User:Wadescottcox/sandbox

Wade Cox

Wade Scott Cox (born December 15, 1968) is an American former professional water skier and successful U.S. slalom skier.1 He has won 47 Pro Men’s Slalom titles competing from the late 1980s until 2007 with a number of National titles.2 In 1995 and 1996, he won the US Master’s Slalom Title and finished each year ranked #1 in the World.1 In April 2012, he was inducted into the USA Waterski Hall of Fame.3 Today, he operates a waterski coaching business, SkiWithWade, and continues to work for HO Syndicate where he has been helping build water skis since 1988.4 He is also a personal coach for HO Syndicate Team and has coached several winners.5 Contents Wade Cox Early Life Professional Career Water Ski Hall of Fame Record of Wade Cox Achievements Post Retirement Success Resources

Early Life Originally from Prescott, Arkansas, Cox learned to ski at age 4 from his dad, Larry, on Lake Greeson in Kirby, Arkansas. During this time, the Cox family participated in Cox’s water-skiing. Larry served as Cox’s boat driver and coach, while Cox’s mom, Kathy, operated the video camera at all practices and tournaments. Cox competed in his first waterski tournament at age 10.6 He also continued participating in basketball and track and field but never stopped focusing on water skiing.7 At age 12 (1981) he won his first US National Slalom title and the overall titles. Two years later, 1983, he won th Boys’ US National Slalom title. Next, in 1985, he won Junior Moomba Masters’ title, Melbourne, Australia for, Tricks Slalom, Jumping and Overall titles.6 He and his family relocated to Florida, with Cox’s sights set on breaking the Boys’ US National Jumping record. However, he’d suffered a debilitating injury by shattering his femur during a jumping event at a Spring Tournament in 1985. This forced a very early retirement from the Trick and Jumping events.7 His leg had to be surgically repaired, and his jumping career was over. Despite missing the 1985 Water Ski National Championships, Cox returned to compete in Open Men slalom and tricks the following year, and he went onto become a successful U.S. slalom skier.7 Professional Career Cox’s specialization in slalom and his move to the professional circuit caused a geographical move to Orlando, Florida. After his injury in 1985, and becoming a slalom specialist, Cox won his first Pro Men's Slalom Title in July, 1989, at The Coors Light Pro Tour (also becoming the youngest male ever to accomplish this). By the early 1990s, he was winning regularly on The Pro Tour.1 In 1992, 1993, and 1994, he had runner up seasons finishing at the U.S. Pro Water Ski Tour and finished each year ranked number 2 in the world. In 1995, he had his best year, winning The U.S. Master’s, Canadian Masters, U.S. Nationals, 5 of 9 U.S. Pro Tour events, and a Bronze Medal at The World Championships. He finished the year ranked number 1 in the World. In 1996, he again won the U.S. Masters. He also won the U.S. Open and 5 of the 7 U.S. Pro Tour Events. He finished the year ranked #1 for the second consecutive year. In 1997, he won The U.S. National’s Slalom Title and debuted his signature model ski by, The CDX by HO Sports. In 1998, he won Ft. Lauderdale and Portland Pro Tour Titles, finishing the year ranked #2 in the World. He also won the Australian and British and Italian Masters while also winning the U.S. Team Trials. In 1999, the Open Men national slalom title was won by Cox whilst qualifying for 10 other tournaments. In 2000, he started the season with a title down under at The OZ Ski Championship. In April of that year, he won the Orlando Pro Tour, beating Andy Mapple. His last victory came in 2005 in London, England at the Princes Pro. At the time of retiring he weighed in with 47 Pro Slalom victories, 33 US Pro Tour Titles, 10 World Cup Slalom titles, 6 US National Slalom titles, and 4 US Masters titles in water skiing. He has also won titles in Austria, Britain, Canada, Italy, Mexico, and Australia. In addition to the 2 U.S. national slalom records between 1992 and 1996, there are many Regional, State, and Lake records with his name next to them.8 Cox has described his life philosophy as: “Competition is an incentive to improve.” In an interview at the time of his retirement, he said, “Let’s just say I have this affliction – I am very, very competitive. I never took to water skiing for fun, but I really enjoyed it. I think being so competitive was an absolute positive because I wouldn’t have been the athlete that I ended up being.”9 He announced his retirement on May 25, 2008, after the 49th Masters. He was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, 20129 Water Ski Hall of Fame Record of Wade Cox Wade Cox’s legendary professional ski career spanned over 3 decades with Pro Titles coming in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. His 47 Pro Slalom Titles included 2 Pro Tour Season Championships, finishing the year ranked #1 in the world each year, 33 US Pro Tour Titles, 10 World Cup Slalom Titles, 6 US National Slalom Titles, and 2 US Masters Slalom Titles. He also claimed other international titles, including the Austrian Masters, British Masters, Canadian Masters, Italian Masters, Jr. Moomba Masters, McCormick Cup, Mexican Masters, Oz Ski, and the Princes Pro-Am. Cox was also a former holder of the US National Slalom Record, US Pro Tour Slalom Record, the World Cup Slalom Record as well as many other Regional, State, and lake records. Coxy started as a young gun on the Pro Tour, but quickly shot to the top... and stayed there. Throughout the 1990's he was on top as the HO Skis and Pro Tour poster boy, battling it out with Andy Mapple and pushing the boundaries of slalom skiing to places never seen before. Today, he continues to spread his water-ski knowledge by way of his SkiWithWade Tour and being the Syndicate Team Coach providing key insight to the next generation of pro skiers.10

