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3 Event (Tournament) Skills
3 Event (Tournament) CompetitionsTournament water ski competitions consist of slalom, tricks, jump or all three events. SlalomOnce you have rounded a few buoys in the slalom course you are ready to enter your first competition. If you are a Bambino (that is up to and including the year of your 12th birthday) you can start your competfiton at a speed of 31 kph. If you round all 6 buoys at that speed your second pass (back through the course) will be at 34 kph. Each time you complete a pass the speed for the next pass goes up 3 kph to a maximum of 55 kph for all children up to the year of their 14th birthday. After 14 years old, boys maximum speed is 58 kph, but girls always stay on 55 kph. Once you have reached your maximum speed, the tow rope is shortened to keep making it more difficult. If you miss the gates or miss a buoy then your turn is ended. When you first enter competitions if you do not complete the first pass you will get another go at it.Figures (also known as Tricks)Each skier is allowed two twenty second passes in which they have the freedom to complete as many tricks as possible.The skier is not allowed to repeat any trick, although they may perform the same trick in the opposite rotational direction and this is called a 'reverse' trick. You can choose your own speed for tricks. If you have your basics on two trick skis and your basics on one trick ski you have plenty you can do during each pass. A sample run is side slide, side slide reverse, 180 f-b, 180 b-f, 180 f-b reverse, 180 b-f reverse, 360 f-f and reverse. You can do the first pass on two skis (worth 240 points) and do the same pass again, but this time on one ski (worth 500 points). Once you can start adding a few wake tricks you will find you can soon achieve a score of over 1000 points. Your coach will help you to put together a basic run and show you how to complete your trick programme which you hand to the judges before you start. JumpingIf you are under 12 years old British Water Ski does not recommend you start jumping. However, once you are big enough to start jumping your ramp height will be 1.5 metres to start and your speed will be maximum 45 kph (girls) or 48 kph (boys). Each skier has three attempt at the ramp and initially you will just ride up and over the ramp, to land and get a score. As you progress you will start to "cuC at the ramp, but this needs proper tuition and your coach will tell you when you are ready! The best distance you achieve from your three jumps will be your score for the competition. Wakeboard Skills
Wakeboard CompetitionsWakeboarding has been one of the biggest sports-related phenomena of the past decade. The competition format for wakeboarding is a free-riding routine judged by three judges. Competitors may perform any tricks they choose in any order. Riders are encouraged to perform at least five tricks per pass. Riders should not repeat any trick. The emphasis is on quality, not quantity. The goal is to perform a wide variety of moves and to take each move to its limit while making the entire routine flow. The riders have two passes behind the boat travelling in a straight path. At the end of the second pass in the second round of competition the rider will be given a double-up in the direction of their choice. The rider will be allowed to continue after one fall. The rider will not be picked up after their second fall or after a fall that occurs beyond the fl point of the second pass. The fl point will be clearly marked with two buoys. Riders will be judged on the difficulty and proficiency of the moves executed, how big they are going, variety of moves performed, technical difficulty and on the creativity and fluidity of the routine. A maximum of 100 points can be earned for the routine. The judges will score the rider in each of the following categories:
For more information on the discipline of wakeboarding go to www.wakeboard.co.uk Kneeboard Skills
Kneeboard CompetitionsKneeboard competitions consist of two events, slalom and tricks and for those kneeboarders who can throw a flip or two there is usually an end of the day flip out event. Kneeboard Slalom takes place on a traditional water-skiing slalom course of six turn buoys but with the addition of another six buoys positioned three metres inside the standard turn buoys. The aim of the event is for the kneeboarder to pass round six buoys, either inners or outers and successfully exiting the end gate of the course. In kneeboard slalom the entrance gate is optional but will score additional points if used. If the competitor misses a buoy, fails or misses the exit gate the event is over for him. In any case he is allowed a maximum of four successful passes through the course. There are four speeds used for each division of men, ladies and juniors as follows:
The slalom line is 23 metres long and contains the same shortenings to 18.25m, 16m, 14.25m, 13m and so on as with tournament slalom. TricksThe aim is to complete as many different tricks as possible during two twenty second runs through the course. Any trick will only be counted once. Tricks are performed on the surface of the water and in the air where lift has been achieved by using the boat wake as a ramp or by bouncing on the surface of the water. The competitor establishes his chosen boat speed and line length that is usually between 26 and 35 kph and a line of about 14 metres. If a fall occurs during the first pass the competitor is allowed to continue with his second pass but a second pass fall brings the event to an end. If you are new to kneeboard competitions and fifteen or over you will go into the men's 2 division or women's. Any younger and Junior 2 is for you. Where you end up in the next year depends on your age and your position in the standings list at the end of the season. If you can virage backwards and forwards across the boat wakes and do a number of rotational tricks on the water surface you are good enough to start competing. For further details on kneeboarding please contact the National Kneeboard Committee on 07909 694 995 or email info@bwsf.co.uk Barefoot Skills
Barefoot CompetitionsTumble turns, toe holds and barefooting backwards are targets you'll want to aim for. Once you're competent enough, you can begin to enter competitions. There are three events: SlalomHere the skier crosses the wake of the boat as many times as possible in two 15 second passes. This can be done skiing forwards or backwards, on one or two feet. The skier chooses the boat speed. TricksIn tricks the skier has to perform as many tricks as possible within two 15 second passes. Tricks can vary from simple one foot tricks through to complicated 540 degree turns. The skier chooses the boat speed. JumpBarefooters use a small ramp which is 1M high. The skier passes over the jump, lands and skis away through a measured course. You do however, need to gain a certificate of competence before you are able to enter the jump competition. It's a discipline suitable for the expert and it should not be attempted without expert coaching. |
