TWIN LAKES - RECORD TOURNAMENT #1
THE SITE WAS READY
The Club had worked for weeks building
docks, and tweaking the jump, trick and two slalom courses into
record tolerances. Shoreline modifications had been done and
boat paths set to eliminate bounceback and provide ideal
conditions. Technical Controler Bob Corson set up his video jump
meter - this would be the first time most of the officials and
skiers would see this innovative technology.
THE OFFICIALS WERE READY
Senior officials from all over
the East had arrived to help with the first record capability
tournament held on the only two lake tournament site in the
Eastern Region.
THE SKIERS WERE READY The pick and choose format allowed
increased numbers of skiers to enter and a top field of
competitors was in place.
ENTER THE HURRICAINE Its course was south of
Twin Lakes so there was little rain, but by Friday night the wind was
coming in strong gusts. The tents for the officials and
concessions stand were repeatedly blown down. There were
whitecaps on the jump lake, and the forecast for Saturday was
more of the same.
At 8:00 Saturday the wind was not as bad. A trailer was
brought in to protect the video jump equipment. 3 foot sections
of half inch rebar were used to anchor the tents. The slalom
lake has excellent wind protection and the water remained
reasonably flat, although the skiers could feel the strong head
and tail wind working on their bodies as they skied.
By 9:00 the wind on the jump lake was blowing 35 - 45 mph
and gusting so hard that the jump event was postponed and
eventually canceled for the day. By 6:00 the first and second
rounds of slalom and trick were completed. The forecast for
Sunday was slightly better and it was decided to stop in the hope
of better conditions on Sunday. Chief Judge Rick Norford
went back to his hotel room and returned Sunday morning with new
officials work assignments for the revised schedule with both lakes
in use simultaneously.
Sunday dawned with half as much wind as Saturday - still
still a strong tailwind, but skiable. The jump lake ran smoothly
thanks in large part to the video jump meter which eliminated the
otherwise inevitable wide triangle rerides. Slalom conditions
also improved. By 3:00 Sunday, all three rounds of jump had been
completed and the last trick skier was on the water.
The Twin Lakes Club had hoped for better conditions and some excellent
performances. In retrospect, however, the fact that the tournament was
able to proceed at all in the face of such high winds on Saturday, and then to
recover and complete all rounds after the loss of a full day on the
jump lake, earned the site a much deserved EP.
