Excutive Director Report
April 15, 2008

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Dear members of the USA Water Ski board, sport discipline boards, principals of the sport, and the staff of USA Water Ski,

I. This past weekend I continued my education learning of the water skiing disciplines. On Friday, I traveled to Miami to be a part of "Board Up", a USA Wakeboard sanctioned event. It is conducted by the brothers Strauss of Miami Sports International. They are an incredible twosome seemingly always in a state of never-ending movement. They do the menial tasks as well as the high profile aspects of the event. Both brothers are highly evident as they announce the competitions and also conduct a fun filled award ceremony (plus they are famous due to their daily sports radio program in greater Miami). "Board Up" is the IWSF Pan Am Region Wakeboard Championship, and competing within the event were people of all ages in addition to the pro wake boarders. The crowd had a distinct international flavor with not only athletes from the United States, but also a good number from Central and South America. The Strauss brothers are multi-lingual. They speak English, Spanish and Wakeboard-ish fluently. And, that was handy.

Meeting me at "Board Up" was Dan Levine of the USA Wakeboard board. Dan was tanned, and totally into the on-going action. The action was highly athletic. The art of defying gravity while performing artistic movement reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil just kept coming throughout the afternoon.

Dan introduced me to a number of the athletes and to a person they were extraordinarily polite, gracious, and modest. But I just couldn't understand anything they said. That is where Dan came in. Dan has been trained by the Strauss brothers in Wakeboard-ish.

"Dude, the water is butter. I did a butt check after the first frontside rotation, it was knarly, then popped off the next wake," says athlete number one. Huh? Dan says he means it was sick. Huh? Dan says sick means good. Oh.

Later in the day I met Neil Harris from Australia who is on the board of directors of the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF). He represents the wakeboard discipline within the IWSF. He is so much an Aussie. He has great passion for water sports, the outdoors, and a beer from time to time. He was quite enjoyable to be around and a grand guy.

This is an incredible sport discipline under our umbrella. The athletes perform true athletic movements, talk their talk, and have big fun. Currently the dudes and female equivalents at USA Wakeboard and the dudes and female equivalents at the World Wakeboarding Association are performing essentially the same functions within this niche in the sporting world. I have met most of them, and they are all fun, passionate people, and truly enjoy water sports just like all of the other people in our various water sport disciplines. It would be truly sick if somehow we could get togetherand grow the sport to be something even bigger. Maybe we could call it the great “Wake Up”.

II. This week a big weekend approaches as we prepare for the American Water Ski Educational Foundation's (AWSEF) annual Hall of Fame inductions. While I am aware of the tremendous sacrifices made over the years by this year's inductees, I am astounded at the considerable effort put into the entire event by AWSEF's Carole Lowe. Oh my Gosh she is at Headquarters practically 24/7 preparing. She is all about being sure the event will be a spectacular success. Good on you, Carole.

Also on hand this weekend is an all important USA Water Ski Executive Committee (EC) meeting. This weekend's EC primary concern will revolve around the economic environment, its effect on the sport, and generally how things are going since I arrived (I hope okay).

The EC meets all day on Saturday, and that evening the Hall of Fame ceremonies will be held in Orlando. Honorees will include Marsha Fitzgerald and Kris LaPoint; Award of Distinction Recipients will be Harry Cordellos, Art Cozier, John Gillette, Mary Pelto and Jim Salmas. Saturday will be a terrific evening.

Have a great weekend.

Steve Locke
Executive Director
USA Water Ski