About Competitive Water Skiing

Who:

There is no age or gender limitation on participation in competitive water skiing. In the
most recent U.S. National competition, the age of competitors ranged from 3 – 87 years.

What:

Competitive water skiing includes three disciplines: Slalom, Tricks and Distance
Jumping.

1) Slalom Skiing. Slalom skiing (usually done on one ski) involves skiing at a pre-determined speed
through a pair of buoys (“gates”) and then around six buoys staggered on opposite sides of the boat and
then through gates at the opposite end.

2) Trick Skiing. Much like competitive diving, skiers perform tricks that have point values
weighted by degree of difficulty. The skis have no fin, allowing unimpeded surface turns.

3) Distance Jumping. Jumpers are pulled at a pre-determined fixed boat speed and attempt to
generate as much speed as possible to ski across a 14’ wide fiberglass surface that is approximately 22 feet
long with the high end ranging from five to six feet above the water level. In tournaments, each skier is
allowed three jumps. For Will, the maximum boat speed is 32mph and the jump height is 5½ feet. By
swinging to the right side of the boat before turning to the ramp (which is on the left side of the boat), Will
is able to generate about 62mph ski speed when he hits the ramp. Professionals ski at 35.4mph with a 6’
ramp height and can reach speeds of over 70mph. Distances are measured through the use of a computer
program that receives landing spot data from video cameras that record each jump. At the “skier age” of
14, Will jumped 176 feet at this lesser boat speed and ramp height. The world record is 254’ with the
higher boat speed and steeper ramp.

Where:

Professionals and Elite amateur U.S. skiers ski globally on both private ski lakes and on
public waters.

When:

Weather dictates the times when tournaments are held. In the U.S., tournaments are held
from March through November. Worldwide, tournaments are held throughout the year.