2017 Nationals

[brettmainer]

Anybody know where Nationals are next year? My personal preference is, 1) Bell Acqua, 2) Broadside, and 3) Hawaii*

 

* I am writing this from the airport, my 4th week in a row on the road. I will finish September with 3 sets on two difference days. The only bright side to that is I have passed the trillion mile frequent flier mark and don't care where Nationals are so long as it is fun. Broadside was fun. Nationals in the early '90s at Bell Aqua was fun. Hawaii would be fun, if only because the wind and waves might bring all the other skiers back to my level. Plus of course, it is Hawaii.

[Drago]

Think they're at BellAcqua

[Mateo_Vargas]

If they don't decide soon I'm putting in a bid to have them where they did 40 years ago.

 

Berkeley Aquatic Park!

[brettmainer]

Berkeley would be awesome. I would definitely endorse that. Saltwater, cross wind, barnacles, San Francisco and the Pyramid Brewery. The only downside for out of towners would be be $400/night motel rooms, unless they rent by the hour in Vallejo or Richmond.

[bigskieridaho]

They were still talking like they might have them back out here in Idaho. Just depends if the crew wants to work that hard again:)

[Mateo_Vargas]

Pyramid closed. The crosswind is gone too.

 

[Drago]

@brettmainer I always wanted to ski there. Paredes told me I would love it coming from Colorado , but $400--yikes. I guess if I stay out late enough, I could go by the hour. I stayed at a $19/night motel at the Indy pro tour and got a proposal from a gay prostitute.

[brettmainer]

@Drago, that is always a possibility at the Aquatic Park. At least it was a couple of decades ago. Matt, September/October photos are always great for fooling people about the SF weather. Although, honestly, I prefer sweatshirts and fresh breeze (or stiff gale) to bugs and humidity. Berkeley skis great, wind or no, and with SF, Tahoe, Napa, etc., close at hand, it would be an experience for those that haven't been.

 

What happened to the Pyramid?

[jimbrake]

@"Mateo Vargas" - no fair showing a pic of "that one day" at the park in September. Show 'em a picture from June or July.

[Jdubs]

I would vote Bell Aqua -if I got a vote. HI, I would think would have a pretty small running order considering travel costs.

[DavidP]

Since 2017 will be the 75th Nationals, I would hope for a site that can attract a large turn out. We just need an Okeeheelee in the middle of the U.S.

[Mateo_Vargas]

Build it and they will come.

[disland]

If they would approve the "lake rental" business model it would open up many more potential venues.

[skidawg]

Princeton would be an ideal location @disland

[usaski1]

I think the key to big attendance is centrally located. When its CA or FL, too many ppl think its too far away. I'm a big supporter of lets get a site like in Colorado, and just have it there every year..

 

[The_MS]

Houston, any of the sites.

[dchristman]

There's a small lake about 1500' from the geographic center of the lower 48. It looks like it might have been bigger at one time. How's that for centrally located, @usaski1 ?

 

Maybe AWSA could buy it and dig it out ... too far away for just about everyone to make it fair :p

 

[brettmainer]

From a convenience and cost standpoint, it is pretty clear that the order of preference is:

1. Close enough to home that no hotel is required.

2. Close enough for driving, but hotel is required.

3. Plane flight.

 

Once you are on a plane, it doesn't matter too much whether it is a 3hr flight or a 6hr flight. Therefore, as a California skier, it doesn't matter much between Houston and Florida. Either one is a flight/hotel/rental car, etc. The extra hour on the plane is not a deciding factor on whether to attend or not.

 

My preference for Broadside over Florida or Houston has more to do with the August weather in Idaho versus the south. If Nationals were in November, the preference would be reversed.

 

Bakersfield is a strong option too. No wind; guaranteed perfect conditions, but gets pretty hot in August. It is my understanding that hosting Nationals 3yrs straight (1999-2001) and then again a couple of years later burnt everybody out down there.

 

I still like the Berkeley option, although it has crossed my mind that it would mean my promo boat would be used in salt water for the week. I think there would be some pushback from the boat companies (or at least the promo team members) against a salt water site.

[Mateo_Vargas]

If the level 8 & 9 exemption passes then I'll put a bid for Western Regionals to be held at Berkeley. Then we can keep all the money from the skiers who don't come and we will have to pull the entire tournament with my '07 Nautique with ZO.

[dave2ball]

Perfect

[ALPJr]

I second Berkeley or Saco. @brettmainer freshwater hoses and showers for the brine. Not many better vacation destinations in the lower 48.

[The_MS]

Any news on the 17 Nats?

[skidawg]

Word on the Skreet is Texas or California! Not sure of sites, should know something soon

[Dirt]

Pure speculation but I doubt Sac unless HQ takes a much much smaller chunk of the profit. There are three lakes all owned by different HOAs/Corporations/LLCs. The middle lake has 18 owners.

 

They will have to make it profitable enough for 18 owners to split 1/3 of the pie and give up their lake/work their butts off for a couple weeks.

[LeonL]

Dec. 1 was the deadline for bids, so there should be something soon.

[lpskier]

Princeton Lakes, Tx is the word on the street.

[Kelvin]

There were bids other than Princeton Lakes.

[lpskier]

Just tellin you what I heard. Not vouching for the accuracy of the information.

[Horton]

Bottom line is it appears there will be an event

[Hockdog]

And skiers will come.....

[LeonL]

But, how many?

[skidawg]

Princeton is very close to DFW, great facility, it is a central location. Two thumbs up if it can be pulled off

[LeonL]

Still waiting. I recently spoke to the owner of a two lake site who said that AWSA offered to pay 10K to use their site for the 2017 Nationals. AWSA to do everytihing. The owner just provides the site. The offer was declined.

[Kelvin]

Nationals will be at San Marcos River Ranch this year August 9-12. Only 4 days so the scheduling difficulties should be minimized.