3 Events Featured In Competition

Thu., Aug. 13, 1998

By Janie McCauley janiem@spokesman.com

Competition water skiing is broken into three events. Each event uses different skis.

Competitions have certified drivers for the boats.

Slalom

Skiers zigzag among six buoys and go through entrance and exit gates. Each age division has a minimum and maximum speed.

The rope connected to the boat is shortened after each successful run. Each buoy is counted for a point.

The difficulty increases on each pass because of increased speed and the shortened line.

Trick

This is the creative part of the competition. Skiers get two passes so they can do two separate routines, and the cumulative points from both passes go toward the final score.

Skiers perform surface and wake or aerial tricks and have the option of using one or two skis.

Any speed can be used for this event, but it usually varies from 10 to 20 miles per hour.

Jump

Few females participate in this event. The jump is set at a certain number of feet, depending on the division. It ranges from 5 to 6 feet.

Six feet is used for professionals. The standard platform is 17 by 23 feet.

Jump is judged strictly on distance. How far skiers go depends on how fast they cut to the ramp.

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