WATERSKI NEWS 2001

Headlines 2001, Details and Archives

The Oxbow Water Ski Show Team is dedicated to promoting water skiing safety and the sport of water skiing in its community. The team has more than a dozen rated safety coordinators on site and most of its drivers are rated drivers as well. On site registration and USA Water Ski membership will be available at both events.

For more information, contact Amy Lamica at toobze@javanet.com or (413) 586-9624; or Judy Bardwell at bardwell@cs.umass.edu or (413) 665-9055.

WHEREAS, Gordon Gay and Russell Gay have established a family dynasty in the sport of water skiing; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Gay, a Falmouth attorney, has been Virginia state water-skiing champion a record 34 times, and his son, Russell Gay, has won seven national championships; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Gay, who was an assistant football coach at Washington and Lee University during the 1960s, has won 12 Eastern Regional Championships and has skied 24 times in the U.S. National Championships, earning medals seven times; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Gay is also a five-time Senior Masters Overall Champion, was the 2000 Overall World Senior Champion, and captained the 2000 U.S. Senior World Team; and

WHEREAS, Russell Gay, who was born in Fredericksburg and is currently a resident of Winter Garden, Florida, is the second-ranked water skier in the world; and

WHEREAS, a four-time collegiate all-star and four-time all-American at Rollins College, Russell Gay has won first place in open men's tricks at the U.S. Nationals six times, is a two-time U.S. Open Champion and 1994 World Champion and world record-holder, and has won medals at the Pan American Games as a member of the U.S. team and at numerous other prestigious international competitions; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Gay and Russell Gay have achieved unparalleled success as water skiers, winning numerous national and world championships, holding national and world records, and representing the Commonwealth and the nation with great skill and sportsmanship; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Gordon Gay and Russell Gay on their stellar water-skiing careers; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to Gordon Gay and Russell Gay as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for their outstanding accomplishments.

General Assembly Home

To:     USA Water Ski Board & HNDs
From:   Steve McDermeit

It is with great sadness that I share with you that Lex Carroll passed away
Saturday, August 11.  Lex was such a great ambassador for our sport and will
be missed by all.  

Below is  the information Scott Atkinson received from Carole Lowe. If you
have additional information to share with Scott regarding Lex and his
involvement in USA Water Ski (AWSA), please feel free to pass it on to Scott
satkinson@usawaterski.org.
=========================
          Lexton (Lex) H. Carroll, a former manager and coach of the U.S.
Water Ski Team, died Aug. 11, in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. He was 71.

          He leaves his wife of 49 years, Jane B. Carroll; a son, Blake A.
Carroll of Sturbridge, Mass.; a daughter, Dr. Kristin L. Carroll of Salt
Lake City; and five grandchildren. He was the son of Palmer F. and Shirley
A. Carroll. He graduated from WPI in Worcester, Mass., and was a member of
its Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

          Carroll was owner and president of Carroll Chevrolet in West
Brookfield, Mass., retiring in 1980.

          He was manager and coach of the U.S. Water Ski Team from 1973 to
1977, and was later appointed vice president for life by the American Water
Ski Association. In 1993, he received the Award of Distinction by the
American Water Ski Educational Foundation. He was a mentor for many people
in the sport. 

          Donations may be made to the American Water Ski Educational
Foundation, 1251 Holy Cow Road, Polk City, FL 33868-8200.

It is important to understand that this is a Proposal Only, one of many to be considered by the Rules Co. It could be rejected, modified, sent back for more study, approved as an experimental exception or approved in its entirety. But that is only the first step. The AWSA board of directors has similar options if the proposal (as is or modified) is presented to the directors with Rules Committee endorsement. The AWSA BOD will also be interested in inputs from other related committees - e.g. coaching, safety, skiers rating & technical on impacts of the proposal on their areas of focus. Finally, the IWSF Tournament Council would also have to review the proposal as IWSF rules govern all Class L & R tournaments. If a universal ramp is adopted, it will eliminate the different ramp heights for each division. All jumpers, regardless of age or gender, would jump on a universal ramp measuring 5 feet 10 inches in height and 24 feet 6 inches in length; but the slope, ratio or angle of incline would be similar to that of the current 5-foot ramp. Additional changes to the ramp would include opening the ramp to six degrees, three degrees more than the current ramp configuration or two degrees more than the maximum tolerance.
Diagrams, Details and Photos

