Michigan Coaching Clinic Tour 2009
Hudsonville, Michigan
Jodi and some of the other
MasterCraft Team skiers spent time meeting water ski fans and
customers of Action Water Sports yesterday out at the store in
Hudsonville, Michigan a head of the Global Invitational Pro
Water Ski Tour Event this Friday and Saturday on Placid Water in
Allendale, Michigan. Jodi Also spent time with the press and
taught Emily for Fox 17 to learn to get up on water skis for the
first time, Emily did great and successfully made it on to one
ski in her for set out on the water. Global Marine Insurance and
Action Water Sports have done a great job of organizing event
first time help at Placid Waters and they anticipating huge
crowds at this brand new water skiing facility in Western
Michigan.
Follow Jodi progress and the other Pro Skiers battle it out in
Slalom, Jump and Wakeboard throughout this Friday and Saturdays
finals.
Silver lake, Travers City
Another Great day on the water in
Michigan, I have now been coming up to Travers City for about
seven years and these guys just love being out on the water.
Silver lake is a pretty big body of water, it has a small lagoon
on the South end of the lake that is perfect length first the
slalom course and because its set down low below tall trees and
rolling hills and house surrounding the shoreline it is nicely
sheltered.
We had perfectly calm water most of the day with only the odd
pontoon boat coming across the lake to check out the action in
the course.
Bart Collins, the local MasterCraft promo guy organized a great
bunch of guys for the clinic, some who had taken part previous
years and also new skiers taking the opportunity to hewn their
skills in the course and find a few pointers to work with
throughout the summer on the water.
Bart Collins |
Mike Helke, My driver for
the clinic and local Michigan Tournament Drive
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Mike |
Jeff Heydlauff
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John Kurkhof
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John Merrifield |
Beautiful Silver Lake
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The guys hanging out
drinking Mono Vie and chatting about what they
learnt on the water |
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OK time to get in the truck and head down the road to Grand
Rapids for the next Coaching clinic at Placid Water, the Pro
Tour event site for this weekends big bash out on the Slalom
Course and Jump Ramp. Training is coming together and I am
looking forward to the weekends Tournament. Check in Thursday
for up dates on the Clinic from Placid.
Fenton,
Michigan.
I had the privilege of meeting Dave Amy in 2008 at the
MasterCraft Pro Tour event held in Fenton, Michigan. Dave
offered to host a coaching clinic at his site, a great little
lake called Bass lake close by and set down low bellow high
trees and rolling hills in a small town called Linden. After a
huge success, Action Water Sports wanted to hold another clinic
again this year in the area and Dave Amy, Mark Clarkson from
Action and a few of the members from Bass Lake had organized and
planned there first tournament at this new a fresh water ski
site. We set the clinic up for Sunday June 21st following the
event. I set out driving from Orlando on Friday morning and
drove 13 hours and stopped for a few hours sleep just South of
Cincinnati and then drove the remaining 6 hours Saturday morning
arriving in time to watch a bunch of Michigan based local
skiers, competing in one of their first slalom events for the
2009 season. The sun was out and the skiers were loving life and
running new person best score at this great site, I couldn’t let
them have all the fun and I just had to join in and take a set
follow the completion of the second round of competition. Sweet
sweet site and the water was a perfect 75 degrees after training
in the Florida hot soupy waters of 90 degrees plus.
We arrived back on site Sunday morning for the clinic, the water
was like class and the fog was clearing as the sun climbed
higher in the sky and the air temperature rose. The Student were
arriving and we were all set for a great days slalom skiing on
Bass Lake. The skiers all took three training sets each and
enjoyed the perfect skiing conditions in one of the most
beautiful lake setting I have had the privilege to visit and
teach at. I can’t wait to return next season and work with these
guys again. Well done guys you all did great on the water today.
