July 12, 2007 at 7:40 a.m.
Area waterskiers make big splash at Trophy Lake Estates event
Area waterskiers make big splash at Trophy Lake Estates event
At present, five families have homes in the Estates and two are being built. TLE has 15 homesites on each of the lakes.
The peninsula between the lakes, connected to the mainland by an attractive arched bridge, provides an ideal location for spectators to view competitive events on either of the lakes. The east lake was set up with a six-buoy slalom course. The west lake hosted the trick ski and jumping events.
The jumping competition is relatively easy to understand. Each jumper gets three opportunities to fly off the jump. Only two criteria are important. First, did the skier "ride it out?" That is, did the skier make the jump and land without falling? Second, skiers who ride it out are judged on how far they jump.
Points are earned in trick skiing by successfully completing a series of prescribed "tricks." The tricks are similar to compulsories at figure skating competitions. More points are earned for completing more difficult tricks.
In neither the jumping nor the trick skiing are "Style Points" awarded. How skiers look during the events is not important. The only consideration is whether they were successful.
Two judges, one in the towboat and one in the middle of the course, are used in the slalom competition. The towboat speeds through a precise, straight path marked by a series of paired buoys.
Red buoys are positioned 37 feet from the midpoint of the towboat course. The skiers gain points by skiing around buoys, three on each side, as they are towed. For example, if the skier completes the first run, six points are earned (one for each buoy). On the return run, the boat speed is increased (24 to 26 miles per hour, for example).
The skiers continue to accumulate points until they fall. When the boat has reached the maximum speed (34 mph for women and 36 for the men), the degree of difficulty is magnified by shortening the rope, while maintaining the maximum speed.
The 75 foot rope is shortened by 15, then 22, 32, 35 and 38 feet. At that point, the length of the rope is equal to the distance from the center line of the course to the imaginary line connecting the red slalom buoys. Some of the most proficient skiers actually ski the course with the rope shortened further, requiring them to stretch over the buoys while skiing perpendicular to the path of the boat.
Skiers may choose to pass at the preliminary (slower) speeds and longer rope lengths and still accumulate points if they successfully get past buoys at their starting speed or rope length (much like high jumpers may choose to pass until the bar is moved up). For example, Hannah Shirkey, winner of the women's 18-24 year old class, passed until the boat was traveling 34 mph and the rope had been shortened by 22 feet.
Many area skiers participated in the Trophy Lakes event and recorded scores which qualified them for the next levels of competition. Some qualified for the regional competition in Wichita, Kansas the first weekend in August. Some of the participants qualified for nationals.
"The weather was beautiful. Many competitors skied their personal bests and qualified for the national tournament," Shirkey said. "The crowd was cheering loudly as Chisago Lakes High School student Guy Bennett skied to shore after gaining his second EP (exceptional performance), fully qualifying him to ski in Bakersfield (at nationals)." The 2007 nationals will be held at Ski West Village near Bakersfield, California August 13-18.
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