Rules Committee Meeting - November 1, 2008

Members from the Southern have recommended many new rules changes that the rules committee will have to considered. Below are several that have be presented to me.

From Charlotte Melchers many time Nationals Tournament Sponsor:

One of the problems a site runs into when preparing to host a National Championships is having enough workers available to work during the weeks prior to the event and especially the week of the event.  It takes quite a crew to prepare courses, video equipment, setup the site, and arrange for all the necessary supplies it takes to put on the Nationals.  It requires individuals to take a weeks vacation to work for the event.  It takes numerous people to meet for the setup prior to the event (tents, port-o-lets, tables, chairs, phone lines, gasoline, and barricades) and the tear down.

I would like to suggest that the rules committee consider making an exception for any site hosting the Nationals that the tournament chairman along with the EVP of the Region can grant a Nationals worker and children an exception not to ski in the regionals.  This list would be given to the EVP at least one month prior to the regionals.  Those granted this waiver must be key personnel of that year Nationals.

How does it benefit the host club?  I know when our workers have to travel to a site that takes vacation time from them they don’t work their own Nationals because they can’t afford to take anymore vacation days.  They take just enough time to ski for themselves.  Those that are not required to attend Regionals will stay home and work in the preparation.

Sincerely

Charlotte Melchers

From Jerry Jackson, Tech Controller

Over View/Reason for change

1) Slalom Re-rides after 10 minute Delay:  I don't feel that it is fair to a skier if he/she just ran a complete pass at 11.25, a storm comes up and we have a delay longer than 10 minutes, that he/she gets a warm up pass and has to come back in at 10.75.  In slalom you have to setup each pass.  I look like to see an Option 2:  skier may start over without a protected score.

2) Ties:  If the skier has worked hard to get his seeding, then the seeding needs to be the same for a run-off.  We don't need to waste time doing a draw.  Beside, skier has no idea who or how they determined it!  Using the seeding everyone knows the manner in which the run off will be.  I only but this request in for Slalom, but should apply to all. 

3) AWSA Rule Section 16: Add the following

A Video is required in the boat or from one of the judges tower for all cash prize tournaments.

Reason: To much on the line for a judge not to have the option to view a tape.  Not required that the Video be transmitted to shore, but I would HIGHLY recommend it.

4) TRICK COURSE/RULES, I want to see IWSF and AWSA Trick Course and rules the SAME.

Recommend the followiing changes to both:

1) We need two Pre Gate (Green) approximate 4 meters apart, so the Video Operator can see when to start capturing.  Not two entry gates.  Should have to depend on someone calling Green Buoy.

2) We need one RED buoy which indicates that the skier needs to start approximate 5-15 meters before or after to ensure that we can capture all on VIDEO.  With video it shouldn't matter when they start.  Some of the skiers are stating that with two gate buoys, they get in the way

3) As a practice, the skier should tell the boat that he/she will be doing a trick of course (BOC) and that could be communicating to all the judges/trick timer.  We did this at one of the tournaments and it worked very well. 

Thanks Jerry Jackson