Women and children first?

[Horton]

There is always talk of growing or saving the sport and then in my opinion we miss the little things.

Among the things we need to do for the sport to survive is to get our kids involved and make it fun. If this is true why do the youngest Jrs very often ski first thing in the morning. Personally, I am spending a lot of time, money, and energy to make tournament water skiing fun for my Girls 1 daughter.  This year & last year at Regionals G1 slalom is at 8am and this year at Nationals B1 starts at 7:30 followed by G1. I understand that some division has to be first but the youngest kids seem to default to first off the dock at so many events.

Now when you make M4 first off the dock I would not love it but given a choice between me skiing first thing or the kids skiing first thing I will always ski first. ( I always go off the dock first at the BallOfSpray Cash Prize )

The core of the sport is M&W 3-6. Those skiers are likely really committed. It is all other divisions we should be giving some favoritism to. The skiers who are most likely to quit should get just a little extra consideration.  

By the same logic …. I have never hidden my dislike for some boats…. I would strongly support letting the older divisions have the boat with the flattest wakes even if that means I do not get the boat I want. We the core of the sport might need to suck it up a little to encourage the less committed.

[disland]

A significant factor is that is the default in WSTIMS. That is why I dont use the "auto" running order tool.

[MDB1056]

+1 for getting more kids involved. We just had a great Youth Development weekend event here at Greenwood's 2 weeks ago.  Great event, specifically for this purpose.  Love to see the kids all cranked up and skiing hard and having a great time.   

[lpskier]

When I do running orders, I base it around what I have for officials. I lay out officials by split. Whoever works split 1 has to ski split 2 or 3, etc. Once my officials are laid out, I fill in the other divisions around them. 
 

[Wish]

Good thread. I remember watching my daughter get crushed by a certain boats wakes (yrs ago) first round (early am) and didn’t want to ski second and third. I somehow convinced her (probably bribed) and round two with a diff boat was a PB with way better wakes at slower speeds. Seemed half the wake size of the first round disaster. There’s way more to why kids back away these days but giving them preferential time and boat seems like a no brainer. It’s diff for each tournament but please add awards for Jr if u are not doing so. Make a world of diff to fight for a medal or trophy or a prize then a ranking number. 

[dave2ball]

@Horton  I see the kids going first in most tournaments because it brings the parents out to volunteer as dock starters judges so forth-on the west coast.  
If M3-5 went first other then the boat crew there may not be any one else to help.  

[jjackkrash]

Earlier starts are usually less windy, at least in my neck of the woods.  

[RAWSki]

Totally agree and just because "that's how we have always done it" isn't good enough anymore as we watch the sport continue to shrink........I think the key word used by @Horton but over-looked by many who take the sport a little too seriously is FUN.  I really appreciate the comments we get following our tournaments and the more people say 'Fun" the better job I think we have done as a club.

[Horton]

@dave2ball If that is really the state of the sport we are long past able to help ourselves. 

[nautique1228]

I see going first as an advantage. I feel like water conditions are usually best in the morning. And also as the last rounds go they are the first ones done so they can leave at a more reasonable time for travel. 

[BraceMaker]

@nautique1228 you just saw the panda for the implication that you can ski and then hit the road. It's like why when you publish the running order early people dont show up early.  Not on till 20th? Why be at the lake at 730.

[Horton]

@nautique1228 you may have missed my whole point 

[Hallpass]

Would be great if order were mixed up randomly. Not right that the kids always go first. But also would not be right if M4 or W7 were first every time. 

The summer that got my daughter hooked she was 8 or 9. Once a week, I think it was Wed, there was an unofficial kids only tournament Starting about 4 in the afternoon.  Scored on a handicap system.   One young girl was skiing doubles. A couple of teen gentlemen were into 38 and 39 off. Averaged about 20 kids each week. There were prizes each week and every kid had a chance to win. If I recall, 9 lakes donated an afternoon for the kids.  One week Rhoni Barton was in Town and jumped in the boat to do a bunch of the Driving. I think Terry Winter watched every kid, regardless of ability.  There was a bbq, and maybe a beer or two for adults who were not officiating. These were fun, and even adults with no kids were showing up to officiate, drive, enjoy the bbq, and encourage the kids. To me, these unofficial events were the water skiing community at its best. It was great for the kids. 

[chrislandy]

It's a catch 22, the flattest water is typically first or last thing, you normally have to sign on first thing so getting the kids on the water means they get flat water and are straight into it. The downside is you then have to entertain them for 12hrs until 8pm prize giving.

The flip side, for example my boy did a comp this weekend and he skied at 16.30 with a 12.30 start, got the worst water as the wind picked up (20mph head/tail wind rather than low single figures at the start/end), had built himself up over the afternoon watching everyone else, was half tired as he'd been running around with the other kids all afternoon and didn't run 26 when he'd been skiing into 30 regularly and spent a couple of days beating himself up about "not doing his best"