jdarwin

As one of the originals (going back to fin tweakers forum), my only complaint has been Horton. I guess that will never be resolved....

@Jody_Seal - as a National Director of AWSA, thank you for composing and posting in a public forum that AWSA/IWWF has specific policies and procedures in place and that they "are followed". Very valuable.

@bishop8950 - Kevin, I agree 100% with your statements. If a driver is not performing to the standard, procedures are in place to deal with that - assuming those procedures are followed. But, let me propose a hypothetical for you; You enter two tournaments at the same site on the same weekend. There are 5 different drivers pulling approx. 33 skiers each day - 99 pulls per day. Everything is fine on Saturday. On Sunday, there is determined that one of the drivers was driving "out of spec" and the sample involved ONE ROUND and maybe 10 skiers in the tournament on THAT day. Should the scores for ALL skiers behind ALL drivers for BOTH days be removed from the scorebooks? What about the skier who skied just Saturday? He wasn't affected by this at all! If you believe the scores should be removed, shouldn't we apply the same criteria to ALL tournaments including Regionals and Nationals. If one driver is determined to be driving "substandard", shouldn't the entire event be erased? This is VERY dangerous precedent that has been set. And, it has far-reaching ramifications.

@Jody_Seal "AWSA as well as IWWF have policy's and procedure's that are in place and followed." And if they weren't? What is the recourse?

@LLUSA - score books WERE pulled from the USAWS site - cooler (and more intellegent) heads prevailed and they were restored. Just a point of clarification. As for IWWF, I suspect the same 30 day protest rule would apply as well. But if we are going to validate ALL scores based on boat path videos, there are some Regional and National scores that need to be removed. Consistent application of rules is the only acceptable position. Wouldn't you agree?

In short - AWSA is practicing selective indignation. Only a handful of tournaments out of literally hundreds held in 2017 are receiving the scrutiny that a select few have. I can only speak for the events held at my site – the two E/L events held at Cottonwood in late September. I’ve been told I’ve been caught in the crossfire of a personal agenda of a certain board member – one who must begrudge someone else’s existence in order to validate his own. I’ll let those on the east coast provide the disturbing details of their current situation. I’ll focus on mine. AWSA has deemed specific events “unworthy” simply by applying a small sample of anecdotal evidence and came to this conclusion by forming “committees” to review without consulting with all parties involved. They used a sample boat path video to not only deny a regional record had been achieved (which I have no issue with) but also discredit the ENTIRE event and have the scores removed. With this small sample of data, they have/are attempting to remove ALL the scores from event(s). – regardless of which officials were involved in the achievement of these scores. This flies in the face of due process. In the end, this is all about the fragile egos of a select few. Those who equate their personal value to the number of 39’s they ski, drive or host at their site. If it didn’t happen at their site or with their driver, someone MUST be cheating!!! STORM THE BASTILLE!!! I’ve heard of many other events where the driving was substandard. But, in those instances, the driver hindered the performance of the skier. I assume that’s not important to the leadership of AWSA. Only where there is a “perceived” benefit to the skier is the accusatory finger pointed; and then universally applied to all aspects of the subject tournament. This is not only morally reprehensive but also runs contrary to the ethical standards of the AWSA I joined 25 years ago. NO ONE from AWSA has reached out to me directly. Even though the President of AWSA told his “committees” that had occurred. I responded to the President of AWSA via an e-mail that was forwarded to me. He NEVER reached out to me directly. Nor did any of the “committee” members. The President of AWSA (and these “committees”) seems to play fast and loose with the truth – and the rules governing the organization. Once the sensibilities of the elite few are impacted, the resources of an entire organization are utilized to degrade, insult and otherwise discredit fellow members who don’t meet their self-implied standards. These pathetic efforts are extremely transparent to those of us outside the “elite bubble” of AWSA leadership. For AWSA to indiscriminately erase scores from tournaments sets a very dangerous precedent that has far-reaching ramifications should someone bring legal action to apply the same critical standard s to ALL tournaments including Nationals and Regionals. This single action on the part of AWSA could entangle most of its resources to defend and ultimately cause its demise. What AWSA fails to realize is that skiers DO NOT NEED AWSA to ski. To ski tournaments. To ski with their friends. To enjoy a sport free from over-burdensome rules and regulations. As an organization that is losing 10% of its membership annually, it should be focused on retaining and growing membership – not instituting gestapo tactics against its own. AWSA and its board should act in a manner that is transparent and promotes inclusion and cooperation. Currently, that does not exist.

