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Why Compete In A Waterski Tournament?

Water skiing “just for fun” is so enjoyable that many beginning skiers ask, “Why tournaments? We have more fun skiing all day at home.”

Tournaments grew out of the natural desire of people to compete, compare individual skills. Through competition, each skier improves his ability and attempts to raise his own individual score. He watches other skiers carefully and learns the techniques of skiers more skilled than he.

Important to most competitive skiers are the elements that make life fun for each of us, water skier or not. Making new friends with common interests, contributing our efforts to a sport we enjoy, traveling to new places, and learning more about the sport are a few of the things competitive skiers value above the possibility of winning a trophy.

Tournaments are scheduled throughout the State of Minnesota each year and elsewhere across the country and are open to skiers of all abilities and ages. Every tournament in Minnesota has divisions for Boys and Girls, Men and Women, and Novices in all age classes in the three events of Slalom, Tricks, and Jumping. For those skiers good enough to qualify there is the Mid West Regional Championships and the National Championships.

Water ski tournaments are sponsored by the Minnesota Water Ski Association and by local water ski clubs. They are sanctioned by the American Water Ski Association and USAWater Ski.

Beginning skiers enjoy competition under the AWSA novice rules, which are designed especially for them. The novice events during the regular tournament serve as an introduction to more advanced competition and as a challenge to increase ability.

Behind any tournament is a staff of many people who work in organizing the event, taking the registration, judging, driving, scoring, safety, and other areas. Water ski  tournaments are all run by volunteers, those being the participants. People can take training and go through the necessary steps set up by AWSA to be a qualified official. There is plenty of room in any tournament for interested workers, whether or not they are skiers.

A good answer to “Why tournaments? is:

“Because they make skiing so much more fun!!”

Questions and Answers Regarding Zero Based Scoring

Question:  What is ZBS?

Answer:  ZBS stands for Zero Based Scoring.  See rule 10.01 for full details.

Question: What does this mean?
Answer: It means that anytime you run a full pass you can shorten the line and/or go up 2 mph. If a complete pass is made, the skier will receive credit for all previous passes. The skier does not have to run their maximum speed to receive the credit for the long line pass.

Question: Where and when can this be used?
Answer: In all classes of tournaments, class C, E, L, skiers can shorten the rope before they get to their division maximum speed. LOCs may opt to allow skiers to ski higher than max speeds, up to 36 mph for male divisions and 34 mph for female divisions, excluding juniors, in class C tournaments, at their discretion.

Question: How is this scored?
Answer: For example, 6 @ 32 off @ 36mph = 6 @ 35off @ 34mph = 6 @ 38 off @ 32mph

Question: What is the advantage or disadvantage to this?
Answer: This depends on the skier; some skiers may enjoy shortening the rope before going faster or some skiers may want to ski at faster speeds and get credit. Slalom is now all about total boys regardless of how you achieve them.

Question: What are the max speeds for divisions?
Answer: This depends on what Class tournament it is. The maximum allowed boat speeds in class C if the LOC allows are as follows: 1. Boys 1/Girls 1 - 49 kph (30.4 mph). 2. Girls 2 - 52 kph (32.3 mph). 3. Boys 2 and all females Girls 3 or older - 55 kph (34.2 mph). 4. All males, Boys 3 or older - 58 kph (36.0 mph). In E and L events the original divisions max speeds are still in effect.

Question: How is the ranking list affected by ZBS?
Answer: Skiers will be ranked by total buoys count just as it is now.

Question: Can I do this at Regionals and Nationals?
Answer:  You can shorten the line before you get to max speeds but you cannot ski above division max and receive credit for it.

Question: Will IWWF recognize the scores?
Answer: If the speed matches the IWWFtop speed for the division then it will count toward the ranking list as normal. If your score is achieved below IWWF max speed, then it will count it as 18.25 meters -- instead of the actual line length. If your score is achieved above IWWF max speed, it will only count the scores as if achieved at the IWWF max speed, i.e. no extra buoys will be counted.

Question: What about records? 
Answer: The age division maximum speeds shall be retained for National Records, Men 3-6 (34.2mph-55kph, Men 7 (32.3mph-52kph), Men 8-10 (30.4mph-49kph), Men 11 (28.6mph- 46kph), Women 5-6 (32.3-52kph), Women 7-10 (30.4-49kph) and Women 11 (28.6-46kph). Regional and Area records will still remain up to those areas.

AWSA ZBS Scoring Matrix

Buoys Earned on Completion of Cited Pass
Line Length -- AWSA Feet off Upper, Metric Length Lower

Speed Long -15 -22 -28 -32 -35 -38 -39.5 -41 -43 -44 -45
KPH MPH 23 18.25 16 14.25 13 12 11.25 10.75 10.25 9.75 9.5 9.25
25 15.5 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
28 17.4 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78
31 19.2 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84
34 21.1 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90
37 23 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96
40 24.9 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102
43 26.7 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108
46 28.6 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114
49 30.4 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120
52 32.3 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120 126
55 34.2 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120 126 132
58 36 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120 126 132 138

Competition

Interested in 3-event water ski Competition?  You've come to the right place!  Below are links to find out about coming events, clinics, etc.  New to competition?  Start with the Newcomers page.

Getting Ready For A Tournament?

Skiers (and parents of skiers!), we’re here for you!  Whether you are a first time competitor or have been in tournaments for years, there are a few things to remember and be aware of to make the best of your competition experience:

  • Be registered and paid:  When you get to the site and before you head to the dock to ski, always double-check to make sure all fees are paid, your registration forms and any necessary waivers are signed, and if required, you are checked in.
  • Be on time:  Tournament rules require that you be at the dock, ready to ski when it is your turn.  Remember that “no-shows,” weather conditions, and other factors can significantly influence the actual time you ski.
  • Running Order:  Every tournament will have a list called a “running order” that is the official sequence of events and skiers (sometimes they will be posted online—check the MWSA site before the tournament to see if one is available).  Check where your name is on the running order and be on the dock and ready to ski, but as noted above, other skiers may not show, ski poorly, etc.—be ready!
  • Read any notices at the site or dock:  Most tournaments will have a central board with running orders, notices, results, etc.  The starting dock may also have information
  • New to the ski site?:  Ask tournament officials or the boat crew for any information that might help you prepare for skiing at the site.
  • Volunteer to help:  When you’re at a tournament, be sure to see how you can help.  If you’re a judge, scorer or driver, sign up with the officiating crew to work events.  If you’re not an official, there are lots of other things you can do to help, from Dock Starter to cleanup, or other tasks.  Check at the Registration area for volunteer opportunities, or talk to the Chief Judge, Scorer, Driver or Tournament Director and find out how you can help us succeed!
  • Read and become familiar with the AWSA rules for the complete list of all official tournament rules (click here).

The AWSA rules state that disqualifications can happen for several reasons, many of them related to not being ready—we want to prevent that from happening to you!