Webcasting AWSA Nationals

[unksskis]

How can we make it happen? What are the obstacles needed to overcome? This could be beneficial for the growth of 3 event.

[klindy]

Well the primary obstacle for the Nationals is that you have a three lake site which needs a production crew to do it live. Or you triple down on the web costs/connections to webcast three separate “events”.

 

I had a discussion about this with the sponsoring club recently. As always there are some logistical challenges but they did kick around a few idea. I know it’s on the radar.

[Horton]

Short answer. The number of people who would be watching at any one time would be nowhere enough to justify the effort. Most of the people who would watch are the families and friends of the competitors.

 

Webcast is in my opinion generally a boondoggle. A few people do a lot of work and then a few hundred people at most sit home and watch. It is AWESOME for those who get to watch but I do not think it is a logical allocation of efforts.

[unksskis]

I think showing 1 lake is better than nothing. Collegiate Nationals show 2 lakes routinely. Personally if possible I think this should be run separately from the host, they have enough on their plate with the tournament. Do we need a GoFundMe to get this solidified?

[unksskis]

@Horton I don't think you can measure that or the potential at the moment, since it's never been done. Yes, it may mainly be family and friends, but with social media these days, that can expand into a lot of "friends", and has to be more attractive to getting outside sponsors than sitting in a hot booth all day watching people pass you by.

 

It's worth the shot. The number one question I get when people hear I'm competing at Nationals is if they can watch it (me) online. My co-workers tuning alone would be more than a few hundred people.

 

That's why I'm proposing we support it, and make it happen. It's not to make money, it's not for anything other than allowing our friends and family to tune in and see what we do. However, exposure and marketing the sport can be a major residual effect. I will gladly support it, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

[Jody_Seal]

I think that a web cast of some sort of focusing on the hotly contested division's would be beneficial and great addition and add to national exposure. focus on the big divisions of the day on what ever lake they are skiing on. Girls 3 slalom, men1 jump what ever is the closest group of competitive skiers and Whatever division Eric Lee is skiing in! shoot just have a film crew follow the man around site (live feed) would be great entertainment!!

Yes a web cast would work and should be implemented.

[lazzn]

A thought: automated webcast with wide angle shots of both lakes and no commentary or whatever the tournament has going on for the local audience. That way those of us who aren't there but watch can see enough to know whats happening live, and not much time/money is invested by organizers. I feel like it would be better to put saved effort/money from that into highlight videos. It's way easier to show off tournament skiing to non tournament skiers with a highlight video than a webcast...

[ntx]

I think the best person to answer this is @Kelvin . He does a great job on collegiate and other pro events. My guess us that the amount of work and the number of people required far exceeds any of our expectations.

[RazorRoss3]

Is it possible (logistical by cost and effort) to live stream an event through Facebook or twitter?

 

In my head we create a permanent Facebook page for ease of discussion “waterski webcasts”

 

Spread the word and you’ll have every collegiate waterski team’s page following you, likely by extension every collegiate skier following you. 2% of them might share the live streams on their Facebook pages with all 800 of their friends.

 

This might not be feasible but with collegiate growing but not transferring to AWSA it might be a good idea to try and grow the sport through the social platforms they use.

 

Obviously would also require a lot of organization, an official “owner” and people at major events who knew what they were doing so maybe it’s a total non-starter

[unksskis]

@RazorRoss3 I think that's a good idea, even incorporating it if there is a webcast.

 

I can tell you that is what the Pro Wakeboard Tour did last summer and it was not the most desirable thing to find, watch, follow, or get to work all the time.

 

[Kelvin]

Too early to comment, but things are being considered.

[Horton]

If someone really follows @eleeski around and live streams it i will be glued to my pc for the week.

[unksskis]

Thank you @Kelvin , how can we help ensure it will happen?

[mmosley899]

@unksskis hard to get a professional crew to spend a week working on a video production if it is not to make money! I have the knowledge and capability to produce such material, but I'm not going to work for free...even if it is for water skiing.

[JeffSurdej]

It is definitely something we are working on. It is a lot of work to do it like kelvin does for NCWSA Nationals, lots of camera crews and non stop production by Kelvin. But I think we can put something together. Since we have boat video already it would be great to just make that a permanent live feed. Would be great for those back home who want to tune in to watch their friends and family. or as jody said if we can do the top 10 seeds in the top half of divisions. Something is better than nothing, we got to start somewhere.

[APB]

if not... they should pay someone to do a good facebook live. it can be done properly.

 

[behindpropellers]

We can hook you up with www.boxcast.com if you guys can get the production handled.

 

Tim