@Horton - Congrats. Wishing you many successful years to come. BTW, it WAS slalomtweakers. Somehow MS was allowed into our club - who knew?

@bigskieridaho - Ski Ranch, Covington, LA.

I would start with my local sports commission / travel and tourism / convention bureau, etc. They have insight into where you could go for sponsors and logistical assistance. If run correctly, it could be a financial success for both the promoter and the athletes. If not, it could be a disaster. The best way to run an event is to concentrate your efforts on the competitive aspects (course, boats, judges, etc) similar to any other tournament. Then, have others involved who know how to create sponsor value, food and beverage, marketing (align your event with a local TV/Radio station), etc. It takes a small army to plan these events and a much larger one to actually execute. Back in day, I was part of the Champion Lake Pro Classic that ran successfully for years (part of the ESPN Summer Nights broadcasts) - even with the assistance of World Sports Marketing handling most of the planning and marketing, it was quite a logistical challenge locally.

Do you have to change the format to make a tournament more compelling? I host 4 record tournaments per year (full w/ waiting lists). Not much I can do to change the format - I average 105 pulls per day. Therefore, I can't add any additional formats that would lengthen the day. I print t-shirts for all competitors and feed everyone. I'm sure there is more I can do (I'm a one-man show) but changing the format is difficult. Perhaps enhancing the experience within the established parameters is a possibility.

Centurion and Supreme share the same address in Merced. Therein may lie the answer.

@Bruce_Butterfield - like you, I'm finding deeper is better. At 2.455, I was getting tail slide almost to the wake. 2.460 resolved and the ski feels more connected behind the boat and creates more space.

I'm 210 and did not attempt to try the 67". The 68" did not feel big. I have a fellow skier who is 190-195 and tried both and settled on the 68", FWIW.

I believe there are more similarities than differences between the two. If you put a blindfold on, it would be difficult to tell the difference. That said, I've ridden D3's many times over the years and felt my offside turn was marginally more predictable on the D3.

At the end of the day, the ONLY ones benefitting financially from the promo programs are the manufacturers themselves. THEY should be the ones that get creative in making it more attractive and less of a financial burden on their "team members". LOC's are going above and beyond (in some cases) to keep these guys plunking down insane amounts of cash each year with little hope of 100% recapture. Why should it be just the LOC's. The manufacturers themselves need to join the party and quit cutting benefits to their beloved "team members". And, don't give me the worn out narrative "it only makes up 5% of their sales and they are altruistic in maintaining the programs for the skiers"....BS!!! If it didn't make money, they would never have pursued it in the first place. The sacrifices of the "team members" have kept these programs on life support - not the entities that benefit. From a financial perspective, the current day promo programs are as futile an effort as the loading of the ice making machine on the Titanic.

Don't get me started.....

Damn - for 1/3 of that, you can have my place! I'll even throw in a driver!

@LeonL - I've asked this and numerous other questions about "fuzzy math" used in our financials. Either I get no response or a "glare" that seems I'm playing in their sandbox and should just leave. Please don't ask about the $202,000 loss from printing a magazine......

Sorry - we don't use boat video to judge - we feel tower judging is much better here in the USA!

@jcamp - according to 2015 USAWS financial statements, the take from National tournaments was around $137,000. The LOC's received $70k and USAWS took $61k for "overhead and labor allocation" and "administration fees". The question answers itself.....

@skidawg is my choice. Drove him thru a sweet 39 last night. And, he got 3@41 last weekend at Cottonwood Record. Just hand him the cash when he shows up. Save yourself the time and energy..... Oh, and don't beat his little girl....she'll use your ski to give you a new permanent appendage

1. Goode 9900 Mid Ride 2. Goode XTM 3. D3 RCX 4. Goode 9960 Mid Ride

@Horton - come back to Austin end of October for USGP. Maybe Maranello will have it figured out by then.....

Separated at birth....

@Horton - there is only one thing I love more than you.....LSU football. No, actually there are about two dozen things I love more than you....make that 3 dozen... The way I'm skiing, this would've been the perfect year. Next year for certain!!