The Water Ski Ambassador Project / Where2WaterSki.com - (Phase 1)

[Horton]

This project had a false start last year – this is a reboot.

 

Phase 1 of the project is identifying Ambassadors, educating them and getting their info on Where2WaterSki.com.

 

What is the purpose?

• The purpose is to connect people who are curious about skiing but not involved with skiers who are involved and passionate about the sport.

Who can be an Ambassador?

• Anyone with passion for water skiing and access to a ski site and boat.

What is the job of an Ambassador?

• Ambassadors are asked to simply introduce new skiers to the sport. When possible they will take new skiers out to a ski site and show them what is available. At the minimum it is a very light commitment. Every Ambassador will do the job a little differently.

How to get involved

• Go to http://where2waterski.com/

• Click “Add Listing” from the top menu

• Create an account or log in if you already have an account

• You will be automatically directed to the Add Listing page – fill out this form. In the section titled “Place description” write your invitation for new skiers to contact you. Fill out the rest of the form.

• FYI your address will NOT be public and if you need to be additionally anonymous that will be handled in a later step. Contact me personally if this is a concern horton@BallOfSpray.com

• Add a photo!

• Last step - review your listing and send yourself a test email by clicking on the "Send Enquiry" link

When I create a listing should I choose to be listed as an Ambassador and a Club?

• Most listings should be “Ambassador”. It is the Ambassador’s role to tell the new skiers about the local clubs, shops, and opportunities.

• If you are the contact person for a club that is accepting new members then you should choose “Club” when you create your listing.

• All types of listings are really just "points of contact" so perhaps there is no wrong answer.

Technical issues with the site?

• email Horton@BallOfSpray.com

 

[Horton]

Notes:

• Phase 2 will involve raising money for Google and or Facebook advertising for Where2WaterSki.com

• This effort has been bubbling under the surface for a few months. At each new step it is announced to a slightly larger audience. At this time only members of BallOfSpray can see this post. The idea is to build out the directory before showing the project to the rest of the skiing community.

• Where2WaterSki.com has been beta tested and functions but should this effort be successful it will be rebuilt by professional programmers

• This effort is starting with the BallOfSpray readership and run by me (Horton) but this is not part of BallOfSpray and will eventually it should be come a non-profit.

• Long term – Big Picture - the idea is to build out the directory and then use web advertising to reach skiers who are not currently involved in skiing.

   

   

[Horton]

Want to help in other ways?

• It will not be too long before we will be looking for a few dollars to pay some bills. This effort is not yet a real "non-profit" but I promise none of the money will go in my pocket. Go Fund me will be launched when the time is right.

• At some point we will need some wordpress programing and some graphic art.

• The roll out has been pretty slow because I have a lot of other things going on. I could use an intern or collaborator.

 

[ALPJr]

Awesome idea @Horton and all others involved!

[markchilcutt]

love this idea!

[vtmecheng]

This is not only awesome but a must for the sport. I was lucky enough to find guys that were willing to give me my first pull through a course. Not only did it hook me but I made good friends that I never would have met. Thank you @Horton for doing something to promote the sport instead of just talking about the problem. This may not be the end all solution but it sure is a big part of it, at least in my opinion.

[DW]

What is the definition of 'ski site'? Is it a location with a course or simply a body of water where someone can be pulled by a ski boat and learn how to ski (which hopefully leads to the course).

 

Great project.

[Horton]

@dw if you will take new skiers to a ski site of some sort and show them around that is good enough. Even if you are just a point of contact and direct new skiers to a ski site that is good enough. We are just trying to convert people who are curious about skiing into skiers. Ambassadors are simply a point of contact.

 

I would prefer that most Ambassadors have a slalom course but that is likely setting the bar too high.

[dnewton]

Awesome stuff. As a 2 year old course skier trying to find ways to connect to other skiers recently, this is extremely encouraging to see. I have talked to 3 ski clubs just today about joining but they are all full. Which I completely understand and it is more than fair, but I just want some buddies that are all pushing each other to ski harder than the next. I almost didn’t join a club because I thought I sucked too much and no one would want to waste good water on someone new to the sport. Thank you for the cause.

[KRoundy]

@Horton So, a "ski site" could be a public lake? I LOVE the fact that you are including clubs in this. I could see my own local ski club joining in on this effort.

