Don Bucher
2009 Hall of Fame Inductee
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Don Bucher First started water skiing at the age of 8. He first skied in show tournaments with the Dewart Lake skiers at the age of 10. He entered his first Indiana State Tournament in jump competition in 1964, and from there, Don went on to file quite a list of accomplishments through his water skiing career. Qualified for his first nationals in 2001 and was Midwest regions Men's 6 Slalom Champion in 2008. Don Currently holds a Senior Judges rating, Senior Driver, Senior Scorer, State Safety Director, Announcer, and 3 Level Instructor.
Don's resume reads something like this,

  • Co- Tournament Director with John and Barb Miller for the first two Indiana State Show Tournaments held at Dewart Lake in 1971 and 72' and the State Tournament held at Pike Lake in Warsaw IN. in 1973.
  • Started Water Ski Inc. Ski Team with Jerry Hickman at Hidden Lake in Warsaw IN in 1974
  • Co- Tournament Director with Jerry Hickman for the Hoosier Classic Pro Water Ski Tournaments in 1975 thru 1978
  • Started building the first man made ski lake in Indiana in 1978 ( Cindonway Shores)
  • Don and Peggy and the WSI ski team have hosted over 100 sanctioned events at Cindonway Shores since 1983
  • Received the coveted Rollie Williams Award in 1986
  • Midwest Regionals: 2 times Chief Judge, 2 times Chief Driver, 2 times Chief Announcer, Appointed Judge and driver, many times- almost yearly.
  • AWSA Nationals: Appointed Driver 1990 & 2000. Appointed Judge 1999, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, Assigned Judge 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, Appointed Scorer 2006 and Assistant Chief Judge 2005.
  • Indiana State Ski Club President ( one year in the early 70's)
  • Indiana Council Person to the Midwest Region - late 80's through 1998
  • Midwest Region Executive Vice President 1999 thru 2006
  • American Water Ski Board of Directors - 1997 thru 2009
  • AWSA Vice President 2001 thru 2007
  • USA Water Ski Board of Directors - Midwest director 1999 thru 2009
  • Chairman of USA Water ski Board of Directors 2008, 2009