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Daryl Wetzel Toni Wetzel
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Lynn
Schachinger
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Don
Prokopou
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Mark
Clarkson
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Gary
Koncza
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View of
Bass Lake from the North end
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View of
Mastercraft coming up from South end of mirror calm
Bass Lake)
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2009 Moomba starts
Moomba Masters 2009 Final Review
“I was so focused leading up to event, in my Orlando training
with Nicola, whilst travelling half way around the world, whilst
training at The Geelong Ski Club with old skiing buddies a few
days prior to and throughout the whole Championships itself. I
felt good about the adjustments I had made in each round as the
tournament progressed and I was on course with my consistency in
placing in the top few positions at the completion of each days
competition. 2nd in the first round, 3rd place in the second
round and 2nd in the Semi final putting me where I wanted to be
going into the final round of competition in the main show on
Monday. This would be my 18th Men’s slalom final in 21 years of
competing at the Moomba Masters and taking 3 Championship
Titles, trusting in these facts I felt very confident in my
ability to make focused judgements and decisions that would give
me a shot at the Title again this year. It has been mentioned
from time to time, that the challenging conditions are where I
tend to excel on the water. I have become at home competing on
the Yarra River in Melbourne, it is difficult to explain but I
feel different when skiing there and more in control of my
emotions and performance than usual. I can’t explain it, but I
can tell you I love coming into the course from under the Swan
Street Bridge on Moomba Finals day and feeling the electrifying
energy and anticipation of the crowd aliening both sides of the
River. After being pulled up out of the water when up stream of
the Swan Street Bridge and the City, everything seams pretty
normal when up behind the boat, with normal visuals and sounds
that you would expect when skiing along at 36mph. The Bridge is
the crazy changing point in the whole experience, as you pass
under the farley low hung Bridge it darkens for a few moments
and the sounds around you quickly increases and echo from the
enclosure of the bridge structure. When you immerge out on the
City side of the Bridge you are now not on your own out there
and in what would normally be described as familiar territory
when slalom skiing. The sky seems to open up and everything
becomes brighter and even louder as the boat draw nearer to the
course and the roaring crowd. It can only be described as though
you are entering into a huge sports stadium, built for some land
based sport.
The fact that your decisions, ability to react at the blink of
an eye and your performance in every split second from the
second you pull out from the wakes to set up for that all
important Gate turn, to the rhythm you maintain to keep you on
time with the course until you exit the end Gate.
The entire time judging the direction and speed of the current,
the unsettled surface of the River due to quick re-entry back
into the course after dropping down at the ends and shortening
the rope following each successful and completed line length.
Seeing the constant movement of colour and sound on the shore as
you dart from each side of the course, filtering the noise of
the loud and excited voices from the commentary team as you turn
each buoy one by one and trusting to only take notice of the
crucial things that are important to surviving all that the
River could throw at you at any moment without warning! In each
round, I was having to push myself to commit to the course in
both the tail and head current. The tendency when under pressure
in competition, is to go cautious and to not commit and not
carry speed into the course or not be in a position to keep
moving with rhythm an d
tempo. This fine balancing act of controlling your emotions,
your physical movements whilst staying relaxed enough to remain
balanced on your ski is the real challenge on the Yarra. It is
the most thrilling site we have the privilege to compete on
anywhere around the world, I just love it!
The lead was set at 4 buoys on the 11 meter line, down current
heading toward the City by Ty Openlander with only four skiers
to go. The pressure was building and the next skier Nick Parsons
who had taken top seed in the second round, unfortunately went
down early on the 12 meter line. Chris Parish was next to take
to the water, he had taken top seed in the first round of
competition on Friday and was fired up knowing he would need to
set the bar higher by passing the 11 meter line down current if
he wanted to have a chance of defending his 2008 Moomba Title.
Chris seemed less settled on the 11 meter line than in the
earlier rounds, But Chris is tall and immensely powerful on the
water and he cleared the 11 meter line with a chance to increase
the lead even higher. Coming in from the City end of the course
is a very different approach and run into the course, because of
a 45 degree bend in the River, only 100 meters in front of the
55 meter Pre-Gates. The boat picks the skier up out of the water
and quickly gets up to speed and settles at 36mph whilst heading
towards the shore, as the boat passes a large white pyramid
maker buoy, it then turns quickly right and lines up with the
boat lane buoys of the course. The skier is virtually pulling
out to the left as the boat is turning right and straightening
up and all whilst the boat is still bouncing from the last bits
of the rebounding boat wakes from the previous pass. The City
end proved to be more tricky this year than in previous events,
but Chris being left foot forward would have his onside turn on
one ball allowing him to make it out side 2 to score 1.5 buoys
on the 10.75 meter line.
