juniors
Junior Skiers and Parents
Congratulations to the 24 junior skiers who made this years Best of the
West Team!
We are excited to get to spend a couple of days with you at camp this summer & watch
you reach new goals in water-skiing!
The Western Region has an amazing Junior program & our Junior participation
in Regionals are proof of this success!
Stay tuned for Regional updates in July.
Western Region Juniors ROCK!
Lisa Wilson and I are happy to have new support and help with the junior program this year. Thanks to Barry Young, EVP who appointed a new Junior Developmemt Committee last summer which includes; Randy Hocking-CO, Steve Garcia-CA, and Greg Tate-WA. The new committee has selected the team members based on a different format than was used in the past. The new process is explained below and the attachment includes a spread sheet showing how the calculations were determined.
Camp dates are set for Monday-Tuesday, June 22-23, 2009. We are fortunate
to have 3 awesome coaches coming out this year.
Northern California, Bell Acqua, hosted by Lisa Wilson. Scott Ellis, Coach
Southern California, Wet Set hosted by Charlene Brown. Michael McCormick,
Coach
Colorado, Laku Landing, hosted by Randy Hocking. Brandi Hunt, Coach
All team members will recieve a follow-up email with specific details regarding
each camp including arrival-departure times, medical release forms and what
to bring. As in the past, skiers needing to fly in to attend camp will receive
a $125 travel stipend. Anyone unable to attend this year, please do contact
us no later than May 15th.
Happy Skiing!
Charlene
The Western Region Junior Development Committee would like to introduce
the expanded 2009 Best of the West Team.
Members include:
Lang, Erika Bachmeier, Mackenzie
Haw, Makayla Brooks, Courtney
Norton, Hughston DeVito, Christian
Brooks, Steven Pingatore, Genna
Morris, Jaye Wilson, Amanda
Garcia, Taylor Bachmeier, Alex
Lang, Nicholas Nason, Ryan
Hinkle, Ryan Hocking, Karah
Horton, Ellie Humphreys, Scott
Morris, Robert Jelden, Karli
Young, Morgan Yager, Tyler
Stevenson, Michael Focht, Matthew
Alternates:
1. Jelden, Kaelie 5. Beardsley, Nicole
2. Horton, Z Taylor 6. Leiphardt, Madelon
3. Adney, Shelby 7. Fitzpatrick, Ryan
4. Wilson, Brandon 8. Worthington-Sheehy, Jenee
The Team members will be invited to one of three 2-day training camps during the month of June. Camps are being held at Wet Set in Southern CA, Bell Acqua in Northern CA, and Laku Landing in Colorado. Details will be sent to Team members later this week.
The Western Region Junior Development Committee gained additional members, added a third training camp, increased the Best of the West Team size to 24 and has also modified the Team selection process.
The purpose of the increased size of the Western Region Junior Development Committee, as established by Barry Young, our EVP was to take a fresh look at the Goals and Objectives of the Program, review and document the Team Selection Process, as well as add Region wide representation to the committee. The intent is to determine if we can take this successful program and push the bar even higher than it currently is.
Committee members are Steve Garcia - Facilitator, Greg Tate - Pacific NW, Randy Hocking - Colorado, and Lisa Wilson - Northern California.
The Committee has established the following criteria for selecting the Best
of the West Team as well as the time frame for subsequent year selection:
" Use the standings list as of January 1 each year and select the scores
from the last 12 months.
" Select top 10 placements in B2, B3, G2 and G3 and assign a value of
10 to 1st place, 9 for 2nd, etc. and total the points earned by skier. Rather
than basing the selection solely on overall scores, this method will allow
very top singe-event and two-event skiers an opportunity to make the team.
" The Best of the West Team will consist of the skiers with the top
24 total scores.
" Schedule 3 camps; one in Southern CA, one in Northern CA and one in
a location outside of CA that will minimize travel for non-CA Team members.
" Invite the top 24 members on the BOW Team to attend a clinic near
their home. Scheduling conflicts may allow a skier to ski at one of the other
camps.
" Alternate team members may be invited to fill open spots in the camps
which are normally scheduled to handle 8. (Actual number depends on the site,
coaching, number of events per skier, etc.). The alternates will be chosen
from the team ranking list. Ties will be broken first with highest single
score, then top two scores, then highest NOPS.
" The team will be selected by January 15 so it can be published in
the Regional Guide.
" Camps will be determined and published by the same date.
" Original team members will be invited and requested to RSVP by April
1 so alternates can be selected to fill any empty spots in the camps.
Goals and Objectives of the Program:
" Develop the pool of candidates for the Western Region All Star Team
" Build the confidence needed to successfully compete in the sport
" Build Camaraderie and Team Concept
" Provide Recognition for Team Members
" Provide high level coaching that may not otherwise be available to
more kids
" Expand the geographic reach of the kids on the team
" Expand the charitable funding for the program
About Junior Development
The American Water Ski Association’s Junior Development Program is a nationwide program for water ski athletes of all levels under the age of 17. The goals of the program are to attract new junior skiers, promote junior skiers and provide junior skiers with opportunities for assistance in improving their skiing skills. These goals are accomplished through various clinics and activities. Some clinics are for the beginner skier who wants to become a competitive skier, while other clinics are designed for the skiers who want to perfect their skiing expertise to reach a higher level of competitive skiing. The program also provides awards to junior skiers for their participation, as well as news articles in The Water Skier, which promotes junior skiers’ accomplishments.
The Junior Development Program has different teams for the many levels of skiing. Each of the five regions supports a team and from these teams, an All-Star Team is chosen each year for competition at the Water Ski National Championships. There also is a National Junior Development Team, which is chosen through the skier’s placement on the National Rankings List, in addition to a National Team, which is chosen each year by the International Activities Committee.
Contact Charlene Brown if you would like to be added to the Junior Development Mailing list.
Lisa Wilson (925) 525-1683
Western Region Junior Development Committee
Charlene Brown (925) 256-6663
Chair, National Junior Development Committee