Very sadden by this news. I never had the honour of meeting him but still feel like I lost someone I have known for a long time. I grew up with pictures of him cut out from Water Ski Mag on my wall and in my locker at school. I am from Canada, not having a picture of Gretzky or Messier was unheard of, Mapple belongs right along side all the other sport greats of the last 25-30 years, Gretzky, Jordan, water skiing has lost its Great one.