For Pat Coomes, what began as playful summers on the Ohio River has transformed into a lifelong devotion to water skiing — one that’s taken him from humble beginnings in Stanley all the way to the national competition stage.
“I was born and raised in Stanley, and I still live there,” Coomes said. “It’s right on the river, and sometimes the river comes right up to town. That’s where it all started.”
Coomes first strapped on skis at age 10, pulled behind a boat by his uncle Jerry Jones.
“We’d swim and play along the shore, and my uncle taught me how to ski,” he said. “I was always willing to get out there and try.”
From makeshift gear and barefoot stunts to tournament slalom courses, Coomes’ passion grew with time. As a young adult, he bought his first boat, joined USA Water Ski, and entered his first novice tournament in Paducah.
“We practiced a lot, and we thought we were the best little water skiers on our mile stretch of the river,” he said. “I went to that first tournament and got hooked.”
But early on, he also realized skill alone wouldn’t carry him far.
“I found out I had a lot of bad habits,” Coomes said. “A friend told me, ‘Practice doesn’t make perfect — it makes permanent.’ And I had been practicing wrong for years.”
In 1994, Coomes joined the Kentucky Lake Ski Nuts, a club known for competitive water skiing and one very unconventional tradition: skiing every New Year’s Day.
“I think it started at a New Year’s Eve party that got out of hand,” Coomes joked. “Somebody probably had too much to drink and thought skiing in January was a good idea. And so, they did.”
The annual tradition stuck, becoming one of the club’s calling cards.
“It doesn’t matter what you wear — wetsuit, dry suit, or bikini — you’re going to be cold,” he said, laughing. “I remember one of my first times, I wore a wetsuit and got teased because the next skier — Joe Burkhead’s wife — went out in a bikini.”
Coomes has skied in the cold for decades, but his accomplishments extend far beyond winter tradition. Over the years, he’s become a regular at state, regional, and national tournaments, competing in slalom, trick, and jump events — and placing highly in all.
“I’ve won my division in the Kentucky State Tournament multiple times,” he said. “About 10 years ago, I won first place in jump at the Southern Regionals in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That one sticks out.”
He’s also competed at the national level, finishing second in men’s 8 jump at last year’s championship in Bakersfield, California.
“I’m hoping to improve on that this year,” he said. “I’d love to finally win a national championship. If I live long enough and outlast all the good competitors, maybe I will.”
Beyond competition, Coomes serves as a senior-rated judge and boat driver at regional and collegiate events. His wife also participates as a scorer. Together, they’ve become fixtures in the tight-knit USA Water Ski community.
“Water skiing has become more than just a sport — it’s a lifestyle and a social group,” he said. “I’ve got friends all over the country I stay in touch with. We meet up a few times a year at tournaments, and it’s like a family.”
After more than 30 years on the water, Coomes shows no signs of slowing down. Whether he’s braving frigid January waters or chasing a national title, one thing is clear: the river that runs through Stanley runs through him, too.
“It’s not just about skiing,” he said. “It’s about the people, the memories, the work, and the joy. I’m just glad I’m still out here doing it.”
