Junior Development is off to a great start this summer.
Eastern Region Juniors had a great time training together at Coble Ski School – June 2019
EASTERN REGION WEEK AT COBLE SKI SCHOOL
Eastern Region week at Coble Ski School was from June 23-27. Fourteen juniors from the Eastern Region made the trip to Lillington, NC. April Coble said that it was the biggest group of tournament skiers they have ever had.
VIRGINIA JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT CLINIC
The Virginia Junior Development Clinic was held at five lakes in the Sparta, VA area (Timberlake, Lake Holly, Lohr’s Lake, Lake Maracossic, and Jennings Pond), from June 17-19, and was attended by 32 Juniors. Pro Skier Corey Vaughn put together a team of top-notch coaches including Michael Kusiak, Kevin Jack, Michael Bullock and Brent Walker. There were kids running the slalom course for the first time, going over the jump for the first time, competing in a tournament for the first time, as well as seasoned tournament skiers working on improving their skills. Thank you to our small army of volunteers that make it all happen!
Juniors from the East have been ripping it up on the tournament scene.
Congratulations to Jake Ableson, who was selected as the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Male Athlete of the Month for May. Jake placed second in junior men’s tricks at the 27th Nautique Junior Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament in May 24, and was the youngest competitor in the tournament at age 11. He scored a personal best – and pending Boys 2 national tricks record – 8,850 points in the finals. More info at http://www.usawaterski.org/default.asp?Display=3155
Best of luck to Eastern Region Juniors and young adults heading to the Junior US Open this weekend: Jake Ableson, Lexi Ableson, Blake Keller, Brody Keller and Dylan Smith. More info at http://www.usawaterski.org/juniorusopen/index_juniorusopen.html/
More clinics are upcoming for our juniors:
SLALOM CLINICS
Corey Vaughn will be once again be hosting a series of slalom only Junior Development Clinics at the Peace, Love and Water Ski headquarters in Bumpass, VA. Cost is $120 for two sets and $180 for three sets for the clinics where Corey is the coach. Dylan Smith will be coaching the 7/10 and 7/31 clinics, at a cost of $100 for 2 sets and $150
for three sets. For more information contact Corey at h2oskijunkie@gmail.com. The dates for upcoming slalom clinics are July 10th, 18th, 22nd, 31st, and August 8th and 22nd.
The link for the July 10 clinic is https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054cabaa29a5fa7-july8
That signup has links to the rest of the clinics in the series.
TRICKS CLINIC
July 11, 2019 TRICKS CLINIC
We will be holding a tricks clinic, on July 11th starting at 9am at Timberlake in Sparta, Virginia. The focus is on beginning to intermediate trick skiers. Cost will be $60. Sign up link is https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054cabaa29a5fa7-junior4.
JUMP CLINIC
July 16, 2019 – Jump Clinic at Avon, CT
3 EVENT CLINIC
July 29, 2019 – 3 Event Junior Development Clinic in NH. 9am – 6pm
Abernaki Water Ski Club at Lake Winnipesaukee
Contact Becky Bartlett for more info. rebeccasbartlett@yahoo.com
Want to put on a Junior Development Clinic at your site? The Eastern Region Junior Development has funds available to help with clinic expenses. Contact TG Powell at tg.powell@gmail.com for details.
SafeSport Youth Training Available
The U.S. Center for SafeSport Youth Athlete Training courses are now live! These resources include courses for children of pre-school age; grades K-2; grades 3-5; middle school and high school. These free online trainings are designed as an introduction for minor athletes and their parents or other caregivers to understand the importance of positive, welcoming environments in sports, where misconduct like bullying or abuse is less likely to happen, and to know where to report abuse, should it occur.
http://www.usawaterski.org/default.asp?Display=3171
Junior Development Party at Regionals
We have a great day of fun planned for our juniors on Thursday, July 25th at Lake Compounce, Connecticut’s best amusement park and water park. Check out their website at www.lakecompounce.com
All juniors competing at Regionals and their siblings are invited for the fun. Enjoy the park throughout the day, as your competition event schedule allows. The park opens at 11am. Dinner and awards will be at one of the picnic pavilions in the park anytime between 5:00pm and 7:00pm.
A big thank you to our 2019 Junior Development Sponsors for making this fabulous party possible – Jody Fisher Ski School, Goode Skis and Kaleidoscope Imprints.
All junior competitors, siblings and parents are invited, but you need to sign up ahead of time. We are setting aside a ticket for each junior competitor, but the number of spots available for siblings and parents is limited. Stop by the Junior Development tent at Regionals during registration on Wednesday, or during the day on Thursday to pick up your tickets. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054cabaa29a5fa7-junior3