NCWSA Job Offer

NCWSA has posted a search for a new webmaster. They are currently accepting applications and will vote at the Winter Conference Meeting on January 25, 2008. All applications must be turned in prior to January 11, 2008 for consideration.

Nationals Success

What has Collegiate Nationals become? No reckless RV’s taking out parking garages, no thowing the small kids through hotel walls, no setting up the wakeskate winch in the hotel lap pool? Well I guess if thats what it takes to avoid $5000 in hotel fines and team suspensions so be it. Here’s what NCWSA had to say about this year’s behavior.

National Teams,

I just wanted to thank all of you for your behavior and general respect at Nationals. I have heard no complaints from the hotel or Jay Bennett. THANK YOU. You did a great job as captains/presidents/coaches representing your team and school. The tournament was a huge success and you were a big part of that. The NCWSA hopes you enjoyed the event. Congratulations to all the skiers as well! Its an honor to just be there and another to ski as well as you all did under challenging conditions at times.

At this time I would like to offer up any advice you may have on the event so the NCWSA can make it just that much better. Over the next few months our committees will be working on changes and our board will be meeting Jan 25th for our annual National board meeting. Now is the time for your suggestions and ideas. You can send them to me, you can send them to your regional chairpersons, or directly to the committees.

Thank you and thank you for another successfull season.

Jeff Surdej
NCWSA Chairman

FSC hires new coach

The search ended today as Roger Skalko signed on as the new head coach of Florida Southern College. His first day of work starts Monday, July 2, 2007.

Western Region “All-Star Qualifiers”

Who is going to make the cut next weekend at the All-Star Qualifiers in Bakersfield, CA? The alternates in each event are one score away from an All-Stars appearance at what is hyped to be the greatest Collegiate All-Stars ever!

Opening Day

Opening Day kicks off tomorrow morning with the Western Region “Spring Opener” at Bel Aqua Lake #1 hosted by UC Davis. Don’t miss the action right here on waterski university blog.

CalPoly continues publicity streak

Cal Poly (SLO) was a close contender in the Western Region and not much more than a name on a national consciousness. That was until they recieved a phone call asking them to attend the 2006 Collegiate Nationals. They had placed sixth at Western Regionals, yet again missing the Nationals five team cut off. But a twist of fate and lack of nation wide participation gave the Mustangs a second chance. There was the first ever mock nationals presented by fantasywaterski.com which used Regionals scores to predict CalPoly the Division II National Champions. All of a sudden people knew who they were.

The fantasy was far from reality however, as rival San Diego State brought a full squad to claim the DII Championship and Cal Poly finished a distant fifth place. CalPoly enjoyed themselves so much that they earned the Spirit Award. Shortly after the teams success, captian Amanda Wilson convinced the NCWSA that she was the most valuable skier in the nation. With plans to move to USA Waterski headquaters in Florida, she was elected the Secretary of the NCWSA. It’s no surprise that they are featured in the March issue of Waterski Magazine.

The newest “Waterski” magazine, not to be mistaken for the “Water Skier” magazine, features a two page spread on the 2006 achievements of the Cal Poly (SLO) waterski team. You can illegally view the entire article here curtisy of iplaywaterski.com

New Chairman’s Inaugural Address

Surdej; new man, vauge plan full article
New Chairman of the National Collegiate Waterski Association reveals little more than enthusiam in his Inaugural Address; “there isn’t anything better than collegiate waterskiing.”

Inaugural Address view
Words of Jeff Surdej to members of the National Collegiate Waterski Association

No split, regionals sneak peak for all

As the Western Region expands each year, the necessity for split tournaments has caused the Aztecs to split their annual Imperial Lakes tournament in 2005 and 2006. The split calls for the northern teams to attend a tournament in the Northwest Conference while the southern teams attend a tournament in the Pacific Conference. With two scheduled split tournaments this spring the Aztecs are not one of them. Not only does this favor the Aztecs but any AWSA west collegiate skiers. Imperial Lakes is the site for the 2007 Western Regionals in July. Collegiate skiers who ski outside of college will get the only chance this year to ski in a tournament setting at Imperial before the Regional tournament. For more information and details on AWSA Western Regionals visit the brand new Imperial Lakes website. 

Western Region Sets Record Dates

At the annual winter conference in Las Vegas, the Western Region executive board as well as two captains from each team met to discuss the changes of NCWSA, brain-storm new ideas and place tournament bids for 2007. The bids are in and the schedule is set. This year will probably be the busiest season of skiing the western region has ever seen with seven regular season tournaments and one all-stars tournament slatted for the short spring. The regualr season will start March 31st with the annual Spring Opener hosted by UCD and wrap up on May 6, with the most individually competitive tournament of the year; the All-Star Qualifier hosted once again on Cinco De Mayo in Bakersfield, CA.

The NCWSA All-Stars is moving back to the western region this year. The last All-Stars hosted in the west were in 2004 at Sky Lake hosted by Chico State. In 2007, the event will take place at the evergreen Borderline Lake in northern Washington. The site is about 15 minutes from the Canadian border and is the home to the Goodman Family.

View Full Schedule
View Meeting Minutes coming soon

Oregon Signs New Coach

The University of Oregon, a second year program in the Western Region, has just signed up SDSU alumni Chris Clark as their new head coach. Clark skied 4 years in San Diego, helping lead San Diego State to the NCWSA Nationals the last 4 years and the Division 2 Title last Fall in Sacramento. Clark was also a member of multiple WCWSA All Star Teams. The Ducks program will benefit from Chris’ experience and also help expand the NCWSA’s growth in the Pacific Northwest.