This had changed the focus of the finals and up the anti for
Myself and Jonathon Travers, who found his form in the Semi
finals by running 3.5 buoys on 10.75 from the City end of the
course. I have to say that I felt very focused, my confidence
and performance had improved in every round leading up to Finals
and I was in the zone. This is the state of mind all Pro
Athletes work so hard to find on race day and taking it step by
step whilst not getting a head of yourself is the primary
objective. Throughout my opening 13 meter line, coming back into
the current on the 12 meter line and the all important 11 meter
line, the must make pass to have a shot at the Title and leading
score. I would say this was my best pass of the tournament so
far. I felt I was skiing well and in a position to increase the
lead in front of the final skier off the dock. I had convincing
myself to coming into the course by leaving my pullout for the
Gates, a little later each round. I pushed my comfort zone to
the limit and started my pullout 1-2 feet later than all the
other rounds, but I over estimated the strength of the current
which now had quickly became apparent was not as strong as the
previous round and I found myself fast and late when reaching my
apex for the Gate turn. With everything I had worked so hard for
at stake, it came down to this one moment of error. I had to go,
it was time to turn as I knew I would be so deep into the Gates
carrying high speed and with a great deal of load on the rope. I
felt my feet further behind the rope than I wanted and the load
on the rope building stronger and the pull from the boat kept
increasing against my upper body, I was in trouble.
The head current would already be responsible for creating more
load on the rope than normal, a late, rushed turn would not make
life any easier as the tension stays longer on the line and
width in the course is ultimately more difficult to attain. My
reaction was to try and go down course past the buoy as far as I
dare, but leaving it to long would prevent me from getting
across course early enough to make it around buoy 2. I couldn’t
wait any longer, I had to go knowing that the line would not
quite be there and tight at the completion of turn. Without a
doubt this would be a do or die turn, a massive hook up between
me and the boat. Although I was late and had been carrying huge
speed out to the buoy, as a right foot forward skier and this
being my offside, I was heavy on my front foot, the tip of the
ski deep in the water decelerating fast and the top half of my
body coming inside the line to soon. The slack line and hook up
proved to be to much to hold on to and the handle exploded out
of my grip like a bullet out of a gun. My challenge for the 2009
Title was over as I had only managed a half buoy on the 10.75
placing me in 2nd place with one skier to go.
Jonathon Travers broke on to the Pro Circuit in 2008 with some
fantastic skiing and scores that would cause a real stir for a
youngster in his first year competing Pro with the big boys.
Although Jonathon was skiing great and had even taken a 2nd
place finish on the MasterCraft Tour in 2008, he had never been
in top seed position before and last off the dock. At only age
20, these were big bindings to be standing in on the dock of the
largest Pro event in waterskiing anywhere around the world. The
immense pressure of knowing this was his opportunity to own the
River and take out the 2009 Moomba Masters and his first Pro win
in front of the best skiers in the world, 30,000 screaming water
ski fans and the challenging conditions of the Yarra River.
Jonathon had the world on his shoulders and his heart in his
mouth with everything to gain and become the Champion if only he
could hold it all together. You could see the incredible
pressure Jonathon was under on his opening pass at 13 meters,
and running later than he would of wanted to be on his first
pass. Jonathon did not look settled. Jonathon did not get the
start he was looking for on his second pass, the 12 meter line,
fighting to regain his composure as he turned each buoy,
Jonathon turned to soon on his offside 4 buoy turn and blow out
his fin ending his dreams of becoming Moomba Champion for this
year. All in all Jonathan Travers had a great tournament with
some huge ups and downs, but one thing is for sure he will be
back in this position again before to long and pushing for his
first Pro-win.
So, Chris Parish had done enough to retain his 2008 Moomba
Masters Title with a back to back win on the Yarra for the 2009
Moomba Masters Championship. Next year will be the Moomba
Masters 50th anniversary and the event will be bigger than ever,
I am already looking forward to the rematch on the Yarra same
time next year with the big fella and the boys. It is so much
fun!!!!”
