The Governor of California is trying to eliminate the Department of Boating and Waterways even though the legislature rejected the proposal earlier in the spring. This threat is considered to be the most serious yet and most likely to be successful.
The proposal for elimination goes to the State Senate Subcommittee #2 on May 7 so time is SHORT. The Subcommittee has only three members:
Read more: California to eliminate the Department of Boating & Waterways
Pro Slalom Events, LLC’s goal is to bring water skiing back to the national spotlight giving our spectacular athletes a stage to perform on. Founded by Dana Reed, Pro Slalom Events, recreated the Pro Water Ski Tour for the 2008 season which became an immediate success. In 2009 Pro Slalom Events will continue its 2008 momentum supporting events in North Carolina and Michigan. Through its passion and enthusiasm for water skiing Pro Slalom Events will continue to bring the amazing talent of these athletes to fans across the country and around the world for many years to come.
Enter the 2009 BallOfSpray Spring Photo Contest for a chance to a Video Coaching Session.
Submit your best water ski related photo before May 31st. The best photo will be chosen by BallOfSpray readers.
Send your photos to
Last week's Executive Director's Report included a poster with Uncle Sam admonishing you to join USA Water Ski. It was meant to stimulate you to join because joining USA Water Ski is patriotic. In a recent issue of Time, there was an article discussing the psychology of getting people to do something specific.
The examples of getting people to do specific things included saving more money, spending resources more responsibly, and recognizing that we cannot return to our old ways of spending so lavishly for today without regard to what tomorrow will bring.
The aspect of the article that caught the eye of USA Water Ski Executive Director Steve Locke dealt with the tendency of people having a "herd mentality." In other words, people generally are followers…it's easier that way…and following people who are famous, respected, handsome, beautiful, rich, intelligent, and successful seems to be a common practice no matter what you do. So, taking a hint from the herd mentality approach, we will be featuring a new poster each week on the right side of the home page of www.USAWATERSKI.org of one of the prominent people of water sports. We will jump week-to-week from sport discipline-to-sport discipline and will use these folks to hopefully attract the poster boy's/girl's admirers. Stay tuned.
http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/Join.htmlZACHARY, LA.- On June 6, The LA Night Jam will be making a return to the Baton Rouge area. This event can be described as an extreme sports competition meets family festival. Set under a stadium lit lake, local vendors, musicians, athletes and fans gather for the most unique night out of the summer. The best waterski jumpers in the world will qualify for their chance to compete in the LA Night Jam finals held under the lights.
Current women’s slalom co-world record holder Karina Nowlan took some time from her globe trotting schedule to answer a few questions for BallOfSpray.
Horton: I think that most hard core slalom skiers have now heard the name Karina Nowlan but don’t know where you came from and how you came up in skiing. Where did you grow up and how did you get involved in skiing?
Karina: OZ ski ! A local prestigious tournament that was held 10 min from my house. I used to go down to the river to check out the big walls. I loved it! We skied casually on that same river - The Williams River. My dad met Lesley Puxty in the gym. They got talking about the local club and tournaments etc and the next thing you know, I am competing in my first tournament!
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