Proponents of the universal ramp, which include elite U.S. water ski athlete Scot Ellis, argue that the universal ramp would its lower incline angle be easier on athlete's bodies as well as eliminate the down time during tournaments that occurs while raising and lowering the ramp between divisions. More importantly, it would also eliminate the need for jumpers to keep adjusting to different ramp heights by modifying their technique as they change divisions and events. (Example - M1 at 5 1/2 feet in summer under AWSA, and 5' in collegiate tournaments in the spring and fall).

Opponents cite the costs and construction difficulty associated with rebuilding or adding extensions to every ramp in the country. It is estimated that the one-time conversion costs of an extension would be approximately $200 per ramp. Also, those who use the current 5-foot ramp or the optional 4-foot ramp for some older divisions and disabled, are not in favor of the increased height even if the slope ratio remains the same.

The Rules Committee is encouraging input regarding the universal ramp proposal. ***Please express your opinion by email to universalramp@yahoo.com, and also by contacting your regional representatives on the rules committee, and your National Directors.

The Eastern Region Winter Membership & Council Meetings will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2002 at the Hampton Inn & Suites. The Council Meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the Membership Meeting will start at 1:30 p.m. Clinics will be offered on Sunday. Please contact the following people if you are interested in participating in a clinic: Drivers Clinic – Doug Robbins (drobbins@zbzoom.net); Judges Clinic – Roger Hammel (104347.445@compuserve.com); and Safety Clinic – Suzan Andrews (suzansstuff@fast.net ).

Walk-ins are welcome, but signing up ahead of time will help to ensure that the clinic will be conducted with sufficient meeting space. There will be no formal banquet on Saturday night, but the Hampton is only a few blocks from the Annapolis shopping mall and restaurant park. The quaint historic district of Annapolis, which includes many bars & restaurants, is only a 10-minutes drive from the hotel. Check out www.annapolis.com

A limited number of rooms are available at the Hampton Inn for the reduced rate of $74 per night for Friday and Saturday nights. To receive this preferred rate, you must make your reservation before December 12^th, by calling the Hampton Inn at (410) 571-0200. Be sure you mention the USA Water Ski meeting to receive the preferred rate.

Directions: The Hampton Inn is located at 124 Womack Dr., Annapolis, MD 21401. From North: Take I-95 South to I-895 South & continue thru Harbor Tunnel. Take I-97 South for about 20 miles, to Rt. 50 East/Annapolis. Take Exit 22 (SR665/Aris T. Allen Blvd.) Stay in the right lane to immediately take the 1^st exit - Riva Road. Turn right on to Riva Road, then left at the first traffic light (Admiral Cochrane Drive), then left on to Spruill Road and left onto Womack Drive. You’ll see the Hampton on your left. From South & West: Take I-95 or US 301 to Route 50 eastbound to Annapolis. Then reference the underlined directions above. From East: Take Route 50 westbound crossing over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Annapolis. Then reference the underlined directions above.

Please come early, stay late, enjoy the meetings and clinics, and help guide the Eastern Region into 2002. Regardless of your level of skiing, past participation, or type of skiing, the weekend activities will be a great time to learn, share, fellowship, and participate.

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED NOW!

Hotel Reservations:

Hampton Inn & Suites, Annapolis, MD

Clinic Information:

Drivers Clinic – Doug Robbins

drobbins@zbzoom.net or (412) 452-2042

104347.445@compuserve.com or (703) 471-7769

Safety Clinic – Suzan Andrews

suzansstuff@fast.net or contact

stansplb@aol.com or (703) 256-2421 (work)