Biography

Vital Statistics

Birth date:  December 24, 1949            Birth place:   

Current Residence:                             Birmingham, Alabama

Height:  6'1"                                        Weight:  195 lbs

Occupation:                                        Retired as Chief Director, Blind Center VA 

Began Skiing:  1960's                            Began Competing:  40

Events:  Slalom, Tricks, Jump

Division:  V1 (Totally blind), slaloms with use of "bat blaster", machine that beeps when skier pulls out far enough to round a slalom turn buoy at proscribed rate of speed (34mph) the rope is shortened once she "makes it" through gates and 6 turn buoys.  Uses a jump guide for jump event.  Guide hold skiers elbow, shouting out distances to the approaching ramp, guide skis around ramp, skier goes over, the meet on the other side.  Injured in Viet Nam

Sponsors:  Challenged Athletes

Hobbies:  Reading, meditation

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 Bronze Medal for Tricks '01 Worlds
• National Overall Champion 2000
• National Slalom Champion 2000
• National Tricks Champion 2000
• National Jump Champion 2000
• Gold Medal as US TEAM Member at ’99 Worlds in England
• Silver Medal Overall '99 World
• Silver Medal in Jump '99 Worlds
• Bronze Medal in Wake Slalom '99 Worlds
• Set a World Record in Jump at '99 Nationals

Best Performance

Records

World Record in Jump

Ski Club Affiliation

Lake Zoar WaterSki Club

Future Career Plans

To raise catfish

Most fun skiing experience

'99 Worlds with Al Golabek in London, England

People I look up to or who have helped me

Allan Golabek, Joel Zeisler, Kenneth Jernagin, Jennifer Murphy

A veteran of the armed forces, also a veteran waterSkier, competing for 10+ years, earning numerous world records in his favorite event of jumping. Mark currently holds the world record in jump and enjoys coaching old and young alike.

Years ago Mark was looking for a place to practice jump, he'd heard of a guy named Joel Zeisler so he phoned him.  At the conclusion of the half hour conversation, after setting a ski time, almost as an after thought Mark said "By the way, I guess I should tell you I'm totally blind."   Joel was stunned, but quick, "Is there anything else you should tell me, anything else I should know?"  Mark responded with "No, I think that's it."

They've been skiing together since, Joel traveling the World with Mark as his jump guide.

Here they are at the 2001 Worlds in Australia. Mark did land the jump!

Mark earned a Silver Overall (at the 2001 Worlds) a Gold in Jump, Bronze in Tricks and finished fourth in Slalom.

Mid March in Australia is autumn, weather changes from one day to the next.  One day it'd be a hot 80 degrees, the next you'd be layering to keep warm.  Here's Mark at the training site in Geelong on a breezy day.  Tired from traveling and training he decided to catch a quick nap.  The coziest place was tucked inside his 3 event bag!  Hey, whatever works!  (Photo by Joe Ray)

KeNyA has a couple great stories about Mark and Al during our visit "down under", check out "My Aussie Experience", it'll make you smile at least.