WATERSKI NEWS 1997

Headlines 1997, Details and Archives

Jr. Dev. Clinics Forming for '98 Season, Mark your Calendars

PANAGAEA PUDDLE
Clinic for Level one and two skiers, three events. Tentative dates are Tuesday July 7th at 12:00pm through Friday July 10 at 12:00pm. Clinic includes three days of coaching, meals, "camping style" lodging and entry fee into the weekend tournament (which also has a barbecue) on July 11 and 12. Price is $125.00 per skier. There is an entry limit of 12 junior skiers. Please contact George Vosburgh at: 518-673-2959 for reservations and more information. Pangaea Puddle is located in Canajohorie, New York.

PECK'S POND
Plans are being formed for a level 2 and 3 clinic. Entry limit will be approximately 6 to 8 junior skiers. The clinic will be scheduled for the end of June or beginning of July. Contact Dan Peckham for reservations and information at: 315-626-6541. Pecks Pond is located in Cato, New York.

OTHER CLINICS:
If you would like to host a clinic or would like to see a clinic for junior skiers in your area, please contact Debbie Lamb at 978-682-1868 or 102072.372@compuserve.com.
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1998 Midwinter Meeting

WINTER MEETINGS AND CLINICS

January 17 and 18, 1998
Holiday Inn, Bensalem, Pennsylvania

The Eastern Region Winter Membership and Council meetings will be on January 17, 1998, with the Council meeting beginning at 9:00 AM and the Membership meeting starting at 1:30 PM. The meeting format will be different, more informative, and more fun. Come see! Evening activities will include Dinner, at a reasonable price, please make reservations. April Coble, AWSA’s Athlete of the Year and current Masters Champion will speak at the Regional dinner. She will talk about, you guessed it, Water-skiing! April’s visit to the Eastern Region Meeting is being sponsored by MasterCraft Boat Company. Sunday will include a Safety Clinic and a Judges Clinic.

A limited number of special discounted rooms are available at the Holiday Inn for $55 per night for Friday and Saturday night. Please make your reservations early, like now, by calling the Holiday Inn directly at 800-992-8333.

DIRECTIONS: The Holiday Inn is located at 3499 Street Road, Bensalem, Pa., 19020. (Near Philadelphia) Use exit #25 off of Interstate 95 (Pa. Rt. 132, Street Road) and proceed 3.1 miles west to the Inn. Use Exit #28 off the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take US 1 South 1/4 mile to Route 132 East. Go 4/10 of a mile to the Inn.

Please come early, and stay late, enjoy the meetings and clinics, and help guide the Eastern Region into another successful water ski season. 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. And remember, this year's EVP is a little weak, so you better be there to protect your interests!

ACTION NEEDED NOW:

1. Hotel Reservations:
   Holiday Inn - Bensalem, PA
   Phone 1-800-992-8333
2. Dinner Reservations:
   Marie Baker
   5 West Indian Lane
   Norristown, PA 19403
   Phone (610) 539-0172
   
3. Select from the following menu at $15 each:
   Prime Rib______________
   Chicken Italiano_________
   Crown of Salmon________
   
4. Clinic Reservations:
   Safety - Glenn Jackson - (804) 633-7358
   Judges - Robert Burtch - (315) 342-2271

Junior Development News

Reminder notice to all parents of the junior development progam that their children's pictures and bios for the regional guide are due back to Committee Chairman Debra Lamb no later than Nov. 21 so that they can be put into the Regional Guide before printing. Please enclose the questionnaire with the guide information.
Mail to 107 Olympic Lane North Andover, Ma.018454
Phone: 978-682-1868
or Email
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Guidebook Advertisements

Each year the Eastern Region, in co-operation with AWSA National Headquarters, publishes the Eastern Region AWSA Tournament Guide. It is mailed free to all members. This vital information source is indispensable to tournament skiers, listing information about every tournament scheduled to be held in the East. It is also one of the primary communciation tools used by the Eastern Region to reach its over 3500 member kneeboarders, wakeboarders, show skiers, and recreational skiers in addition to the hard core 3 event tournament skiers. What a cost efficient way for a business to reach watersports enthusiasts!

