BK

@kfennell you're 100% correct

@shaneh Your comparison to the 26M in the State is ridiculous, unless you also say water skiing in general is just as irrelevant. Second, there are other active show ski clubs in Texas.

More importantly, I can think of at least 15 junior skiers that competed in 2012 AWSA Nationals that came from show skiing with the Ski Bees...not the reverse. And since I've been involved with the Ski Bees, off and on for the last 25 years, many others got their first taste of AWSA tournament skiing after a beginning in show skiing. Another place you see the transition is into collegiate water skiing - there isn't a USAWS collegiate show ski association, so many show skiers get involved in USAWS collegiate water skiing. One of our AWSA Board Members in the SCR is a former show skier. And Jay Bennett was a show skier. Show skiing has and will continue to be a great avenue to involvement in competitive water skiing, in less of course we decide to shoot that foot.

Also, the slalom course anchors are still at McQ today...and the buoys were still in two summers ago but we decided against it last summer since most using it are now at a private ski site...which by the way, three families that started in show skiing purchased lots at SMRR and compete in AWSA at the National level. Anchors are still in at McQ for anyone that wants to put the buoys in - just need to join the Ski Bees and you have access to a slalom course. $50, not a bad deal.

I think it is important to know the facts and not discount the connections show skiing has had with competitive water skiing, at least in the SCR (since we're not talking about the Midwest on this thread). Show skiing is still alive (maybe not well) in FL, too. In my opinion, show skiing has the least amount of red hair of all the USAWS step children.

16 of the 97 ranked (2012) scr slalom skiers in awsa came from show skiing, including the #1 ranked g3 slalom skier for '12. These 16 are from the scr - probably more from the midwest or other regions.

Sorry about the rant, I just think it's a disservice to take away from the true connection. Get with a Ski Bee and go to a ski show and see how many juniors are there (more than 50 for sure) and see it for what it really is; if you don't, no worries...you'll see many of them at awsa or ball-of-spray nationals in the future.

 

 

 

@LeonL

Ok, I'll bite...I'm not sure if this would be considered an error or not, but I thought it was a little wack, especially for the Nationals.

I was on the dock, in my bindings, and about to ski...when the boat came back to the dock and said, "hold the skier." So I pulled out of my bindings and looked to see what was up. The driver then told the dock to radio to the safety boat to see if they wanted to come in and grab a sandwich, as the event boat crew was doing. They did, and both boats sat there eating their sandwiches at the dock...for what seemed like ten minutes. It was a 140 minute event, and we were near the middle. My thought was, couldn't they have done it before or after the event. I'm a longshot for a medal, but I spent more than a grand to go and ski like everyone else. I have my little ritual to prepare to ski and this wasn't part of it. I wonder if they would have done this in the middle of MM or OM/OW in the same fashion. Had I known there was going to be a break in the event, I would of prepared a little differently...I drive and I judge. We always warn skiers if there's going to be a break, and it typically happens between events, and definitely not in the middle of a two hour event unless something truly warrants it. If I'm off base, I apologize for bringing it up. Maybe we all do things a little differently, but volunteering, helping, sacrificing...whatever you want to call it, it's still supposed to be about what's best for the skier; otherwise, go do something else.

Here's a link to the builder (Colby Nordstrom) of the model out there. He also built two others, including the developer's home, and is building a fourth now. He's a solid guy and an excellent builder. And, he's a skier.

http://nordstromhomes.com/gallery.html

colbynordstrom at gmail

Zorn doesn't have a pay-for-pull type club but you might be able to find a lease or an available lot. SMRR has some excellent lots, but no club either. Agree with gregy's recommendations. McQueeney's great but you won't get much if any decent conditions on the slalom course or jump during may-sept; if you just want decent open water, you'll find it occasionally in the summer and daily in the winter.

Zorn doesn't have a pay-for-pull type club but you might be able to find a lease or an available lot. SMRR has some excellent lots, but no club either. Agree with gregy's recommendations. McQueeney's great but you won't get much if any decent conditions on the slalom course or jump during may-sept; if you just want decent open water, you'll find it occasionally in the summer and daily in the winter.

Which base? If it's Randolph, you're only 45 min from sanmarcosriverranch.com and it's not impacted too badly during rush hour. If you're near Lackland, it's about 70 min (or 100 min during rush hour). But, Lackland's an easy 45 min commute to Medina Lake (public). If you live in northeast SA or one of the burbs in that direction, you're 25 min to zorn or 40 to smrr.

Which base? If it's Randolph, you're only 45 min from sanmarcosriverranch.com and it's not impacted too badly during rush hour. If you're near Lackland, it's about 70 min (or 100 min during rush hour). But, Lackland's an easy 45 min commute to Medina Lake (public). If you live in northeast SA or one of the burbs in that direction, you're 25 min to zorn or 40 to smrr.