Ballot to Council

To Southern Region Council Persons,

Last year the Council voted not to use the P&P Manual’s section 1.14 Towboat Selection (listed below) for the Regional Tournament. Instead we used the same towboat selection as the US Nationals. This let the skiers at the Southern Regional Tournament use the same boat that they would use at Nationals 2 weeks later.

I received many comments that the skiers like this method of choosing towboat’s for our Regional
Tournament. This year I would like you to vote again to use this method of towboat selection.

If this method is approved this year again and we have no negative comments, I would like to amend the P&P at this year mid-winter meeting for a permanent change.

The National Tow boat selection will happen on July 1 of this year.

_______ Yes to use the same towboats as the Nationals.

_______ No to use the 1.14 section of the Southern Region P&P Manual.

1.1.4 Towboat Selection

Events at Regionals shall be divided into groups equal to the number of the qualified towboats participating. Each group shall be of approximated "equal weight". Towboat selection shall then be done by the Chief Judge and Chief Driver by random draw in the presence of all the qualified towboat manufacturers’ representatives. The towboat assignments shall be posted along with the skier running orders at the site. 7/02

Council Person	YES	No
Jim Jaquess	YES
Lyman Hardy	YES
Chris Eller	YES
Jay Estes	YES
Milton Weathers	YES
Craig Worley	YES
Jody Seal		NO
Gordon West	YES
Stan Switzer	YES
Brian Guyer
Craig Bryans		NO
Tadd Schreiber	YES
Ray Crenshaw	YES
Tim McKune	YES
Bob Archambeau	YES
Pat Coomes	YES
J. Alan Long
Johnny Thomas
Jerry Hargis	YES
Jeanette Van Akelijen	YES
Clark Anderson	YES
Terry Wood	YES
Tim Denny	YES
Steve Rayborne	YES
Julie Yancey	YES
Ballot Count = 25 TOTAL	20	2

COMMENTS

From Jody Seal:

Just thought I would point out a couple of things.

The Idea of keeping the same Regional boat draw as the National Draw was because we had two separate speed controls available and it was decided that if skiers knew what speed control they were skiing with at the Nationals then it was deemed that Regional's should also be the same. Well we are now back to one speed control and I feel as do many skiers that a separate draw for Regionals is more conducive for the well being and equality of the sport.

We tend to exude a double standard in our sport in many of the decisions that we make. We claim that in our rules the boats are of equal standards and their for if a boat breaks down in an event we go get the next available approved boat. This does not mean that we have to have the same manufacture to replace the stricken craft just a approved boat.

If we are leaning towards making a real change Why not allow skiers to pick their own boats at regionals and nationals.

My vote is No on the question from gene. I feel we should have our own Regional boat draw!

Jody Seal
Florida Federation
Panama City,