I have come across this site when looking for solutions to problems with maps over the last few years, and it seems good, not to mention there is some nice looking stuff here.
I started learning Hammer in 2010, alongside Google Sketchup (I use Blender to model now). My reason to make my first map was because I wanted to play Zombie Survival (Garry's Mod gamemode) in a map of my own house :V
Anyway I just registered here because I am thinking of entering the contest, but I'll probably hang around after that ends