NCWSA Announces Updates & Rule Changes for 2016

[Horton]

Rule Changes:http://www.ballofspray.com/images/2016/NCWSA.jpg
Jump
The use of a 4.5 foot ramp is approved for both A & B teams. All 4.5 jumpers will jump first, then events will proceed with the 5 foot ramp.
A jump boat path chart is now apart of the the rulebook that outlines proper language and boat position to communicate to the driver.

Slalom
Introducing “Zero Based” slalom. Skiers can now shorten the rope after making a full pass without reaching their divisions max speed.

Trick
A kneeboard can be used in the trick event for 1/4 trick ski points.

Updates:

University Worlds
US Team trials will be held for skiers wanting to attend the 2016 FISU University World Championships which will be taking place in Akita, Japan on September 8-11. Team Trails date & location TBA

Nationals
2017 Nationals will take place at Bennetts Ski School.
The 2016 Nationals wildcard show will take place on social media.
Clarification has been added to the rule book that Nationals is sanctioned as class C and all rules & protest will follow class C rules.
Nationals will be webcast and paid for by NCWSA which will sell sponsorship & commercial spots (NCWSA owns all rights to Nationals video production and coverage).

All-Stars
All-Stars Winners will be recognized at the Nationals Banquet.

[Bill22]

Zero based scoring, cutting the rope before max speed!

 

I'm surprised the Ballers are not talking about this. It will be interesting to get feedback at the end of the season.

 

What would 6 @ -35 / 34mph be equal to at 36mph?

[JeffSurdej]

It would be equal to 6 @ -32 / 36mph. Yes will be interesting. AWSA passed this for juniors this year too. Hoping if it works we go all divisions. Problem is as long as regionals and nationals is ran class L we can not do this unless IWSF changes. So with this being a class C only adoption I'm not sure how much testing will be done in AWSA but NCWSA will have a lot of testing and we will be able to compare scores from same skiers and see if 6 buoys is a true handicap per 2 mph.

[eleeski]

6@-35/34mph=6@-32/36mph. I'm not sure if the score is a tie or the 36mph skier would be placed ahead of the 34mph skier. What is cool is that 6@-35/30mph=6@-22/36mph. Or 6@-35/19mph=6@-15/30mph. Adds some fun options.

 

Eric

[Bill22]

@eleeski seriously? I know this topic has been discussed over and over and over! But I hope you are joking.

 

I think the intent of the rule is to let someone who is not ready for max speed compete, get experience and have fun. Not for a college girl/guy to run the course at 19mph!

[eleeski]

@Bill22 Trick skis work at 19mph. Wakeboards work at 24mph. Jumpers work at 28mph. Some fat slaloms work best at 30mph. Allowing alternate skis to the $$ fancy high end slalom skis is a great idea. Especially for college kids who are just figuring things out.

 

Running the course on a trick ski teaches many valuable skills. Try it!

 

The winners will run deep shortline at the maximum speed. Beginners will have more fun options. All good.

 

Eric

[Kelvin]

All of the rule changes are designed to make the sport more fun and enjoyable for the beginners to continue to grow the sport. @JeffSurdej has recognized this and I applaud his actions. Using a kneeboard in tricks, the 4.5 foot ramp for jump and zero based scoring in slalom all lead to more immediate success in the sport and can be a springboard to bigger and better things.

 

Besides, in a few years I'm going to need some young family that's excited about the sport to buy my house on a private lake. I'm all for these changes. Great Job.

[Bill22]

@eleeski first let me say I am 100% for cutting the rope before max speed. Second, I have just moved up from grassroots so my opinion may not count for much.

 

The points you are making sound like good practice tools. How would you feel if you are in the judging tower, it's 97 F and people line up on the dock with trick skis in a slalom round? just saying...

[MattP]

@Bill22 As an official who works a lot of college tournaments I would rather see kids getting buoys on wake bards, trick skis, & jumpers than eating $h!t on a slalom ski either not making it to the first buoy or getting out of the water. Buoys are buoys the more they get the more smiles and fist pumps you see. That is what brings the new team members back year after year. That is what its all about. FUN!

[Kelvin]

@bill22, they won't be lining up, but occasionally you will have a high-end skier wanting to have some fun in the slalom course on a trick ski. Last year in a spring collegiate tournament, I drove for a skier that started at 19mph/41off. As the driver, it was a blast. Yes, it took longer for the set but it added to the enjoyment of the tournament.

[Bill22]

@MattP got it

[GK]

I applaud the NCWSA for making some BOLD changes! Also, if we make the max speed 36 mph for every division then it doesn't matter if 6 buoys is a perfect handicap. Skiers would ski whichever speed they feel gives them the best chance at the highest score possible.

[RazorRoss3]

I was at the MCWSA winter conference, according to the captains I talked to they spent over an hour on the zero slalom rule because all of the team captains were upset about it and were pissed that the rule had been passed without talking to them. And this rule is likely to be most heavily used In the Midwest to begin with.

 

I personally don't like it much either but I don't ski college anymore so whatever.

 

Fur the 4.5 jump I think that's great, especially for new skiers.

[MattP]

@JeffSurdej can you post the Rule Change verbiage for zero based scoring?

[ToddL]

Question about "zero based" slalom. Currently, a skier can start at -15 at a speed slower than max. The way that is written above, it could be misinterpreted to suggest that the first pass has to be LL. I assume that is not the case.

 

Let's consider a crazy example:

I assume that if a skier wants to start at -28, 30MPH and runs that opener, they get the appropriate number of "zero based" buoys for that. Then, if they want to go -32, 30 and run it, they would get 6 more buoys. Then, if they want to stay at -32 and run it at 32PMH, they get 6 more... Then, -32/34, success yields 6 more. -32/36, success means 6 more. From their they have to cut the rope to -35/36 and so on.

 

I could see how a short line skier in adverse conditions (wind/rain), might prefer to not go longer than -28, but slow the boat down to ensure a successful opener.