Eastern Regional Guidebook Commercial Advertisements are available as follows:

• $300 - full page
• $180 - 1/2 page
• $100 - 1/4 page

Advertising space is under consideration for the AWSAEAST Website. The "hit count" has been rising each month with over 9000 visitors in the month of September alone. Interested parties should contact the webmaster.
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AWSA SAFETY CLINIC HELD AT TWIN LAKES

On September 29, 1997 an AWSA Safety Director's Clinic was held at Twin Lakes. Instructor Eric Eklof and 13 participants spent a full day reviewing AWSA safety procedures and practicing deep water rescue. Fortunately the weather co-operated with unseasonably mild temperatures.
	Twin Lakes Waterski Club, which is sponsoring AWSA membership and Safety Clinic participation for several members of the Mombasha Fire Department Dive Rescue Team, would like to thank those Team members for participating. By becoming AWSA members and earning Safety Coordinator ratings, the Dive Team members gained a better understanding of the AWSA Safety Program and the safety needs of tournament waterskiing. The experience is expected to increase co-ordination and co-operation between Tournament Site Officials and local safety and rescue resources.
Eastern Region SAFETY CLINICS are planned for next year. Contact Eric or call 603-363-8166 summers or 802-824-6060 winters for information or clinic requests

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Dana Hinman was featured on EPSN's Scholastic Sports America Show on October 27 at 3:30 in the afternoon Eastern time. Dana is the Boys 3 division National Jump Record holder, and the World Jr. Jump Record holder.

10/7/98
The following committee appointments have been made by EVP Steve Lohr:
REGIONAL COMMITTEES
Tournament Coordinator- Ralph Hall
Communications/Guidebook Coordinator-Debbie Wagner
Webmaster-Jim Meis

NATIONAL COMMITTEES
Executive and Finance-Paul Allebach
International Activities-Jon Thacher & Bill Baker
Junior Development-Debbie Lamb
Tournament Seeding-Jennifer Frederick
Tournament Towboat Study-Paul Allebach
Rules-Lee Mershon and Ralph Hall
Skiers Ratings-Gordon Gay

Rusty Richardson has been selected for the Collegiate Board of Directors. (not an EVP appointment)
Additonal appointments will be made soon. Volunteers are needed to help with all areas, as all committees will have assistants and other committee members. Please contact Steve Lohr
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NEW EVP

Effective October 1, 1997, Roger Hammel has stepped down as EVP of the Eastern Region. He plans to continue to stay active in AWSA at the local and regional level, including preparing for the 1998 Timberlake Eastern Regionals as its Tournament Director.

In accordance with the Eastern Region By-Laws, Steve Lohr has been unanimously elected as EVP by the East's Directors Rick Norford, Paul Allebach, and Bill Baker. Steve has replaced Roger as of October 1, 1997.

Steve is a County Administrator for Hanover County, in Virginia, and is well versed in service to the public in an administrative position. He lives in Greater Sparta, Virginia, with his wife Ann and offspring Benny and Sue who are world team level skiers. I know he will serve the Eastern Region well as EVP.

Steve is reachable via E-Mail at following address: slohr@bealenet.com

Please give him the same level of support that you have afforded me in the past, and continue to volunteer for critical tasks and assignemnts. I wish to thank the AWSA Board of Directors for their support, as I enjoyed working with the Board as EVP, and hope to do so again at a later date as conditions permit. Eastern Region volunteers, I thank you for your help this past two years !! Again, please extend the same cooperation to Steve in his new role.

Roger Hammel
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9/12/97
The WV Slalom Slam was held in Morgantown, WV on Saturday, September 6th. (Results) All skiers had a great time. They enjoyed calm water, good weather and plenty of food and fun. Congratulations to Laurie Lindsey who broke the Eastern Region Womens 2 Record and to the skiers who skied their personal best! We look forward to doing it again next year!! Thank you for all who attended and helped the WV Water Ski Federation get back on the tournament schedule!
by Tracy Powers

9/7/97
Natalie (Roadrash) Hammel set a new Eastern Region Slalom Record in Girls 2 with a score of 1 at 32 off.
The previous record of 5 at 28 off had been set by Tracey Lamb at Lake Iron Horse.
Kyle Mahan jumped 100 feet.
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8/30/97
Susie Lohr scored 6660 (three flips) at Holly today, her first open performance, and a new Eastern Region record, old record 4080 set in 1985.

