                                                         Special Education Teacher

Born in Biloxi, Mississippi                               Officiating for 16 years

  Career Highlights

• Silver Medal as US TEAM Member at ’01 World Championships in Australia
• Senior Judge/Pan American International Judge for 14 years
• Regular Scorer for 16 years (Regular/Senior distinction is the level of official)
• Chief Judge, 2000 Junior World Championships in Greece
• Invited US Judge, 2000 French Masters in France
• Chief Judge, 1999 World DisAbledWaterSki Championships in England
• Appointed US Judge, 1999 World WaterSki Championships in Italy
• Appointed Judge, US Masters Tournament 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000
• Appointed Judge, 1998 Junior Worlds, in France
• Appointed Scorer, 1996 Junior Worlds in Canada
• Chief Judge of Western Regionals, US (able bodied) Nationals, US DisAbled Nationals, Collegiate Nationals
• Chair Western Region Junior Development Program Committee
• Officiated at every US Nationals since 1984, except one
• Active member of USA WaterSki since 1982
• Competitor (Slalom, Trick and Jump) since 1981
• Became involved with skiers with disabilities since 1992, working every DisAbledNationals except one
• Developer of private waterSki sites in California
• Masters degree in Psychology, Masters degree in Education
• Currently in his second year of a clinical psychology PH.D. program

Hobbies

 Scuba Diving, riding his Harley:)

Ski Club Affiliation

Most fun skiing experience

People I look up to or who have helped me

Whew, he's done a lot of stuff, I didn't even list local tournaments, or that he first started competing in waterSkiing in 1981, slalom, trick and jump! 

TEAM Manager is responsible for everything except actual athlete coaching.  Can you imagine assuming the responsibility to travel to a foreign country with 14 athletes, their equipment, families, etcetera?  There are many, many things that can go wrong (and right) John's job is to plan and coordinate for the expected and unexpected as well. That's why John was selected for this job.  By the way that's John in the center of the photo:)

At the 2001 Worlds, John [who teaches 4-5 year olds with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities (Autistic) children] told us the Secret of Life, check out My Aussie Experience  and Australia Report for more info on that:)

John was not only an excellent TEAM Manager for the 2001 Worlds but he was also lots of fun.  On the way back from dinner one night I was trying to distract 4 year old Aleah Fine by singing "The Wheels on the Bus" (a pre school song).  From then on that was John's song, it's something he sings with the children he teaches.  John had our World Champion skiers in stitches (also singing) nearly every time he climbed behind the wheel of a van:)

One day the TEAM traveled to Anglesa Country Club, where the kangaroos were as plentiful as squirrels on most golf courses. (Click here to see a photo of the TEAM with roos.) John spotted a Magpie and began to sing to her "Wake up Maggie, I think I've got something to say to you."

John has two Masters, one in Psychology, one in Education.  He's in his second year of a clinical psychology PH.D. program.