How to Start
Water Ski Tournaments – Getting Started
Oklahoma Water Ski Federation
Do you love skiing? Have you gotten pretty good at riding your slalom ski, can you shoot up a big spray of water, or zip back and forth behind the boat with ease? If so, you might want to try your hand at tournament skiing. If you’d like to try but don’t know how to get started, browse through this for some helpful tips on how to start tournament water skiing.
Several tournament sites in Oklahoma host water ski events. They include competition for experienced competitors and for those just getting started. Competitors compete in age divisions, as well as divisions for new skiers – so get everyone involved, young and old alike.
Water Ski Tournaments
Questions and Answers
1. How do I get started in tournament skiing?
Just go to a tournament and sign up. You don't have to have a special rating to enter. The only tournaments that require ratings are Regionals, Nationals, and Pro Tours.
2. Do I have to be a member of any organization to ski in a tournament?
Yes. You have to be a member of USA Water Ski. You can buy a Grassroots Membership for $35 which entitles you to ski in novice events. When you purchase a USA Water Ski membership, you are covered by USA Water Ski's Personal Injury Insurance Program.
3. How well should I be able to ski before I enter a tournament? Do I need to already know how to ski a slalom course before I enter?
You need to be stable on a slalom ski - be able to get up well, be able to cross the wakes easily, and be in enough control to be safe skiing on small competition ski lakes with tight turns. You do not need to know how to already ski the slalom course. If have never been on a slalom course look for tournaments with the beginner division that may offer the mini-course or second chances after a miss.
4. What equipment do I need to take?
Only take your ski equipment - ski, life jacket, gloves, and your own handle if you prefer a particular one. The tournament provides the boat, towrope, and driver.
5. What are my choices in slalom?
You choose your starting speed and line length. For novice it is suggested that you start on either a long line (75 foot rope) or 15 off. It's better to slow the boat speed to 28 or 30 mph even if you free ski faster.
6. How do I know which division to enter?
If you have never entered a tournament, enter the Beginner Division if it is available. If you ski on a course or feel very comfortable entering tournaments, enter the Novice Division. Even as a novice skier, you can also enter your age division in an open tournament. You can flip-flop from your age division to novice as often as you like as long as you do not surpass the breakout point for the novice division. Once you ski past the novice breakout, you cannot go back to the novice division.
7. What are some other tips for new skiers?
When you get to a site, watch the other skiers. Notice how they pullout for their setup through the gates. Be sure you know where the course starts. Be alert to hazards on the lake - the jump ramp, docks, or unloading ramps. Especially if you ski long-line, be alert to the nearness of the shore on your setup. On corners always stay in the center of the wake behind the boat.
*If you ski the beginner or novice division, ask what the rules exceptions are. Do you have to use the exit and entrance gates or can they be skipped? Usually in this division the entrance gates can be skipped, but you must ski out the exit gates. Is there a mini- course to use? Do you have a second chance option if you miss? Have someone at the site explain slalom scoring to you if you don't understand how it is scored. What awards are being given? Usually novice can win trophies, while open divisions ski for ratings only.
8. What are these "rankings” I hear people talking about?
USA Water Ski keeps a rankings list on their website of all competitors. It’s interesting to see how you rank in the state, the region, or even on a national level. The only tournaments that require a certain ranking are Regionals, Nationals, and Pro Tours. To enter Regionals you must be a Level 5 skier. Nationals requires a Level 8 ranking. Pro events, such as the Ski Nautique Big Dawg Series, requires a Level 9, which is a Masters Men or Open Rating.
Is there any other water skiing information on the Internet?
Outlaw Lake: http://www.outlawlake.com/
The South Central Region: http://www.awsasouthcentral.org/
USA Water Ski: http://www.usawaterski.org/
River Bend in Oklahoma City
Private Ski Lakes in Oklahoma
Greenewood Lake I, Vinita, OK Tim Greene (918) 342-1096
Greenwood Lake II, Bixby, OK Tim Greene (918) 342-1096
Horseshoe Lake, Rush Springs, OK
Outlaw Lake, Marlow, OK Mike Bray (580) 585-2387
Spring Valley Ski Ranch, Enid, OK Todd Kuykendall (580) 234-1417
Triple Creek Lake, Lawton, OK
Twin Lakes Estates, Mounds, OK Only Home Owners
Get your kids started young!
Join the Oklahoma Water Ski Federation's FaceBook page.
SLALOM
In slalom the skier zig-zags through a course of 6 buoys. If the skier makes all 6 buoys, the boat speed is increased in 2 mph increments and returns through the course again. When the skier runs a complete pass at the maximum speed for their age division, the rope is shortened in lengths of -15 ft, -22 ft, -28 ft, -32 ft, -35 ft, -38 ft , -39 ½ ft, -41 ft, and then to the world record length of –43 ft. This occurs over and over until the skier either falls or misses, and the total number of buoys is tallied USA Water Ski has age divisions for skiers age 9 and under up to over age 80, and the Oklahoma Novice Tour has divisions for Beginner and Novice.
Trick Skiing
In competition a trick skier has two 20 second passes to complete as many tricks as possible. Tricks may not be repeated. The reverse direction turn of a trick must be completed after the turn in the original direction or it is scored as a no credit trick. Tricks are assigned a point value and the skier with the highest points wins. One practice fall is allowed. One or two skis may be used. Competitors can use 2 skis on their 1st pass and then switch to one ski on their 2nd pass, or they can even kick off a ski in the middle of a pass. The best trick skiers use 1 ski on both passes because 1ski tricks score the most points. Skiers will need to bring their own rope and handle for the trick event. This is the only event that does not require competitors to wear a life jacket.
Trick Points
Some basic tricks for both 2 skis and 1 ski. In competition the skier has two 20 second passes to complete their tricks. Tricks may not be repeated.
Jumping
The jump event is very simple. A contestant gets 3 jumps, and the competitor with the farthest jump wins. Jumpers must wear a life jacket and helmet. Depending on their division, jumpers use either a 5 or 5 ½ foot ramp. Pro jumpers use a 6 foot ramp. Novice jumpers use a 5 foot ramp. You must be an active USA Water Ski member to jump.
by Patti Bray
March 1, 2014