8/24/97
At the Ken Ruiz Memorial Club Challenge, Dana Hinman flew 186 feet off the Twin Lakes ramp for a new Eastern Region record (and the boat speed was only 32mph).
Outstanding slalom performances included 3.5 at 1075 by Greg Sund (M3).
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5/18/97
SUSIE LOHR BREAKS NATIONAL RECORD, AGAIN

Susie Lohr of Sparta, Virginia broke the US National Water Ski Jump Record for Girls with a leap of 151 feet (5 foot ramp) on Sunday, May 18, 1997, just two weeks after breaking the old record of 139 feet. Susie’s jump was 5 feet farther than her previous record jump of 146 feet. Her jump was only 15 feet less than the World Record for all female skiers and places her among the top 5 female jump skiers in the World.
Susie is sponsored by MasterCraft Boats, O’Brien Skis, Masterline Ropes and Handles, Peace Frogs, Work Out Wonder Gym in Ashland and Power Bars.
Steve Lohr
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4/28/97
Fantastic skiing by Eastern Region skier & former Eastern Region skier

Susie Lohr has broken the G3 National Jump record - 146 feet - Pending G3 National record. The record was held by Brandi Huntt at 139 feet. Great skiing Susie !!
And now for some even bigger news -
Former Eastern Regional Skier Brenda Nichols, skiing Open Women on the 5.5 foot monster went 166, yes - 166 feet on her first jump in round 1 of Hall of Fame at Jack Travers's Lake !! This is a pending WORLD RECORD !!
Congratulations Brenda !!
More updates as they dribble in !!
Roger Hammel
p.s. - Ed Nichols, Delaware Councilman, Eastern Region skier AND Brenda's dad, is now going to have to change his name to Ed Nichols-Baldwin !! He should be proud !!
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4/14/97
Senior Judge Lou Abel of the Greenwood Lake Water Ski Club will be honored at this April's AWSA Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies with an Award of Merit for over forty years of contributions to the sport of waterskiing. Lou, a 3-event competitor, and active tournament official, continues give his experience and support to waterskiing on the local and regional levels. Be sure to greet Lou at this year's regionals at Twin Lakes, Monroe NY, and wish him continued success.
Congratulations Lou!

4/9/97
Another Eastern Region Official to the Nationals ! Jerry Stansberry has been appointed to the 1997 West Palm Beach Nationals as an Assistant Chief Judge. There, she will join Rick Norford - Chief Judge, and the appointed and assigned Eastern Region judges for the premier national tournament. We are sure she will have the skiers on her assigned lake "toeing the line", and her judges & drivers walking the "straight & narrow". Congratulations Jerry. Glad you are BACK !!
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3/10/97
It is official. Eastern Region Technical Controller Curt Kiser will be an Assistant Technical Controller for the 1997 Nationals. Congratulations Curt.

2/24/97
BIG news from Down Under - Curtis Sheers - on the 5'6" Ramp - has jumped a staggering 215 / 65.5 m at the Victorian State Championships. As they say in the USA - this is AWESOME ! At just 20 years of age, what will he be doing in a few years time?
The other great news is that the 5'6" Ladies Ramp works ! We were hoping that this would give the Ladies a boost in 1997 - and already it has - Emma Sheers has jumped 47.3m also at the Victoria State Championships - just a shade of her Golden Falls World Record last August.
Desmond Burke-Kennedy
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2/13/96
A 3 round slalom tournament is in the planning stages for September 6 and 7 for Morgantown, West Virginia. Any officials or skiers interested in attending, please Email me. We will be finalizing plans very soon.
The site is located in Morgantown on the Monongahela River. If you review a road map and find the I-79 bridge crossing the river, you've found us. If you look over the edge of the bridge on a summer day, chances are you will find someone cutting a groove. Conditions are normally as close to private as you can get on a public river. Possible camping without hook ups... Can stick around on Sunday and ski, eat, nap, ski, eat, nap, etc..... This is a replacement tournament for the Burnsville event previously held in September.
Any skiers out there who live in WV - The Federation needs you. Our membership is in serious decline and we would like to rebuild. Respond to the Email address above for further information.
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2/12/97
The American Water Ski Educational Foundation each year grants several scholarships for outstanding AWSA members who are also college students.
Lex Carroll called me this morning and asked that I remind folks that there is about a week left in which to apply for the scholarships. Thus - time is running out.
As I understand it, an applicant only has to be an active AWSA (or collegiate) member and be a full time student at a college or university, although academic achievements count a lot. They do NOT have to be on a collegiate ski team. If you know of any AWSA member attending college who might like to be considered for this scholarship, please tell them to contact AWSEF in Winter Haven, Florida. The AWSA switchboard should be able to put them through - 800-533-2972.
RSH, EVP