[Horton]

@KRoundy yes yes

[Horton]

This is now visible to all BallOfSpray visitors

[jjackkrash]

I am skiing at noon today. Newcomers welcome!

[shansen345]

Awesome! Thanks!

[skiinxs]

Great idea, I'm in, added Lake of Dreams.

[skiinxs]

..,..and as a great tie-in to AWSA, I will be requiring a one-day event membership for insurance purposes.

[Horton]

@skiinxs heck nobody would blame you if you required them to join for a year. I'm pretty sure @JeffSurdej would be happy if you did

[LeonL]

I'm in as a club listing. "Stillwater Lake Eminence KY"

[KRoundy]

Added in the data for the Lake Stevens Water Ski Club. Appears to all work well.

[bwreinke]

I've been running a sort of grassroots style tournament league for three years now. The primary goal is to grow the sport (and maybe change things up a bit). Of course existing tournament skiers are welcome to enter. I run 4 tournaments a season, on a weekday, and at lakes that do not currently host USA Waterski Sanctioned tournaments. This pulls members and their friends from those clubs into something competitive and fun, plus they use me or other AWSA skiers at the tournament as a contact or bridge to our side. I've even had some people bring friends that have never skied before. I have developed a fairly decent handicap scoring system and pay the top two finishers. We have a blast. The top two finishers from each tournament compete in a bracketed final held in the evening following the last AWSA event of the season at Laku (Home of this years Regionals). This allows the non-tournament skier to get to know the tournament skier. Ultimately it bridges that gap and creates an introduction. Clubs have seen an increase in membership and tournament numbers have risen. The first season I had 70 entries between the four tournaments. Last season I had 89. A typical Colorado AWSA tournament sees 35-50 skiers. Last season Laku hosted a tournament with 85 skiers. I hadn't seen those numbers since I was in Boys 2 (25 years ago). It's also given us AWSA people something else to do during the week HA.

 

Find Waterski Colorado on Facebook and Instagram to see some of what's been going on. I'll sign up on your site as well @horton

[JeffSurdej]

@bwreinke fantastic stuff. We need more of these across the nation

[Marco]

Bryan's been busting his butt for the last 4 years being involved with expanding the sport. In addition to pulling the weekday grassroots tournaments he describes above, he has hauled his Tommy's promo Malibu 300 miles over the Continental Divide to pull our tournaments in Montrose. Thanks Bryan!

[braindamage]

I am on a public lake and have no access to a course, but I signed up as an ambassador!!!

[Horton]

@braindamage thank you.

[davehr40]

Signed up both club (Lake Spokane Waterski Club) and as an ambassador

 

[ShererSkier]

This is cool! Defiantly signing up when I get on a desktop.

[pregom]

I signed up as an ambassador and a ski club.

[jjackkrash]

Is the where2waterski site up and running for guests?

[Horton]

@jjackkrash not yet. We are still building out the the ambassador directory.

[jjackkrash]

I just got an inquiry for skiing the course this summer. So it must be live for guests now.

[Horton]

@jjackkrash I am not advertising yet but I am STOKED you got a contact!

[jjackkrash]

Yes. Its a college skier coming home for the summer. I'm happy to pull him, and he sounded excited about being able to ski the course when he's not at school. The contact came from the where2waterski site and not ballofspray, so the site's working.

[Horton]

I just retweaked the site so I think it is really really HTTPS compliant and I am testing some Google AdWords. It is time to get this thing rolling people.

[Tkl127]

www.ski3swivel.com added

Northern Wisconsin

Come ski with us!

[pmski]

Horton I love your enthusiasm I believe in giving back! , quick story for you, I live on a private lake with a ski course, as with most of us I feel I was given the opportunity to ski at a young age, its an opportunity that I don't think most kids get today, so three years ago I decided to do something about it, I sent an email to everyone on the lake telling them for one month every Saturday from 10am to 1pm we would give free ski lessons all they have to do is show up we provide the ski's jackets boat and gas, I want to tell you personally from my neighbor who helps me, my wife and I, this event has been life changing, we've had as many as 30 new skiers on one Saturday and to see the smile on there face after they've skied around the lake is priceless, they bring there friends, neighbors and relatives, I think I enjoy it more than them, not only that with educating them they are respecting my sport, If someone has a party and there are jet skis or a wake board boat on the lake the residents will tell them to stay away from the ski Couse, and they know when I'm skiing the residents respect that and don't make waves, its like I broke the barrier and now they want to try the ski course!