Submitted:  July 24, 2008

Recreational Skiers:

Nova Scotia Water ski Association held its first water ski recreational division event at the Keough lake water ski tournament on Saturday. The chosen format seemed to be a good fit with participants enthused about the event and set up.

The course was set up at 60 ft wide which placed the turning balls approximately 8ft inside each regulation turning ball.  The participants were given a total of four passes at the course with each ball counting one point and the 2 gates were also credited with a point. Therefore a successful pass was scored at 8 points  Starting speed was the choice of the skier but scoring was counted similar to the official  rule book  in that  if a skier was successful at making his opening pass at a higher speed . The skier would be awarded all the points that another skier may accumulate at the slower speed.

Further revisions will be made in the future for additional points if the skier actually skies around one of the regulation balls they will count as 2 points.  

Recreational skiers we have two tournaments remaining the next being at Claudia’s on Aug 9^th and the season final at Springfield Lake on Aug 30^th.  So let’s see a good turn out for a fun interactive day which I know will improve the recreational skiing

Ken Flinn

Submitted:  July, 2008

Wakeboard News:  Adrian Spencer reports on the  Lake Wake Sports Wake Jam on Lake Fletcher:

"We had the first wake jam of the season on Sat June 28 with about 8 people getting towed for a little friendly competition and 4 others coming out for a quick instructional lesson. The highlight of the day was definitely when Virgil Desouroux hung up on his back edge on a high speed slingshot to the dock, he was out of the bindings before he even left the water!  Luke Mahaney had the highest Ollie of the day. Ollieing a solid 30" to clear a 55 gallon drum with ease. It was great day with the Q Cops dropping by and riding in the boat and handing out some stuff before they left. We look forward to their presence again and hope to see more spectators and participants next time!!"

Submitted:  June 3, 2008
Meeting Notes:  NSWSA Semi-Annual Meeting at Fairbanks Centre, Saturday, June  13, 2008

Opening remarks and introduction of Executive.

Gary Allen reported  NSWSA received a grant of $2000 for a Junior Clinic to be held in August.  Claudia Currie to coach, and participants to be chosen from Ski School  and tournament activity.

Two novice tournaments to be held to encourage skiers who have minimal  tournament experience.  Locations to be announced.

Gary encouraged members to utilize nswsa.com for tournament information, etc.  Also, regular emails to membership, which will include information like directions to tournaments, etc.

Paul Bowie reported that ski school is filling up.  Natalie, Kita and Greg Allen will staff with Natalie as lead.  Still have a week in August with no location.  Also there is still space available at the Fletcher Lake Schools and a couple of others.   Contact Natalie or Paul for further info.

Claudia Currie briefly updated on her conference in Ottawa where she learned about LTAD and Rip’n Ride programs.  Rip’n Ride will be big part of the Ski School this year.  For more information go to nswsa.com.

Ken Flinn updated on tournament schedule which is available at nswsa.com.  In the Novice Division, a junior slalom course will be available.  A new communication feature this summer, will allow skiers to go to nswsa.com at 7am on tournament days for an update on possible weather cancellations, etc.   This will hopefully save on many early morning telephone calls.  Also, directions to tournaments will be available on website and in membership emails (as mentioned above). 

Adrian Spencer reported he met with the Natal Day Committee and confirmed there will be a water ski/wakeboard show on August 4^th for approx. 1 hour – time TBA.  Local clubs ie. Lake Charles Ski Devils and Springfield Lake will be asked to provide something for the program.  Adrian also reported that the wakeboard jams schedule is on nswsa.com and the first one is June 28 at Fletchers Lake, registration at 8a.m.  Q104 will be there and Adrian hopes to provide a beginner clinic in the afternoon.

On finances, Gary Allen reported that the bank account is solid and the ski school boat is owned outright.

WSWB Canada is still promoting the fundraising Benefit Cruise for World Water ski Championships in November 2008 – Attending from our group so far is Gary, Connie, Claudia, Randy, Glenn, Leslie.  Should be lots of fun and “Freedom of the Seas” is a beautiful boat.  Check nswsa.com for information.

Shannon reported she has 2 Ski Ability clinics booked for this year – August 3 and 17^th – 10-2:30pm.  She’d like to have 5 volunteers for the day, so cotact her if interested – lots of fun.  See nswsa.com for info.

PEI water ski club is looking for donations of fat skis or any spare gear for new skiers in their area – hoping to do some increased promotion of sport of waterskiing in PEI.

Gary Allen closed meeting.

Submitted:  June 3, 2008

Notice of the Semi-Annual Meeting and Ski Swap

Nova Scotia Water Ski Association - June 14^th

The meeting will take place at 7:30pm at Fairbanks Centre, located at 54 Locks Road, Dartmouth, N.S.