2/3/97
Andrea Plough, the president of AWSA, has asked Eastern Region Director, Senior and Pan Am Judge Rick Norford to be Chief Judge at the 1997 Nationals in West Palm Beach, Florida !! This is quite an honor and puts Rick in outstanding company. Note that in recent years, Eastern Region official Bill Baker was Chief Judge for the 1993 Nationals at Destin, Florida.
We congratulate Rick, and also offer our sympathy if needed. Rick will also be Chief Judge for the 1997 Eastern Regionals, and will certainly have paid his judging dues in 1997 !! Salute !!
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1/15/97
AWSAEast has learned that former Eastern Region skier (now a Professional skier, coach and tutor living in Florida) Brenda Nichols has been asked by the United States Olympic Committee to be on the USOC Board of Directors. It is indeed quite an honor and bodes well for waterskiing's future with the USOC. Congratulations Brenda !!

Date:Tue, Jan 21, 1997, 2:38 PM
RE:Move for 3-event Nationals

Hi All,
Circumstances beyond the control of Shortline Lakes owner and promoter, Allen McWilliams, has necessitated a move for the 1997 3-event Nationals. The Ski Club of the Palm Beaches has very graciously consented to hold the '97 Nationals in West Palm Beach, Fl. on the same dates as previously announced, August 12-16,1997.
We thank our friends in West Palm for their quick decision to host this event, and feel secure that the Nationals will continue to be the prominent event we have been accustomed to.
More details will be furnished at the Board meeting.
Duke Waldrop
AWSA/USAWS Executive Director
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12/24/96 CLARIFICATION OF TRICK RELEASE SITUATION
A Rule change was enacted this year that required manufacturers of approved boats to produce their pylons with a 2.0 inch diameter area (see rule 8.02) so that a single release (the competitor's) could be used on any tournament approved boat. In the past, if a manufacturer did not have a standard pylon (MasterCraft didn't), they were required to provide a release. Now that all manufacturers are required to conform to the 2.0 diameter, they are not required to provide releases. This keeps trickers from having to buy more than one release, or borrow someone's if they are skiing behind a boat that their release does not fit.
In short, MasterCraft, and any other manufacturer with a non-standard pylon, was required in the past to provide releases, now they are required to provide a 2 inch area on the pylon instead.
NOTE THAT THE COMPETITOR IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE HIS OWN RELEASE FROM NOW ON.
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12/14/96 Bill Murbach just informed HQ that MasterCraft will not be placing trick releases on their boats for 1997. He suggested that we try to inform the competitors through our publications.
It was not yet determined whether MC is going to use the "standard" pylon, or their traditional pylon. The two are not compatible. We had a lot of problems with one promo boat in the East this year, that had the "standard" pylon. NO ONE had a release that would work on it. Skiers should be aware of this situation and be ready to provide their own releases. Consult rule 11.16 (b), and (c). Send comments - suggestions to SKIER'S FORUM

11/2/96 Midwinter Meeting date and location have been determined. Atlantic City here we come!
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10/30/96 Rule 1.12 and use/misuse of tolerances is subject of article in EVP Forum and Officials Corner.

10/30/96 Undocumented WSTIMS 3.1 feature helps track boat times. see Scorers' Update in OFFICIALS' CORNERfor more information.

Two spectacular performances at JACK TRAVERS tournament Sat & Sun 10/5 & 10/6
1996 Junior World Jump Champion, DANA HINMAN JUMPS 187 FEET!! - A Looooonnnnnnggggg Way.

Former Eastern Region skier BRENDA NICHOLS BALDWIN JUMPS 158 FEET!

MOOMBA 1997MOOMBA 1997 - A VISITOR'S PERSPECTIVE.by Des Burke-Kennedy

January 97 World Cup Cities Chosen, World Cup Schedule
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