Achievements

1981 US National Jr Boys Slalom Champion 1981 US National Jr Boys Overall Champion 1981 US Nationals 2nd Jr Boys Tricks 1983 US National Boys Slalom Champion 1983 US Nationals 2nd Boys Overall 1983 US Nationals 2nd Boys Tricks 1984 US Nationals 2nd Boys Slalom 1984 US Nationals 2nd Boys Overall 1984 US Nationals 2nd Boys Tricks 1985 Jr Moomba Slalom Champion 1985 Jr Moomba Trick Champion 1985 Jr Moomba Jump Champion 1985 Jr Moomba Overall Champion 1986 Southern Regionals Mens 1 Trick Champion 1988 Orlando Coors Light Pro Tour 7th Mens Slalom 1988 Marine World Coors 2nd Men's Slalom 1988 Knoxville Coors Light Pro Tour 2nd Men's Slalom 1989 St Louis Coors Light Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1989 Shreveport Coors Light Pro Tour 3rd Men's Slalom 1990 US Masters 2nd Men's Slalom 1990 Canadian Pro 2nd Men's Slalom 1991 Orlando Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1991 McCormick Cup 1st Men's Slalom 1992 Indianapolis Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1992 Dallas Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1992 US Open 2nd Men's Slalom 1992 US National Men's Slalom Slalom Record 1@41 1992 US National Men's Slalom Record 3@41 1993 Cypress Gardens Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1993 St Paul Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1993 Hartford Pro Tour Finals 1st Men's Slalom 1993 US Masters 2nd Men's Slalom 1993 US Open 2nd Men's Slalom 1994 St Louis Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1994 Indianapolis Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1994 US Masters 2nd Men's Slalom 1994 US Open 2nd Men's Slalom 1994 US National Slalom Record 3 ¼ @41 1995 US Masters Men's Slalom Champion 1995 US National Open Men's Slalom Champion 1995 Canadian Masters Slalom Champion 1995 Hartford Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1995 Detroit Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1995 Shreveport Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1995 St Paul Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1995 Portland Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1995 Philadelphia Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1995 Omaha Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1995 US Team Trial 1st Men's Slalom 1995 World Championships 3rd Men's Slalom 1995 US Pro Tour Season Slalom Champion 1996 US Masters Slalom Champion 1996 US Open Slalom Champion 1996 Orlando Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1996 Shreveport Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1996 Detroit Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1996 Indianapolis Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1996 US Pro Tour Season Slalom Champion 1997 US National Open Men's Slalom Champion 1997 Indianapolis Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1997 Austin Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1997 Sacramento Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1997 US Open 2nd Men's Slalom 1997 Princes Pro-Am 2nd Men's Slalom 1997 US Masters 3rd Men's Slalom 1998 Ft Lauderdale Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1998 Portland Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1998 US Nationals 2nd Men's Slalom 1999 US National Open Men's Slalom Champion 1999 Italian Masters Men's Slalom Champion 1999 Austrian Masters Men's Slalom Champion 1999 British Masters (Thorpe Park) Mens Slalom Champion 1999 Sacramento Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 1999 US Team Trials 1st Men's Slalom 1999 US Open 2nd Men's Slalom 1999 Moomba Masters 2nd Mens Slalom 1999 Moomba World Cup Men's Slalom 1999 OZ Ski 2nd Men's Slalom 2000 OZ Ski Mens Slalom Champion 2000 Orlando Pro Tour 1st Men's Slalom 2000 Pan American Men's Slalom Champion 2000 US Open 2nd Men's Slalom 2000 Malibu Open 2nd Men's Slalom 2000 Detroit Pro Tour 2nd Men's Slalom 2000 Moomba Masters 3rd Men's Slalom 2004 British Masters (Thorpe Park) 3rd Men's Slalom 2005 Princes Pro-Am Slalom Champion 2005 Orlando Pro Tour 2nd Men's Slalom 2005 Cirencester Pro-Am 3rd Men's Slalom 2006 Boardstock Pro 2nd Men's Slalom 2006 WaterSki Mag Shootout 2nd Men's Slalom 2006 US Nationals 3rd Men's Slalom 2007 US Masters 2nd Men's Slalom 2007 MC-Mal-CC Pro Won Head to Head Bracket8

Post Retirement Success As a personal coach for HO Syndicate Team, Cox’ has coached numerous winners.5 Through his own coaching clinics, Cox offers the tools and steps to improve balance through short-line course skiing. He also offers students insights into his experiences and methodologies for overcoming challenges when competing at international levels.11 Resources 1.http://www.iwsf.com/media/mediag99.htm 2.https://www.aktionparks.com/hall-of-famer-wade-cox-brings-slalom-skiing-back-to-orlando-watersports-complex/ 3.https://www.hosports.com/skier/13m0htUCGz 4.https://www.skiwithwade.com/ 5.https://www.ballofspray.com/35-ballofspray-water-ski-news/2790-wade-cox-has-signed-on-to-become-a-syndicate-team-coach 6.https://teamtalk.mastercraft.com/showthread.php?t=23763 7.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPCcO9oU30 8http://www.iwsf.com/media/mediag.htm 9.https://www.usa-wwf.org/Hall-of-Fame/Wade-Cox 10.http://blog.hosports.com/blog/?p=1482 11.http://blog.hosports.com/blog/?paged=3