April 4th 2008
What's the Problem? What's the Solution?
|
The following (unedited) comments contains the content of the emails Ive received the past couple of days. At the end, I leave you with my thoughts.
From a Tournament Director
*Sounds like the skiers that are complaining about limiting numbers should start volunteering to help at tournaments and then the limiting numbers will go up.
From a Tournament Director
*If we don't limit numbers than the tournament is too big and skiers complain about skiing once every 3 hours.
From a Tournament Director
*If these comments are from people who are not participating and like to complain about how the people working for free are not doing it to their liking, than let them
From an Open Skier
*Mike, simply get with the times and put one judge (any level will do) and a camera in the boat. With technology you dont need to have senior judges if there is a record or question it can be reviewed later. A behavior of a system is a function of its structure. You (Mike Holt - ABC) have the ability to change the structure in this case
Holtzy Comment: The current rules (established by the World Barefoot Council), when using a single judge with video for a Class R or L tournament, requires a Senior Judge to be in the boat at all times.
If the event allows 20 skiers x 2 events, then this would require the judge to stay in the boat for a minimum of about 5 hours (20 x 2 = 40 x 7 min. = 280 min/60 min). Assuming the official doesnt take a potty or lunch break.
If we push this to 40 skiers, then the judge needs to go for 10 solid hours, again with no potty or lunch break. This does not include the time the judge needs to spend with all of the paper work after the skiers have gone home. We really cant be burning out our officials like this.
From an Age Division Skier
*Interesting comments; I wonder how much help these skiers are giving to the tournament directors. Let me know if you need any help at all getting things set-up for either of your tournaments this year. My new job is very flexible and I would be able to come out to the site on Friday and help with set-up or pick-up equipment if needed.
Keep up the good work Mike, the Regionals last year were run real smoothly and that was due to great planning on your part.
From an Age Division Skier
*I think you should allow sufficient time for registration if the limit has not been reached.
Holtzy Comment: If the event has not been sold out, the skier can register online the night before the event.
*Is there going to be a limit of skiers at Regionals? I don't think this would work if so.
Holtzy Comment: The skier limit for Regionals does not apply to skiers that are qualifying for Nationals or skiers that are officials.
*A lot of skiers cannot commit to an event that far in advance and novice skiers may never show up b/c they do not want to drive to a tourney to be told they can't ski it.
Holtzy Comment: Any skier not registering in advance online is taking a chance if he/she shows up at a tournament that is sold out. This will be a judgment call by the Tournament Director to allow the skier to participate. I for one will not take the chance, so Ive registered for all tournaments that I intend to ski.
From a skier that cant ski this year
*There is nothing positive about this policy forget all the lame excuses about officals & open skiers you can write 3 books about all the reasons why this is a problem.
Now lets look at the sport not the in thing now or growing & we all have lots of money for a sport that will cost more. Would you like to see the state of the boating & pwc industry. Oh yes 2007 the inboard did have a one percent gain. Lets wake up & not do ANYTHING that might drive more skiers out of the sport.
Now I will register for all the events just to comply knowing I may not ski them, but I will sell my spot if sold out or is there a rule against that. Just my thoughts but when you eat your own before long they do not exist! Lets WELCOME all like a church & adjust if we get over flow what a great problem if it happens.
Holtzy's Summary
Each tournament director has a limited capacity to manage their tournament and they established the maximum number of skier that they feel they can manage. Im hoping that instead of complaining about their actions, we take the time to thank them for the thankless job they do that allow us to enjoy something we all love.
Maybe this discussion will result in more skiers offering to help in judging, scoring, set up, tear down, or whatever needs to get done. The last thing we need to do is burnout our Officials and Tournament Directors. The solution is that we need more officials, and you can help solve the problem by getting in the boat to judge or spending time in Safety, or in the Scoring trailer.
Just a reminder, the skier limit for a tournament is set by the Tournament Director. If you are not happy with how they run their tournament, please contact them directly:
The New PGA Challenge (20 skiers, plus officials) Mike Whittaker (561) 866-8819 ScarpaPalooza (30 skiers, plus officials), Ron Scarpa (863) 299-7094 June 14th, 2008 Hotlanta Barefoot Challenge (30 skiers, plus officials), Chris Wakefield, (770) 653-7859 Southern Glass (20 skiers, including officials), Joe Pressendo, (772) 579-0698 Holtzys Southern Invitational (30 skiers, plus officials), Mike Holt (352) 429-5577 Southern Regional Championships (50 skiers, not including officials or skiers going to the Nationals), Mike Holt (352) 429-5577
To register online for tournament, visit www.BarefootWater-Ski.com
Heads up: The Southern Glass tournament scheduled for June 28th at Port St. Lucie managed by Joe Pressendo BFJ@Comcast.com has only two slots remaining.
God Bless,
Holtzy, AKA Mike Holt
352.429.5577
P.S. Be sure to visit www.BarefootWater-Ski.com.
|
Last Updated: April 4th 2008
Return to List
|
