Mini Course Dimensions Needed

[Spencer_Shultz]

What distance is appropriate for mini course buoys? 
 

[Broussard]

At the option of the LOC in Class C tournaments and below, skiers may choose to ski mini course buoys:

Mini course buoys, preferably green in color, are to be placed by the LOC at approximately 8.5 meters from center-line of the slalom course. However, there is NO required measurement or specified tolerance. NOTE: The slalom course for the disabled is 6.4m from center-line.

Edited August 24, 2023 by Broussard

[lw_moskier]

Official distance does not exist is what I was told....  Our floating course, EZ-Slalom, was 7' 6" from center to center between turn buoy and intermediate buoy.  When we installed our new surveyed course we placed them 10" wider from centerline.  Still waiting for feedback from the beginners but I feel that this helps with getting the ski to roll on its edge vs. steering/pointing it and it's not so close to the outer balls that they are in the way.  You can always go just to the inside of the intermediate as well...  Our thought is just to dive down and move the anchors if it's not what we really want. 

[BraceMaker]

With out adding balls the technique is to drive down just outside of the boat guides, the skier goes around the turn ball and the opposite boat guide marker for a total course width of 12.65m or 6.325m 

I would say that it does feel quite narrow but it is convenient that it overlaps the 6.4m recommendation as you could just put in an official disability course dimension which is cool.

Double edged sword if you've skied around the mini course it doesn't have the dynamics quite but then if you're splitting the difference you get pretty close to just going for the whole course anyway.

 

 

[buechsr]

30 minutes ago, BraceMaker said:

With out adding balls the technique is to drive down just outside of the boat guides, the skier goes around the turn ball and the opposite boat guide marker for a total course width of 12.65m or 6.325m 

I would say that it does feel quite narrow but it is convenient that it overlaps the 6.4m recommendation as you could just put in an official disability course dimension which is cool.

Double edged sword if you've skied around the mini course it doesn't have the dynamics quite but then if you're splitting the difference you get pretty close to just going for the whole course anyway.

 

 

And then boat path can split towards centerline a bit more and use the outside boat guide to learn even more width. (around 1 ball, around left side boat guide at 2, etc.)

[BraceMaker]

@buechsr yup its the double edged sword, getting to use the greens and the gates and having mini course is excellent because they can work on all those other moves and timing.

But you're locked into width.  There are other ways to learn the course by moving the boat, and having drills take one shadow 2 3 4 5 take 6 etc.

[BobF]

We set our novice course -10 feet from the standard turn buoys.  It's wider than the half course, and much easier to drive than splitting the boat lane to turn balls with the boat.

[Kelvin]

I can't find it in the NCWSA rules at the moment, but I believe their mini course is 7.5m from centerline +/- 1m (3-5m inside the turn buoys).

[LeonL]

@Kelvin does ncwsa use the mini course in tournaments?  If so, how is it scored?  Can wstims be used?