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Take away the incentive to cheat in class C - starting with running an open (no qualifying) Regionals/Nationals - that anyone with the entry fee can compete in (bigger Regionals/Nationals are desired by LOCs and sponsors). Run class self scoring class Cs or just have a boat judge as @OB suggests. Enter the Class C score in the Rankings database but Rankings List champion determined by ELR scores. Seeding for States/Regionals/Nationals has three flights - no scores ski first (draw names for order), those with class C only scores skis second (by ranking list scores), those with ELR scores ski last (by ranking list). If numbers need to be limited then prioritize e.g Top X in Regionals then ELR ranking scores then C ranking scores then have a draw.

I would highly recommend Friday through Sunday (weekdays are busy) at Cory's in Santa Rosa Beach. Most people don't think of Cory and Slalom - but he is Regina's coach. And, Daniel is top notch, Can't beat SRB for things to do.

Maybe just removing the grass a few feet up from the water's edge would help -- seems to work at Cypress and Bennetts, but I don't remember what they do around the turn islands.

Well B3 tricks at Nationals this year was in the 3 minute/skier range with falls and ski changes. Skier and boat ready on deck. It maybe that running 2 boat slalom (on deck skier immediately ready to go) saves a lot of time - allowing format changes. I know the 2 driver issues - but it seems to work at the Big Dogs.

Why would a supplemental tournament thats primary goal is "to bring more people to Nationals" have ANY qualification criteria? Subtract the number of people that are going ski the National tournament from the number of rides you want to pull - thats your entry limit - first come first served (including Nationals skiers) to fill the field. Bet you get more Nationals qualified skiers and families coming.

US [citizen] Nationals = Age Group Champions, US Elite = US [citizen] Open/MM etc. Champions. Run both tournaments concurrently with skiers able to compete both competitions if qualified. If D2 is desired make it a handicapped Class C or lower tournament with worthwhile prizes capped at a optimum number of entries - so non age group qualifying parents/officials etc. can ski. Again run concurrently. That way Open qualified can ski 3 times, Age group can ski 2 times. And non-qualifying officials and parents can ski at at least once and practice.

Cory is as good or better as a coach then he was as a skier. He is also on the boat all day every day unless he is out of town. If he happens to be out of town there is likely to be another 10K+ point tricker (Adam, Martin, Danny, Javier) in the boat. Give him a call and talk to him about what you want to learn.

@jimbrake - has your son grown taller over the summer? My son is now 6'1" 135#s (same PB as your son) - he has grown 8-9 inches and only gained 10-15 lbs over the last two seasons and we've switched skis 3 times (64" 9700, 65.5" 9700, now on a 65.25 Goode XT with a weight range to 195#s). Whenever he got above the middle of the weight range for his ski he would start to regress untill we went longer. In fact, the first question Dave Goode asked when fitting a ski for him was - how tall? Just a thought - YMMV.

I'm re-learning the course after a few years off due to injury. My first few attempts I was overturning and falling back onto the rope. The coaching I have received has been "slow in the turns and fast through the wakes. The way to be slow in the turns is to be very upright and over your ski in the pre-turn and turn (I think "gate shots from both sides"). The way to be fast through the wakes is to be patient and let the ski finish the turn before getting into your lean with your hips forward and handle connected to your hip.

Make the National tournament itself like the Big Dawgs (e.g. apparently more fun) - two qualifying rounds with a small head to head finals, all 3 events, all age groups. Maybe there is no need to change the qualifying criteria just modulate the criteria to get the right numbers. Each age group skis all its rounds in a maximum of two days. It could require a 4 lake site and need to be a Class C because of officials but could be something people consider going to because its more fun.

My son (<60#) skied his first Regionals (up to 28 MPH) on slalom half of skis similar to this. (They were called Jr. Amigos a few years ago.) http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=OBrien-Jr-Vortex-Combo-Waterskis&i=44502&r=view

@unksskis I asked Dave if there was "anything appropriate we could could put my son on" and he set up a new ski with NO expectation of a purchase. He was genuinely surprised when I purchased the ski after my son's ride.

@Skijay - thanks it took me a while to come up with that wording but because of @Mattp 's question I had to "man-up" anyway. @jcamp, @klundell, @tbrenchley Because I don't want this to happen to anyone else - my ski, 66" Goode Wide Ride with Reflex/RTP on a single plate in a black neopreme ski sleeve, son's ski, 65.5" Goode traditional with Reflex/RTP on a single plate in a black neopreme ski sleeve e.g. not easily distinguishable. Future risk mitigation - very different ski sleeves plus two pairs of eyes. Secondary risk mitigation - get myself qualified so both skis are required!

@jordan - Dave took the ski and a piece of wet sand paper to the lake, I assumed it was to clean the bottom of a fresh ski as he suggested we not touch the bottom to avoid body oils after he was done. @klindy - Thanks again!

@MattP well its a bit embarrassing - but I packed my ski rather than his. That mistake will not be repeated - he's in charge of packing now.

Less than an hour before my son was supposed to ski at Nationals we discovered that he could not use the ski we brought with us. We ran over to the Goode tent and asked if there was anything that could be done. Within fourty minutes Dave (who had never met us before) matched a ski to my son, mounted it, set the fin, wet sanded the bottom and sent us off for his ride. While this was happening Chad, Regina, Lucky Lowe and his fellow competors were all encouraging him. Klindy lent us his golf cart so we didn't have to sprint to the starting dock. So in an hour we went from a scratch at Nationals to "Dad I have never had more fun on a tournament set." We were overwhelmed by the support of Dave, Team Goode, and his fellow competitors. Thanks so much!

The B2 kids that have a few shortenings under their belt @ 34 seem to transition well to 36.

Thanks Cypress! Everything was first class as usual and we had a great time!

@Kelvin - thanks and great planning, if we weren't out of town we would be there!

Thanks!

Well I got Thursday 7/17 by interpreting the following rule book language "Ranking List Qualifications: a skier may qualify for the National Tournament in any event or overall by being ranked Level 8 at the Cutoff Date, which is 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the Thursday three weeks prior to the Thursday immediately before the start of the National Tournament. The rankings average of the last ranked skier in level 8 at that time will be considered the Level 8 Cut Off Average for that event and division (See Ranking List Section of Website for specific details)." But I can't find any place to confirm.

My interpretation of the rules says Thursday 7/17 but the Ranking List says 7/22 and other dates are out.

My son has been on Reflex/rtp both slalom and trick since he was your sons age. Never even had a tweak in 7 years. The initial cost gets amortized over the numerous times when you just have to buy a shell to take care of two events. Switched him over when I saw that Jay used the setup for Danyelle.

From Waterskimag.com -- enjoy. http://www.waterskimag.com/features/2014/06/17/top-5-trick-runs-video/1/

Open Bow = more maintenance with boat house and private ski lake