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Krista Rogers - Out Side The Ball Line
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D3 ENZO Tournament Ski Glove
"Finally a glove that delivers durability and a competition fit. The D3 ENZO is just what the hard-core, dedicated tournament skier is looking for. The ENZO is anatomically designed to produce a very snug and comfortable fit. No unnecessary bells and whistles just a great fitting glove that is built to last. Using an aggressive Kevlar palm design the ENZO is designed for skiers who are serious about their time on the water."
Available in XXS, XS, S, M, L and XL sizes
$55
www.d3skis.com
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GTF
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 Hometown: Mont de Marsan, France
Sponsors: Fusch Labo, Camaro wetsuit, FFSN
Current Location: Orlando, Florida
I am currently working for AM Skis, I am doing their Marketing. AM Skis is a new independent company formed by Andy Mapple and Adam Cord in Orlando FL. A factory and headquarters based in Orlando to test and develop high end skis. AM Skis will launch to the public in late April this year, with new designs, technology and full testing facilities. Stay tuned for our new website coming soon. www.amskis.com
How did you get into skiing? My parents had a boat on a public lake, they were skiing for fun. At the age of 3 my mum put me on her skis but I started to be too heavy so I had to go ski on my own. It is how I started…
When did you decide to commit yourself to the skiing and take it seriously? I think I always took it seriously since my first tournament. I was 7 on my first one, I was so stressed that my body was covered of eczema… My dad did not want me to it because of that but I was crying so he let me ski and I did well.
Do you consider yourself to be an adrenaline junkie? I think that all athletes are adrenaline junkies that why it is so hard to quit…
Can you give us a rundown of your average day during the season? I am doing generally 3 sets a day. I like to ski mornings. It makes you feel good. I ski once or twice, go to work and ski again in the afternoon.
What’s your favorite lake to fly at? Fluid ski and sport. 2 ramps we can jump every single day!!!
How do you prepare for a big competition? Pretty simple. I train like every day, eat, watch a movie and go to bed…
Do you still get nervous before a big tournament? Of course, I think that how you get your motivation to go out there…
 What is the atmosphere like behind the scenes? What is your relationship with the other GTF? I think we have a lot of fun… GTF made us more united. I really feel that I am part of a group and love that idea. We are trying to build something together and for once it’s not only on the skis!
Any funny or most embarrassing stories you care to share? Heuu ok after each shower I dry myself with a hair dryer instead of a towel like everybody else… I know I am weird.
Do you think the jump suit will ever evolve to be figure flattering? I have a Camaro wetsuit. I think this suit is perfect to jump because the suit is really close from your body. However GTF has some thoughts about doing their own jump suits… You better watch out!
What have been your biggest career setbacks? I did not really have setbacks in my career. I had some up and down like everybody I guess but I never thought about quitting. I don’t think it’s possible for me to stop skiing I would be too depressed and bored…
In your opinion what have your greatest achievements been so far? I would say my 2 bronze overall medals at the worlds in 2009 Canada and 2011 Russia.
Who or what are your inspirations? My parents. They gave me everything they could for me to be happy. They are always there for me. They are the best in the bad moments…
What affect does your career as a pro women jumper have on your personal life? My career is my life I am hanging out with pro waterskiers all the times so I guess it does not affect my personal life. The only think that I miss is my family and friends from home. Because of that sport, I had to come in the US to train and become better so I am missing a lot of things at home that my only regrets.
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Only a year earlier flood waters ripped through Victoria causing mass destruction throughout the state and with that, ruining the Bridgewater water ski club site. Fast forward to now and against all odds the Bridgewater club is back hosting the Australian Masters.
A new slalom course was put in and an all new jump ramp build by Gav McMillan, Waldie Priekulis, Rowdy Kitchen, the Martins, the Christies, the Collicoats, TC and Baldwin Boats. Thanks to them Bridgewater now has arguably the best jump ramp in Australia, and this was backed up with many people beating their PBs last weekend.
It was a hot weekend and with the sun out all weekend it made it even more inviting for skiing. The first round of jump started on the Friday, there may have been a few sore heads from Australia Day celebrations the previous day. Local skier Anthea Collicoat jumped a PB of 27.5m (90ft), not soon after older sister Olivia (who wasn’t going to let her sister beat her) took a late one and went 29.9m (98ft). Unfortunately Olivia pushed the envelope a bit too far going even later on her last jump sending her out the back. Moments earlier Kayla Harward passed up a little bit too late sending her over the jump without the handle and into the reeds just metres from the bank.
