“I was born and raised in Murray, Kentucky. In my younger years I competed in swimming. By my 15th birthday I had made my way into the junior Olympics. High school was packed with activities involving dancing (tap, jazz & ballet), gymnastics and softball. In college I began teaching dancing and gymnastics, and during summer breaks I taught swimming for the Red Cross. In 1989 when I was 19, I decided to move to Orlando, Florida and work for Walt Disney World as a lifeguard at Typhoon Lagoon, planning to stay for only 6 months. Well, now it is 10 years later and I'm still here.
I was introduced to wakeboarding when I got a job at Performance Ski & Surf pro shop in 1995. I began to get interested in wakeboarding in 1996 after I met my boyfriend Thomas, a 3 event skier on the Swedish national team. Seeing my attempts at wake jumps, Thomas really encouraged me to start training seriously. Thomas gave me my first wakeboard and something else, knowledge.
After training one summer together, I was able to win not only the U.S. National title but also win the Wakeboard World Championships in the Amateur Women's division! Thomas was not just my boyfriend, he had become my mentor, coach and best friend.
1999 has been a great year, yet at the same time a little frustrating. I started off well, by making it into the semi-finals at the first couple of U.S. Pro tour stops. Then I went to Tahiti to film a French movie about extreme water sports. Upon my return from Tahiti doctors found a tumor, which meant surgery. Although I was out most of the season I still maintained a high profile by working clinics in Europe and in the U.S.A. Once back out on the water, my enthusiasm for the sport was rewarded with a respectful 4th place finish in the Pro Women's division at the U.S. Wakeboard Nationals.
My other interests are travelling, good food & wine, skateboarding, inline skating, swimming , driving fast, snowboarding, billiards, snowskiing, weight training, dog sledding is a trip, snowmobiling and listening to music. “
- Cathy Williams
|
