sunperch

"allows skiers to attain the most buoys regardless of the method" Isn't that what Dr. Micheals did? For the humor challenged, that was a joke!

@Triplett Yes it was in kids divisions last year and I thought it was wrong then, too. At least it was only for class C. Same problems as with adults speeding up, potential for a kid to cut line at 32 mph and possibly get a higher bouy count than a kid who skis at max speed of 34mph. Why not allow kids who are ready to speed up to 36mph do so if they (and their parents) choose? If it is ZBS for all, then allow everyone to choose where they want on the matrix. If they want to level the playing field so everyone has a chance at a trophy, keep it in Class C, NOT Regionals and Nationals.

From ZBS cheat sheet: "What are the new max speeds for divisions? The maximum allowed boat speeds are as follows: 1. Boys 1/Girls 1 - 49 kph (30.4 mph). 2. Girls 2 - 52 kph (32.3 mph). 3. Boys 2 and all females Girls 3 or older - 55 kph (34.2 mph). 4. All males, Boys 3 or older - 58 kph (36.0 mph)." WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY THE CONTRADICTORY STATEMENT: "Which divisions can use this? All AWSA divisions can now use this @Triplett YOU can choose to ski wherever you want but Juniors (and women) are not allowed to make the same choice. How is that fair to all?

@Triplett Thanks for the suggestion but I am girl.

@Chad_Scott I have already been told that women cannot be scored at 36. Juniors are also not allowed to score above their traditional max speed. I do not like the rule, it makes it easier for the lower level skiers to increase bouy count but not will not allow advanced junior or women skiers to increase bouy count by speeding up. Kinda sounds like robbing the rich to pay the poor. I could live with this rule in Class C tournaments as an attempt to increase tournament participation (I don't think it will work), but to allow it for Nationals is nuts. @Jody_Seal Where is the petition for repealing the ZBS rule? I would happily sign it!

Skied first set of the year today in Kansas, shorty wetsuits only

@JeffSurdej The link on the AWSA page takes me to the 2016 rule changes.......

@JeffSurdej The link on the AWSA page takes me to the 2016 rule changes.......

Does anyone have copies of the rule changes for 2017, including Level 10 and ZBS scoring? They have not been posted on the USAWS website yet. I would like to see the details of the rules changes.

Does anyone have copies of the rule changes for 2017, including Level 10 and ZBS scoring? They have not been posted on the USAWS website yet. I would like to see the details of the rules changes.

@klindy I quit skiing the INT years ago (when my nickname was "26 long line"). If I wanted ability based competition, I would not have moved on to AWSA tournament skiing. Improvement in my skiing began when I started to ski AWSA tournaments and I wanted to be more competitive in my division. When I got around better skiers, I learned how to ski better. Granted I had to give up my participation trophy, but traded it for a second place finish at Regionals 20 years later.

Would I really would like would be an easier way to get more practice rounds at Nationals. Idaho was the bomb as we were able to walk up and get a practice rides within minutes most of the time, and at most an hour wait.

@ToddL So if I qualify for Nationals, then I don't get to see how high (or low) I am in the Level 8 rankings list?????? What does that accomplish? I think if you have worked hard enough to be Level 8, then you are probably a pretty competitive person and will continue to strive to improve and will still want to monitor the rankings list.

Improve the benefits you get from membership: partner with non waterski products to improve member discounts. How many kids come back to waterski tournaments with slushies from Sonic. Discounts at more hotel chains. Health club membership partnerships. AAA. Sunscreen companies. Advil. Restaurants. Quik Trip. Think AARP, does anyone join to be in a club with other old people or for the discounts?

I like the rankings list. I compete against myself and trying to move up on the list, even if it is only 1-2 places. I love the rankings list for the kids. It allows them to see where they stand and is a great motivator for them . Even over the winter, my kids access the rankings list on their own to set goals for themselves for the upcoming season. Seeing someone else jump up the list also works as a little kick in the pants for them to try a little harder.

@klindy Can you clarify if junior skiers are allowed to ski above their division's max speed? Jeff indicated in an earlier post that they were not allow to ski at faster speed, only shorten lines before they get to max speed, a change from last year's rule. IE can B2 ski and get scored @ 36mph.

@LeonL that was my understanding of the rule from last year as well. The only problem was in order for a boys 2 skier to be scored at 36mph, the scorer had to enter him as a boys 3 skier due to software limitations. @klindy can you clarify?

@JeffSurdej Thanks for the information. I have a few questions. Does this mean that women can choose to ski @36mph? Also, has the scoring software been updated to allow the ZBS to be entered in the skier's current division. Last year my son opted up above his division's max speed and he could not be scored in his division due to software limitations.

I also saw a post on Instagram that the boat judge made a very bad call on Brooke Baldwin's slalom run that cost her 1st place. Anyone know those details?

@jdarwin What is the alleged infraction?

Advil....

That must be the same Missouri State jumper scratched the surface and tore the solar charger off our brand new jump with a screw sticking out the bottom of his ski.

@Jody_Seal You are providing great information, thanks for the statistics! I would love to ski in a Super Nationals with slalom only if I was only thinking of myself. (No, I am not calling anyone selfish). @Horton We have attended 5 of the last 6 Nationals and have had a blast at all of them. As mentioned in other threads, we make it into a family vacation. Idaho was one of the most fun, yet! My concerns stem from how to keep it fun for the kids (the future of our sport) and thus keeping them interested in the sport. What is the point if the kids are not having fun???? How about a compromise, have a Nationals with kids being able to 3 event, then slalom for adults only. Maybe that would keep the families from having to divide and to keep the friends together for the kids. I feel like the event itself is not the problem, the problem is having the LOC pay out way too much to USAWS and the crazy requirements like paying for hotels for all officials, only allowing 3 event drivers, etc... I just asked my 14 y.o daughter what she thought about the idea. Her response was that we would need to go to both Nationals then, the slalom only for her to ski and the 3 event "so I could see all of my friends. I want to see my friends all ski."

@Jody_Seal As a one event slalom skier, I think it is a great idea! The reservations that I have are because of the kids. I think the 2 Nationals idea would split the kid's divisions up too much. Splitting up the kids would take away some of the fun - a good portion of the fun for the kids is seeing their Nationals friends from around the country. Most of the kids I know are 3 event skiers, so they would attend that Nationals (except mine who are slalom only). Most of the parents I know are single event skiers, who would want to attend the Slalom Nationals.

@klindy I like your train of thought! I may be complicating things too much, but would there be a possibility of obtaining data that ranks drivers on skier's tournament score compared to skier average? That information would be interesting! In the Midwest, we don't have the # of short line skiers at every tournament that other regions have, so data may be skewed when comparing drivers from different regions.