German Chiara Bonnemann cleaned up in the under 17s with an overall score of (1@12, 4880, 35.5m). The biggest jump of the tournament went to open mens jumper Gav McMillan, on the last jump of the tournament he kicked a 52.8m(173ft) everyone at the ‘Late Cut Bar’ was cheering him on for every metre of that one. The Adams family took home three golds. Willy winning under 21 men with a best score of 2@12m, dad John winning over 45 slalom with a best score of 2@11.25m and Nick winning open mens with 4@11.25m. Josh Briant tricked a PB of 9990, although he wasn’t too happy after saying it’s the most frustrating PB ever (being just 10 points from a 5 figure run)
Full results can been found on the Tournament skiing section of www.awwf.com.au
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Ryan Dodd
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This off-season in between our gym sessions and travel, Breanne and I decided to explore a bit of what Canada has to offer while we were in Vancouver for Christmas. Normally we are so caught up in our crazy schedules that we don’t take the time to enjoy the amazing places that we get to travel to.
We started off our adventure with a trip up to Whistler BC with Breanne, her brother Bryce and his girlfriend Alicia. His Jacked up Ford F350’s viewing platform made the wild mountain drive an interesting one.
Upon arrival to Whistler (site of the Olympic Games ) we checked into the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and proceeded to chill and enjoy ourselves. We spent a few days ripping the slopes, checking out the Olympic slide sport venues and relaxing in the outdoor hot pools.
Check out Breanne and her stoke towards the Olympics. I had to talk her out of being a Bobsled girl.
I think I have the legs to be a pusher…but seriously, Waterskiing is way cooler!
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On January 19th 2011, Waterski Coach Ray Stokes received the shocking news that he had melanoma cancer tumors and that they would be terminal. Given three weeks to ninety days to survive at that time, his brave battle against this terrible disease began. Ray pushed those three weeks out to eleven months because of both his strength of character and the enormous amount of loving support he received from friends around the world. Their response was phenomenal.
Ray was born to a waterski family fifty years ago in Melbourne. With two brothers and a sister, his father Noel was a competition judge and was an important part of Australia’s spectacular annual Moomba Masters. It was natural for Ray to want to be involved. Following an upholstery apprenticeship in 1980, he headed for Mike Suyderhoud’s Waterski School in California to try his luck. He quickly became a 50m jumper and was fascinated with the various techniques and product designs in the sport. From there he moved to Pat Kennelly’s ski school in Sacramento in 1987. By default it resulted in one of his links to Europe. Carl Cautley from Ireland’s Golden Falls Waterski Club had just arrived at Kennelly’s on a job organized by Des Burke-Kennedy and when he returned to Golden Falls, he never stopped talking about this impressive young guy called Ray! One year later, Ray was invited to coach at Golden Falls and for the following 20 years, this became an annual routine and a Club highlight.
The next milestone for Ray was when he had developed his Waterski coaching techniques and was at the time coaching Emma and Curtis Sheers. They both hit the world headlines with their entirely new Ray Stokes Jump technique. Some thought these techniques were dangerous. How wrong they were. This was followed with his entirely new Stokes Skis design with the now famous cut-away Stokes Tip based on the shape of the leading edge of an aircraft. The fact that he had also taken up Skydiving to relax, just added to his expertise and understanding of aerodynamics. Ray Stokes quickly became an international name to be respected.
He was so much in demand that securing a booking with Ray was the new challenge! The World now recognized his extraordinary talent. He made Waterski history by becoming the Team Coach for Ireland, Denmark, Korea, Australia and England. The Danish team hired Ray as their head coach in the summer of 98 and he lifted the team to world class level. In fact, he coached nearly every top professional Waterskier in the IWWF Rankings over the past decade. Sue Lippelgoes, Bruce & Toni Neville, Brett Thurley, Jim Clunie, June Fladborg, Thomas Asher, Will Asher, Sarah and Ryan Green, Jesper and Klaus Cassoe are just a few of Ray’s list of highly successful Jumpers and Slalom Skiers.