See a map at this website:http://www.activityguidebook.com/destination/860. Fairbanks Centre is an interpretation centre for the historic Subenacadie Canal, located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Please join us for complimentary beverages; pizza and a glimpse of what will be happening in the water ski world in Nova Scotia this summer.

Bring your old Ski Equipment; sell it and buy some “new to you” equipment (NSWSA takes 15%) For further details click here.

Lakewake Watersports will also have new equipment there for sale!

Find out more about:

·       the tournaments to take place around NS

·       How to get a good price on boat and boating insurance

·       Latest update on the 2009 World Water Ski Championships to be held in Calgary

·       What your ski buddies are up to

·       See a slide show of last years' falls

The water is warming, boats are in— Join us June 14^th and then Bring your friends!………………..Lets Go Water Skiing!

Submitted:  May 11, 2008

Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada and NCCP “Learn To” Instructor Training Course

Date: Saturday, June 14^th and Sunday, June 15^th 2008

Time: Saturday: 8:30am-7pm, Sunday: 8:30am-5pm

Location: Fairbanks Centre - 54 Locks Rd. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Cost: $125.00/person

The cost of the course includes a membership to the Nova Scotia Water Ski Association.

Participants are responsible for their own lunch.

Before taking the course, participants must be fully certified in first aid and have their boating license.  The boating license must be shown before the boat driving component of the course can be completed. 

Participants must register before Friday, May 30^th, 2008 to take the course.

E-mail bowie_shannon@hotmail.com to register or with any questions you may have. 

Submitted:  April 2, 2008     

WSWC Congress Goes Aboard In Support of 2009 Worlds

Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada is pleased to confirm that its 2008 Annual Congress will be staged on the World’s Benefit Cruise, spanning several days of the voyage November 9 to 16, 2008.

The decision was taken by the Executive Board after consultations with provincial associations, extensive financial analysis and comparisons if the Congress were to be in Edmonton (Water Ski and Wakeboard Alberta bid for and were awarded the meeting). The biggest advantage to hosting Congress on the cruise is the added fundraising benefit for the 2009 World Water Ski Championship Festival to be held in Calgary.  If Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada members book 100 cabins, it is a contribution of over $15,000 to the Worlds fundraising campaign.

In addition to being a celebration of and fundraising for Canada’s hosting of the 2009 World Water Ski Championship Festival, the 2008 Congress is also a critical one for the future direction of the organization.  The Congress will be a critical opportunity for discussion and decision making regarding such important items as:

·         Presentation of WSWC Strategic plan for adoption by the membership;

·         Discussion of fundamental structural changes to WSWC;

·         Discussion on key membership matters;

·         Further discussion on LTAD implementation, including possible proposals for changes to rules, competition structures and calendars

·         Awarding of Championships

·         Fundraising activities

·         Election of Board members

With the prospect of over 200 members of the Canadian water ski and wakeboard community aboard, the cruise offers WSWC with unprecedented possibility for Congress participation.  Additional social and fundraising events will contribute to great fun, team-building and additional proceeds to the 2009 World Water Ski Championship Festival.

Full cruise information can be viewed on the WSWC web page:
http://www.waterski-wakeboard.ca/notices/worldconsumerpack.pdf

Submitted:  Feb 14, 2008    
N.S. receives grant for funding under the new “Support for Sport” program

In February 2008, the NSWSA was notified that its proposal was approved by Sport Nova Scotia for funding under the “Support for Sport” initiate. The grant is for $2,000.

This program is designed to encourage participation at all levels in organized sports that are affiliated with National Sport Governing Bodies that have an active Long Term Athlete Development Plan. (LTAD)

The Nova Scotia Proposal submitted by Gary Allen used the summer ski school as a cornerstone for our submission. In addition to assisting in ski school operations/equipment, the plan is aimed at identifying 8 – 10 participants over the summer that possess certain skills and enthusiasm to possibly move to a higher level. Those selected will be invited to a “special one week camp” late in August.

Further details of the program and selection criteria will be announced at a future date.

Nov 9, 2007 Update from the Annual General Meeting NSWSA\

The final meeting of 2007 took place 7:00pm, Friday November 9^th, at Fairbanks Center Locks Road, Dartmouth, on the Historic Shubenacadie Canal. Lots of members turned out to enjoy the pizza and participate in a short but important meeting. The “now” past president Richard Joudrey brought the meeting to order and thanked the 2007 executive for its hard work. He proceeded right to the main task for the evening, electing new officers for the 2008 season. They are listed below. Our new President Gary Allen took the helm immediately and chaired the remainder of the meeting. For new business Glenn Bowie (who is President of Water Ski Canada) informed us all that Canada will host the 2009 World Water Ski Championships in early  August at Predator Bay just outside Calgary’s city limits. All Nova Scotian water skiers are invited to volunteer.The meeting wrapped up as Paul Bowie delivered his favorite food, Pizza! And beverages too!