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“For us, water skiing isn’t a hobby,” Mark said. “It’s more of a lifestyle. It’s something that comes natural, we just expect it, maybe take it for granted. It’s always going to be there.”
Mark, Sammy and Hunter competed last week at the 66th annual GOODE Water Ski National Championships — the world’s largest three-event water ski tournament — at the Ski Club of the Palm Beaches at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Mark finished 15th overall in the men’s 3 division, while Sammy placed 14th in the boys 3 division — each competing in slalom skiing, trick skiing and ski jumping, the tournament’s three events. Hunter took 23rd in boys 2 division jumping and 16th in boys 1 division slalom.
Qualifying for nationals is earned through placement on the national rankings list, placing in the top five at regional competition, meeting a preset qualifying score or distance, or placing in the top five at the previous year's nationals. Mark and Sammy qualified on rankings, while Hunter met the distance requirement in jumping and buoy count in slalom.
“Just to be from the Midwest and to get the chance to ski in it was big for us,” Mark said. “I was real proud of the boys. We were all real excited.”
While Lake City, Minn., is known as the birthplace of water skiing, Minnesota isn’t exactly known as a hotbed for the sport — at least judging from outsider reaction to the Winona family of water skiers, which includes Mark’s wife Lynda and 19-year-old daughter Briahna.
“It’s nice to show them that people from Minnesota aren’t from someplace that’s always frozen,” Mark said. “A lot of them think it is.”
Said Hunter: “Not a lot of people water ski in Winona. But there are a lot of people who play hockey.”
The Miners enjoy the best of both worlds. Hunter picked up water skiing from his parents at age three and Sammy at age four. Both boys have also played hockey from a young age.
Water skiing has taken the Miners to nine states, with the entire family often traveling to competitions together. Water skiing on the Mississippi River in Winona regularly brings out the entire family as well.
“Almost every time we go out, we go out as a family,” Sammy said. “It makes it a lot more fun. It keeps everyone liking each other. You’re always having fun when you’re out there skiing.”
