Andy Mapple
Personal information
Full nameAndrew Henry Mapple OBE
Born(1962-11-03)3 November 1962
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England
Died22 August 2015(2015-08-22) (aged 52)
Florida, USA
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
SpouseDeena Brush Mapple
Sport
SportWaterskiing
EventSlalom
Retired2004
Medal record
Men's waterskiing
Representing  Great Britain
World Games
Silver medal – second place 1981 Santa Clara Slalom

Andrew Henry Mapple OBE (3 November 1962 – 22 August 2015) was a British-American professional water skier. Competing professionally between 1981 and 2004, Mapple is regarded as the greatest slalom skier of all time. During his career he won six World Championships, 168 professional events, and set or tied the world record on eleven occasions.

Biography

Mapple was born in Lytham to Roy and Janet Mapple and grew up in Warton with both his sisters, Susan and Christine. At age 13 Mapple first learned to water ski at Windermere, being taught by his older sister Susan. Mapple attended Carr Hill High School in Kirkham, and during his time there was allowed to leave for extended periods to train at Princes Water Ski Club and Thorpe Waterski under the tutelage of his first coach Paul Seaton - European Champion 1972, 1974 and 1975. After winning his first World Slalom title in 1981 aged 18, Mapple spent winters in Florida and summers at Thorpe Waterski until moving to Florida permanently in the mid 1980s.[1]

Mapple retired at the end of the 2004 season.[2]

During his career Mapple founded his own company, Mapple Waterskis. The company was dissolved, but Andy's design carries on via Square One out of Washington. In 1987 he married Deena Brush, a professional water skier also. The couple lived on Lake Butler and had two children, Michael and Elyssa.

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 Birthday Honours for services to water skiing.[3]

Mapple died in Florida on 22 August 2015.[4]

Achievements

World Records
5@39' off October 1, 1985 Shortline Lake Sacramento, CA
1@41' off October 30, 1988 Boynton Beach, FL
2@41' off December 11, 1988
3@41' off March 29, 1989
3.25@41' off August 31, 1991 Trophy Lakes Charleston, SC
3.5@41' off October 6, 1991 Miami, FL
4@41' off September 4, 1994 Trophy Lakes Charleston, SC
4.5@41' off July 3, 1996 McCormick's Seffner, FL
1@43' off October 4, 1998 Miami, FL
Major Slalom Titles
World Championship Titles 1981, 1989, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001
Pro Tour Titles 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998. 2000, 2001
Masters Titles 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
U.S. Open Titles 1999

References

  1. "Andy Mapple". Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  2. "Waterskiing: Farewell to the champion of a spurned sport". The Independent. 5 September 2004. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  3. "No. 56595". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2002. p. 24.
  4. Vickers, Gareth (25 August 2015). "World champion waterskier dies". Lancashire Post. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
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