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Best Performance

Slalom: 1-1/4 @ 43 off

Records

• Men's World Slalom Record Holder (1-1/4 @ 43 off)
• Collegiate Slalom Record Holder (2 @ 41 off)
• Florida State Boys 3 & Open Men Slalom Record Holder (1/2 @ 39-1/2)
• Southern Region Boys 2 Slalom Record Holder (4 @ 35 off)
• National Boys 2 Slalom Record Holder (1-1/2 @ 38 off)
• Southern Region Boys 3 Slalom Record Holder (1/2 @ 41 off)
• National Boys 3 Slalom Record Holder (2 @ 41 off)
• Junior World Slalom Record Holder (3 @ 39 off)

CHRIS PARRISH INTERVIEW

Chris, Congratulations on a great season!
Q Chris, when you ski, you have a style that is distinctly your own. Where did this style come from?
A My Dad taught me it all. We stuck with the basics and went from there. I think my Dad watched old videos of Bob LaPoint and Wade Cox and used other ideas from the space shuttle.
Q How much influence did your father have on your style and technique?
A Everything, it all came from him, he is the man. Now my focus is still on the basics, equipment and my mental game.
Q Why do you keep your free hand close to your outside hip when you reach?
A For a couple reasons. If my free hand is still, I have better balance on the ski. If my hand stays on my hip at the finish of the turn, I have better rotation out of the turn.
Q We have all heard the term, "BACK ARM PRESSURE". In your own words, please explain what this means to you.
A I think back arm pressure helps you keep your direction away from the boat. It helps you carry out wider and gives a better arc on the ball.
Q When you are skiing, what are you concentrating on?
A Mostly getting a good gate and working on my energy level in the turns. At the shorter line lengths, I sometimes want to push in the turns.
Q How important is getting a good gate?
A It's very critical for me. At 39 and 41, I pretty much know how far I am going to go down the course after I turn in for my gates.
Q How do you get a good gate consistently?
A Having the right ski, practicing over and over and having the right diet.
Q How do you cope with short set-ups?
A It's hard for me too. I have to get in a certain position before I pull out. Sometimes I can adjust too it. It helped Jamie at the Indy pro tour this year because he pulls out so much later than other skiers do.
Q How do you cope with whip set-ups?
A I don't pull out as hard.
Q How to you cope with inside set-ups?
A I tend to pull out a little bit longer and harder than a normal set up. The boat is still getting up to speed and you are turning from an inside edge to an outside edge.
Q When you ski 41 off, you don't seem to have any problems getting the ski around the buoys. Does 41 feel narrow to you?
A No, it doesn't as long as I am wide for my gate and I hold on long into the turns, I am plenty wide.
Q To run 41 consistently, how much would you say is mental, physical and equipment?
A To run 41 consistently I would say you have to be mentally strong and confident, a clear personal life in touch with God, you must be very lean and strong, not bulky, your equipment must be 100% and you must have total trust in your ski. Q What do you need to do or change in order to run 41 off consistently?
A Have the same things I said earlier but also having a really good gate all the time and having 1 or 2 really good back up skis in the shed. Keeping the ski down on 1,3,5, hips up, not pushing in the turn and getting a good reach.
Q When you are at 43 off, how hard is it to get a good gate?
A I don't try it enough to know.
Q What do you feel the most important things are for anyone wishing to improve their skiing?
A Always go back to the basics. Be in tune with your equipment and find a really good coach you trust and connect with.
Q What do you feel is the physical limit or line length for making the slalom course?A It all depends on how tall you are. For me it would be 45 off.
Q At this maximum limit, where would the buoy have to be? In the beginning, middle or end of the turn and why?
A In the middle of the turn because that would be my widest point in the turn. In the beginning I am too narrow because I am still going out. At the end I am coming back in and that would be to narrow.
Q If God came to earth and skied the course, what line length do you think God could make and why?
A God would make any line length he wanted to because he is the O mighty powerful. Q What changes would you like to see implemented in Pro-Skiing? Amature skiing?
A We need more people getting involved in the sport. I think slalom skiing is a very under-rated sport because it doesn't get the correct marketing. We need to get the amateur skiers involved with the pro skiers to keep them inspired so they tell there friends and so on.
Q Who do you feel makes the best skis and why?
A O'Brien, because of the tunnel concave bottom, the way the ski is wrapped and the length of the bevels. Andy Mapple who has a lot of knowledge with equipment helps design a great ski for O'Brien.
Q Who do you feel makes the best boats and why?
A Malibu! It tracks great, there's no wake, they make a slalom boat into a wakeboard boat in about two minutes by dropping the wedge down and they're also are great marketers.
Q Where is the absolute nicest place that you ever skied, the place that immediately comes to mind, the place that you can't wait to go back to?
A Vancouver, I haven't missed 39 there in three years and won my first pro tour there this year.
Q What do you think about Water-Skiing being excluded from the Olympics?
A I think it is sad to see. There is no reason that it's not in the Olympics, hopefully China in 2008.
Q There are many of us who would like to see more money in our sport. What suggestions do you have to make this happen?
A The problem is the marketing in our sport. We have had the same marketers forever and it has gotten worse every year. Maybe if we had a sports agent we would get somewhere. Mark O'Mera said our sport is underrated and is not marketed right.
Q Who were some of your most inspiring people so far in your life and why?
A I have great parents. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. My girlfriend. She is the love of my live. She has brought me close to God. She is my best friend. I love her dearly. Andy Mapple has been a true inspiration in the sport on and off the water. He has pushed me very hard and by doing that he has made me a better skier.
Q How has your world changed since September 11, 2001?
A It has been scary to fly since the tragedy. It has effected the economy tremendously. I wouldn't be surprised if there were less pro tour stops next year because of this.
Q If there is anything else you would like to leave our readers with, what would that be?
A I just want to thank God for blessing me to be able to have the ability to go out and compete with the best skiers in the world and for putting me in the right direction. I want to thank my parents, my girlfriend and my wonderful sponsors O'Brien, Neilpryde, Malibu Boats, Straight line andPerformance Ski and Surf.

Thank you Chris!