News Update at Satellite Dam
The Satellite Team have been very busy over the holidays getting ready for the 2010 KZN Champs which starts on the 19 February 2010. Some of things the team has done includes putting a brand new slalom course in, sorting out the site facilities, and is neally ready to place their ramp in. Below are some photos of the ramp. The skier's will have the pleasure of skiing behind a brand new Ski Nautique 200.
For More info on the competition you can download the invitation, here or please contact Travis at ski6@waterskisa.co.za
Binding Adjustments by Nick Parsons
Growing up waterskiing all I ever heard from Water Ski Schools and in Water Ski Lessons about fine-tuning your waterski was fin movements. Fin adjustments, fin adjustments, fin adjustments. It's my personal belief that the binding movement is the most underrated waterski adjustment that you can master.
Within the past 5-10 years waterski bindings have really seen advancements. These advancements include the way the bindings can be adjusted. Bindings for the most part have only been able to adjust in ¼ inch increments. Bindings now come straight from the factory with the ability to move down to the 1/16 or even the 1/32 of an inch. With the ability to make adjustments this small you can accomplish the same results as fin adjustments if not more and with more control and less time.More here
WP Champs 2010, Mofam Report Back
The Mofam organising committee once again pulled out all the stops for the hosting of the Western Province Open held from 15-17 Jan '10.
The traditional pre-tournament slalom classic started at 9am sharp with the intention of giving the 40 plus skiers 2 rounds. Unfortunately there were some timing technical problems which meant the 1st round took 6 hours to complete, and the 2nd round was postponed, allowing the 1st round of the WP Open tricks to commence.
Saturday skiers were greeted with near perfect conditions with a slight breeze fro the south, just enough to take the wash away. The 1st round of slalom went off without a glitch, which was followed by 2 rounds of jump. It was great to see a large contingent of Namibian jumpers. SA had better up their game if they intend to keep their All African Champion status. A full day of skiing came to an end close to 7pm after the 2nd round of tricks. More Here
Click Here for WP Champs Results
Click Here for Slalom Classic Results
Counter Rotate for Leverage by Terry Winter
As I give a waterski lesson, one of my primary focuses is on a skier's body position. There's lots of different styles of slalom pulling positions, but whatever it looks like you have to have a strong, leveraged pulling position to get across the course effectively.
One way to increase your leverage, and therefore increase your ability to get across the course on an earlier line, is by counter-rotating. Counter-rotating means opening up your body so that your hips and shoulders are facing more down the length of the course as your ski is pointed across the course. For example, say you're turning and cutting to the right. As your ski is arcing around to the right you're trying to make your shoulders and hips twist a bit to the left. With a good, countered body position the observer in the boat should be able to see the fronts of both of the skier's shoulders.
Read More, here
BonEs Slalom Challenge
Anton Viljoen hosted the BonEs Slalom Challenge, a 3 round ranking list slalom event on the 12-13 December at Bon Esperanza, Malmesbury. Of the original 20 entries 17 took to the water (2 got hurt before the event while the 3rd is mystery).
On Saturday morning the skiers were greeted with perfect conditions. Skiers took full advantage of the conditions, especially in the younger divisions where four personal bests (PBs) were set within the first five skiers. One of the highlights was watching Richard Levey round all 6 buoys on an 11.25m rope only to lose the handle going through the exit gates. Read More, Here
Click here for results.
New World Women's Trick Record approved
At the last tournament of the 2009 season, 
Natalia Berdnikova of Belarus became the first woman ever to trick over 9000 points scoring 9080 for a new world record.
Berdnikova came very close to the existing record in the first round scoring 8800. However,in the second round she picked up the pace and fit 3 extra tricks into her passes to break the 9000 point mark. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the fact that she is only one year out from major knee surgery and a hard road to recovery.
Today, The IWWF Tournament Council approved Natalia Berdnikova's score of 9080 as the new World Record in Women's tricks. Below: Natalia's World Record Run
A few Tips to help you with fitness
If the frequency of your skiing is more than twice a week during season, you probably understand the implications of having a weak core and hip complex. As a matter of fact, your hamstrings probably know all about that weakness, since research shows water-skiers having a high rate of hamstring injuries. So what does the hip complex have to do with the core and hamstrings, well, to 
tell you the truth, everything.
Our bodies are not just segregated into units, our bodies manifest power and force through, what is called, the kinetic chain. By force being driven from the feet, in the water and on the ski, our bodies will utilize it to the best of its capability. If there is a weak link, our bodies are only as strong as that tissue or “link”. Typically, the hip complex and core musculature are what need most attention for the human body, period. However, if you can maintain a strong deep core musculature, including the hip complex, your hamstring issues, performance issues, and low back issues are sure to take a back seat, with the proper care of course. More, Here
Gear for 2010
New for 2010, the Connelly Sidewinder waterski binding is a comfortable, performance-minded boot that features Connelly’s brand-new Flip Lever Hinge.The Sidewinder brings Connelly’s Hinge technology to the masses as the first step-in waterski binding at a value price. More
HO Sports’ new Coefficient X SuperLite ski ($820; hosports.com) features a major departure from the traditional concave bottom ski of the last 70 years — step concave technology. When a traditional ski moves through the water, it drags with it a layer of water molecules that stick to the bottom of the ski. In the science world, it is known as boundary layer theory. More
Mini League Piket Burg
Piketberg lived up to it's reputation by delivering scorching heat over the weekend of 31 October. Ironically the wind was a welcome relief from the heat even though it whipped up the water making skiing conditions difficult. More here
For detailed results Click here.Click Here
South Africa's first water skiing dvd trailer is out
Created by Jared Fisher & Tyron Stroberg. It is hoping to be released early next year
Jan Johnson smashes SA record at EAME's and takes gold!
South Africa took gold at the EAME (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) Championships which took place at Maurik in the Netherlands when Bryanston, Johannesburg’s Jan Johnson won the Senior Womsen 3 Slalom division on 20 September 2009. More Info, here
Seth Stisher Training Drills
Click Here for more Video's from Seth Stisher
Click Here for other video's
World Games 2009
The trip to the World Games was a life time experience and will never be forgotten. I had the most amazing time. I have never felt so proud to be a South African, and to be part of the 120 member team was awesome. While walking into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony we sang SHOSHOLOZA,something I wish everyone had the opportunity to experience.The organisation in every aspect was fantastic. Read More
Picture below, Samantha Martin and Pictured Below right, the SA Water skiing team at the opening ceremony.
Chris Parrish World Record Video
Log your ski sets
Wade Williams has come up with something great. He has a place for you to log your ski sets online. Go to www.myskilog.com to have a great way to keep up with your ski sets. Let me know how it works for you.