Podium Placement
1st Chris Parish
2nd Jodi Fisher
3rd Ty Openlander
“Alex, one of the boys who have
traveled down from the Gold Coast to watch Moomba, made me his
specialty breakfast. He tried to tell us all his Brother is a
Chef. Here I am looking forward to eggs on toast and Yoke, they
came just Yokes on toast. We couldn’t help but laughing,
although I have to say they were very tasty!”
   
3/7/09
Here is a little more
from today’s 2nd Round of competition.
“The second day of competition brought an improvement in the
weather and in turn better water conditions to compete on, with
slight different schedule of events, the slalom was run later in
the day and the tide had taken the River levels down to where
there was not a much bounce back from the shore. The proved to
suit the women and men skiers and showed in higher scores
compared to the first round of competition. The weather forecast
is improving is improving each day and conditions for Sundays
Semi finals and Moomba Mondays Finals are looking great for a
world class competitive battle of those still standing”
I will come back to you with more a little later.
Friday morning, first day of Open
Moomba and the first round got underway on some pretty tough
conditions on the Yarra River in heart of Melbourne, due to the
current rain falling in the City, the river was very high and
flowing pretty quickly. Not only did we have the cool drizzly
weather to contend with, the high waters bounce back of the
shoreline and create a pretty soupy surface to ski on. This was
no surprise to the skiers, but very tricky to deal with as there
can be hidden surprises around every turn ball, wake
crossing or pullout on the gates. You have to be strong,
deliberate, positive and ready to adapt with little notice. You
have to take the event round by round as the condition can be
very different from one day to the next, it is all about
survival on the preliminary rounds, to then be able to let it
all hang out in the Finals on Monday.
Competing on the Yarra is tough, exciting, nerve raking and
amazing fun all at the same time. Moomba will be 50 years old
next year and it is regarded as one of the largest and exciting
Pro Water Ski events in the World.”
The attached picture showing a little sunshine on Friday
afternoon.
My plan was to rise early and prepare to train first, this on
Thursday morning at Geelong Ski Club, situated one hour South of
the City of Melbourne, I have been to this Club many times
over the years and the members there are the best. A long time
friend of mine David Cortous a former Australian Team mem ber
and many time Moomba Masters Jump competitor lives in Geelong
and offered to put me up for a few days. Karen Jackson also a
former Australian Team Skier, former Moomba Competitor and
Geelong Club member were kind enough to take me to the Club for
early training behind their boat. It would not have been
possible to train without their extreme
kindness, boat and expertise as driver and timer. For that I am
extremely grateful to the Both of them. Geelong is an amazing
Club with great facilities and course on the River, I hope to be
going back there prior to Moomba to Coach and train for a few
days. Thank You to all at Geelong Ski Club, have a great 2009 on
the water.”
I arrived in Melbourne Wednesday
morning after flying from Orlando, through LA, and New Zeala nd.
I had been watching the weather forecast prior to leaving and
new the weather was stormy, with very high winds and farley low
temperature for the tail end of the summer. It seamed as though
winter had come early from Melbourne, this City has a reputation
of the weather being able to change in an instant. They say you
can have four seasons in the one day in Melbourne due to is
proximity to the Ocean.
Training on Wednesday afternoon was a right off, due to the very
high winds and rain, the local's in Melbourne and Geelong were
was happy for the long overdue rainfall. It has not rained in
many months in Melbourne or the surrounding areas and they have
been dealing ferocious wild fires all over the State of Victoria
devouring 3000 home and responsible for many deaths. The rain
was actually a God send for the Melbournians at this time.
Arriving in Melbourne
"I arrive at Geeling Water Ski Club at 7.00am for my Pre-Moonba
Masters training. The late summer weather has finally broken and
the
rain South Australian have been so in need of has finally
arrived, at
least this will help the locals a great deal with the bush fires
they
have all been dealing with for months now. The weather forecast
for
the weekend is looking to imrove a little and temperatures
should
creep in to around 23 degrees celcious 72 degrees fahrenhight.
Melbourne has also been dealing with extremely high winds this
summer
which have contributed to many of the bush fires, the is blowing
very
strong at present and will create some tricky conditions for the
weekends competition.
Nothing new for Moonba though and is likely to change many times
through the tournament. Looking forward to the first round of
competition on Friday following Junior Moonba that is currently
running over Wednesday and Thursday."
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