Ray was always being innovative and constantly finding ways to help amateur and professional skiers progress to another level. Rays intuitive knowledge of the sport and its needs got him thinking about the gear  used by skiers and how it could be better. Stokes skis was the brain child of Rays thinking. He wanted the best on the market, emphasising higher quality gear for all facets of waterskiing. He developed new jump skis with the now famous stokes tips, different edges and bevels. He came up with the protective hump for jump suits to protect against upper back injuries. The stokes brand was a way to put all the visionary ideas in Rays head out their for everyone. The products he designed and devloped were carefully thought out with only the best material to be used in each product. Ray never settled and constantly sought the best for Stokesskis just like he did for all the skiers and people he has ever helped through the years.
‘And that was Ray’s secret. He was not just a Waterski Coach. Travelling 36 times around the World, somehow every person he taught regarded him as their own best friend. This was highlighted when in Hospital he opened up a CaringBridge Web page so that friends could leave occasional messages for him. When he finally passed away in December, there were an incredible 30,163 individual messages on his page ! It is hard to imagine how one person could have made such a positive impact on so many people in a relatively short life – but what a testament to a truly unique person.
Ray left behind his two loving sons John and Fred. Everyones support and donations has gone into a trust for them later in their lives. Ray was absolutely amazed at the support from everyone and was relieved knowing his sons would have help and support in their future.
Ray’s memorial gathering in Healesville, just north of Melbourne, on December 8th 2011 on a beautiful warm and sunny day, was not a sad occasion. There were too may good memories by so many real friends who travelled from far and wide to share the moment. The happiest part of his final year was his relationship with Denmark’s June Fladborg and spending quality time with his two boys, John and Fred. June had achieved almost everything with Ray’s Coaching on the water; National Titles and Records, International Titles, World Cup Titles, etc., - up to one year ago. However, she had not succeeded in breaking the elusive World Jump Record. She and her Coach Ray hoped that some day June would finally succeed. As fate would have it, June actually achieved her extraordinary ambition with a distance of 57.1m at Cray Valley in England. Ray was there to share the experience and this made it all the more special. Words cannot express what this meant to both. In his final days, June spent long days and nights in the Hospital with Ray and caringly nursed him through the awful treatments which are part of the Cancer story. The very close bond developed through his Coaching was as strong as ever, right to the end. What June did to ease his journey was truly exceptional. What an extraordinary journey and we were all blessed to have known Australia’s Ray Stokes. May he rest in peace.
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With Team GOODE’s Nick Parsons ripping it up on this month’s cover of WaterSki Magazine — see a sneak peak of the issue here — and the season-starting Moomba Masters a little over a month away, we thought it would be a good time to check in on the world’s No. 5 ranked skier.
With Team GOODE’s Nick Parsons ripping it up on this month’s cover of WaterSki Magazine — see a sneak peak of the issue here — and the season-starting Moomba Masters a little over a month away, we thought it would be a good time to check in on the world’s No. 5 ranked skier.
First, congrats on being on the cover of WATERSKI for the second time in your career. How does it feel?
NP: It feels pretty good. You don’t get too many covers in your life.
What have you been up to this off season?
NP: I’ve been busy with a couple of my hobbies here in Utah. I’ve been doing a lot of skate skiing and I ski in an amateur alpine racing league a couple nights a week in Park City. My father owns a small retail bakery so I’ve been helping him with that too.
When was last time you were on the water?
NP: I went down to Florida for Thanksgiving and stayed and skied couple weeks after that, so it’s been more than a month.
How will you get ready for the upcoming season?
NP: I’ve got Moomba coming up so I’ll be going down to Phoenix and maybe Southern California. Then I’ll head up to Sacramento for some training with Marcus Brown. It’s good to ski against someone. Then we’ll be off to Australia.
With three straight years in the top 5 on the IWWF elite rankings list you’ve established yourself as among the very best skiers in the world. What are you working on that will hopefully help you nail that top spot?
NP: Staying in the top five is tough but getting that extra one or two percent to get into the No. 1 or 2 spots is really tough. To me the difference is the mental aspect of having confidence in your equipment. When you have the right equipment that works for your style, you get confidence from that. I look to the snow skiing world cup too. The top guys aren’t 20 to 25, they’re 30 to 35. They’ve got that experience to know what works best for them.
Is there any one tournament that you’re really focused on this year?
NP: I took second at the Masters in 2010, but other than that I’ve struggled at that tournament and I’ve never gone into it with a lot of confidence. I think I’m learning how to do that now and I really want to do well there. It’s a really cool experience to ski there and it would be an even cooler experience to win it.
Any goals for 2012?
NP: My personal best has been 3 buoys at 41-feet off for at least five years, so this year I’d like to make it over to that four ball.
Thanks Nick.
NP: Sure thing.
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