Towed Water Sports
Background
Towed Water Sports have been in the BC Summer Games for years. Notable champions from past Games include: Breanne Wagner from Surrey, BC, who is now on the Canadian National Water Ski Team, which won the World Water Ski Championships in 2009; Aaron Rathy of Nanaimo, BC, the 2009 World Wakeboard Association World Champion; and Nicole Blackmore of Aldergrove, BC, who is on the 2009 Open National Barefoot Water Ski Team. All have competed at the BC Summer Games.
Towed Water Sports includes competition in 3 domains: waterskiing, barefooting, and wakeboarding.
Water Skiing
Water Skiing is comprised of three disciplines: slalom; tricks; and jumps. These events serve as the foundation on which Waterski Wakeboard BC is built.
Slalom Competition Format
Slalom skiing is probably the most popular skill among recreational skiers. Performed on one ski, this is the skill that most beginner and novice skiers strive to accomplish, and what the elite skiers manage to make look effortless.
A slalom course is comprised of six fixed buoys positioned between 1.9m and 2.2m apart, with the boat alignment gates set at a distance of 55m. Depending upon a skiers' category and/or ability level, the rope length can vary between 18.25m to an incredibly short 9.50m. A successful pass requires each skier to follow the boat through the slalom course entrance gates, pass around the outside of all six buoys and proceed through the end gates. Upon completing each pass, the rope is shortened (thus making the run more difficult) until such a time as the skier cannot complete the full run. A final score will be recorded on the basis of speed, rope length and number of completed buoys.
Tricks Competition Format
Trick skiing is a discipline that demands a high level of balance, skill, and creativity. Unlike the other water ski disciplines, you are up against the clock and are judged on the performance of your trick selections.
A trick course is approximately 175m long, and is marked at either end by two fixed buoys, positioned 15 meters apart. Each athlete is allowed two 20 second passes through the trick course and may perform as many tricks as he/she desires, given the time allotted. At the conclusion of both runs, the skier will record a score that is based up the numeric value allocated to each of the successfully performed tricks.
Jump Competition Format
Ski jumping is by far the most extreme discipline in the group, three event skiing, and has almost been perfected by Canada's reigning World Champion, Jaret Llewellyn. Performed on two specially designed skis, coupled with a helmet and padded wetsuit, contestants approach the ramp at lightening speeds, and can soar through the air at distances of up to 300 feet!
A starting buoy for a jump course is placed approximately 210m out from the ramp, which provides a reference for the best jumpers to begin a sequence of aggressive wake crossings to maximize their speed approaching the jump ramp. The height of the ramp is dependent upon the skier's category, and can range from 1.5m to 1.8m. Boat speeds for this event are determined by the skier's category, and range between 48 kph to 57 kph. Each contestant is entitled to 3 jumps/passes or falls from the time he/she starts. A jump is scored when the skier passes over the ramp and lands without falling and is based only on the horizontal distance of the jump.
Barefooting
Although barefoot slalom tricks and barefoot jumping water ski events are very similar to traditional events, the major difference is that participants do not wear skis. In the slalom event, an athlete earns points for crossing the boat wake in a course that does not have buoys. In tricks, an athlete attempts to perform as many tricks as he can during two 15-second passes. Each trick has a pre-assigned point value and an athlete may perform each trick only once. The athlete who earns the most points wins the event. In the jumping event, the ramp height is only 18 inches (45.5 centimeters), but the boat speed is more than 40 miles per hour, which is feet-burning fast.
Faster boat speeds are required for an athlete to plane on his two bare feet. There are no hand tools needed to make barefoot equipment repairs, only a tube of super glue. If a blister or cut opens on the bottom of an athlete's foot, standard procedure is to glue it shut to finish skiing and deal with the need for stitches later.
In addition to slalom, tricks and jumping, barefoot athletes also participate in figure eight competitions and endurance events where the athlete who stays up the longest is the winner.
Wakeboarding
Like the waterskiier, the wakeboarder is towed behind a boat, or a cable skiing lift at a speed of about 18-24 mph. The main difference is that instead of skis, the boarder uses a single board (like a snowboard) with bindings. Wakeboards are shorter in length than snowboards and slightly wider.
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Wakeboard Terminology
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Air Raley
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Rider hits the wake and fully extends his body, allowing his legs, feet and board to rise above his head.
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Backside
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When the rider begins his rotation by turning his back in the direction he is traveling.
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Double-Up
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Boat path that creates a huge wake for the rider to hit. The driver turns out wide and then continues to turn until he hits the old wake perpendicularly. A properly driven double-up resembles a "P."
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Fakie
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Describes the position of the rider when he is riding backward. For example, a rider who normally rides with his right leg in front would ride the fakie position with his left leg in front. Also known as switchstance or switch.
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Roll-to-Revert
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When a rider executes a roll and lands fakie.
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Tantrum
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When the rider approaches the wake backside and performs a back flip.
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Whirlybird
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A tantrum with a 360 degree spin.
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For more info on Towed Water Sports, contact Waterski & Wakeboard BC at www.wswbc.org or 1(888) 696-6677.