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INNERVIEWS

Below is an "INNERVIEW" of a 13 year old boy in France.  He was brought to my attention in Roquebrune, at the French Federation site.  He had run 2 @ 10.75 (39 off) the week before at 55 kph (34 mph) in a major competition for the juniors.  His best score this year was 4 @ 10.75 (39 off).  I feel this young man has earned exposure here. 

“THE SACHA DESCUNS INNERVIEW” November 16, 2005, by Sabine Ducroux on behalf of Steve Schnitzer

Sacha, please give us a brief history of who you are and where you come from.  I am 13, I live in the South West of France, close to the mountains.

What year did you first start skiing?  In 1999.

How old were you?  I was 7.

Who were your first coaches?  My father and Vincent Soubiron.

Who coaches you now?  My father, Vincent Soubiron and Boris Laval.

Do you work with a Sports Psychologist?  No 

Do you work with a Personal Trainer?  No

Besides skiing, what are some of your other interests?  I like snow skiing and snowboarding a lot. I also do motocross. My father was ranked sixth in the world.

What is your girlfriend’s name?  I don’t have any at the moment.

Do you snow ski?  Yes, as soon as I don’t go to school in the Winter season, I go snow skiing.

Which do you like more, snow or water skiing?  I prefer water skiing.

To ski at a high level a person has to stay fit. Do you follow any specific nutritional theories? I.e. The Zone, Adkins, South Beach, etc.?  No, I don’t follow any specific diet.

What is your favorite food? Movie? Music?  My favorite food is a rib steak. I watch all kinds of movies and listen to all kinds of music.

What do you do for strength and cardio-vascular fitness?  I don’t do anything special, I just run from time to time.

Where do you live?  I live in Lourdes, South West of France.

Where is the lake you ski at?  With my father, I ski on the Garonne river, and with Vincent Soubiron, I ski at the Seysse lake near Toulouse.

What is your current World Ranking for under 14?  I’m first.

What do you consider to be your finest moment?  The first time I ran 10 meters.

How many sets a day do you ski?  Three or four.

How important is your off the water training?  I just run from time to time.

How many days a week do you ski?  When I go to school, I ski three times a week (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday). During the holdidays, I ski every day.

How many months per year do you ski?  I ski from May to mid-November.

When you are skiing, what are you focusing on?  During training, I focus on the instruction(s) I’ve been given. During competition, I focus on the slalom itself.

What do you feel is the most important thing to do to run 10.75 consistently?  Getting a good gate and keeping the rope tight.

What is it that you do that others don’t that makes you such an extraordinary athlete?   Good technique. I have been taught the right technical basis from the very start.

What type of supplements do you take and why?  I don’t take any supplements.

What have you done for the French WaterSki Federation?  I won the European under 14 slalom title this year, and helped to win the overall team title.

What needs to change to get waterskiing into the Olympics?  I wish to see that happen, but I don’t know what we could do to help.

Who would you say are the up and coming skiers down the road a bit?  Jean-Baptiste Faisy, Boris Laval who are two young Open skiers, Théo Fernandez (13, overall skier), Nancy Chardin (17, jumping), Iris Cambray (12, tricks).

What do you think will be the Men’s Slalom World Record 10 years from now?  Three or four buoys at 9,75.

Who will hold it?  William Asher, Matteo Ianni or Jamie Beauschene. 

Who will be the next person to break the existing record?  Chris Parrish or Jamie Beauchesne.

Who is more important, senior skiers or young skiers and why?  They’re all important. Senior skiers can teach young skiers because of their experience, and young skiers can break records.

What ski do you ride and why?  I ride a Connelly F1, because it’s fast and it turns very well.

What are your fin/wing settings and why?  My fin is all the way back because my current ski is now a bit short for me. The height is standard. My wing is at 7 degrees.

What are your binding settings and why?  They’re standard.

What size and flex ski are you riding and why?   I ride a 66” ski.  Since I am 1.71 meter today, I should ride a 67” next season. 

What bindings do you use and why?  I use the Connelly Vision bindings because they are very tight and accurate.

Do you like stiffer or softer skis and why?  I prefer stiffer skis because they give more acceleration. 

What do you feel are the differences?  Speed, more angle, less loss of speed in the turn.

If your ski could do something better, what would you want it to do?  Nothing.

What do you feel is the shortest line length you personally can run?  I don’t know.

Seventy Five years from now, what will Sacha Descuns be remembered for?  For having been a good skier.

Tell us a short horror story about skiing.  No bad luck so far.

When driving skiers, what are the most important things to assure a great pull?  The most important things are not to help the skier too much and to drive straight. 

Who has been the most influential person to you on your path to slalom perfection?  Jean-Baptiste Faisy, Boris Laval and Jamie Beauchesne.

What influence has your mom and dad had on your skiing?  My dad is involved in my training and we ski together. My mum is less involved, but drives me sometimes.

How many times have you wanted and/or tried to quit skiing?  Never.

What is the hardest thing in skiing?  The beginning of the season, because the body must get used to skiing again.

What style do you ski?  Jamie Beauchesne sytle.

What are the 2 most important things within this style?  Being low on the legs and having the hips towards the back of the slalom.

Who are your sponsors?  I don’t have any. 

Who would you like to thank for helping you to be in the position in life you are now in?  My father.

Thank You Sacha!

Well, my name is Chris Rossi and I'm both a pro skier and coach. I grew up in Central Vermont waterskiing on a public lake and now reside in Orlando, Florida.

What year did you first start skiing?

I first water-skied when I was seven years old. Back then it was purely for fun. My family caught the skiing buzz soon after and by nine years old I skied
my first tournament.

Where did you grow up or spend your impressionable years?

Well, I guess that would be in Vermont. By the age of 13 I was full bore into skiing. My father was doing everything he could do to gain knowledge on the sport through the guru's like you.

When did we first start skiing/communicating together and where?

For a while, our connection was through my father via the phone. I first skied with you when I was 14 at the sand pit you were coaching at. I remember you
asking me, "How many day a week are you riding your bike?" I was puzzled at first because I was not riding a bike at all. You were trying to open my
motivational window to tell me that it was going to take more than just being being a naturally talented skier. I really appreciated it in the years to come.

Who were your first coaches?

I skied at a lot of ski schools, but never found a coach that I communicated with until I started skiing with you. My father is an unbelievable coach and passed on what he could, but he realized that I would need more than he could offer, so we started making trips to ski with Schnitz!

What did they most impress upon you that to this day still bubble to the surface?

You asked me this question, "What happens when you don't change?" and after I flailed on the answer, you answered, "You stay the same!" I expect more out of every aspect of my skiing and I strive to find things that have not even been found yet.

What is one book every athlete has to read?

Well, there has been a few books that have changed my life, but the one book I think skiers should read is, "In Pursuit Of Excellence" by Terry Orlick, PhD.

Do you work with a Sports Psychologist?

That book is my way of dealing with this issue.

Do you work with a Personal Trainer?

No.

What is your educational background?

I studied business at the University of Central Florida.

What degree do you have?

Unfortunately, I left school 2 classes before finishing my degree. I had a window of opportunity open for me to run the Goode Technology Center as head instructor and I took it. I do not regret my decision to leave, but I do look forward to returning to school to finish off my degree.

What will you do after your skiing career ends?

It's going to end? Well, I love to teach skiing. I plan to devote to coaching when the time comes for me to hang up the pro career.

Besides skiing, what are some of your other interests?

I spend the winters snow skiing in Utah. It is the third love of my life. 1st is my fiancée Ellen and my family, second would be waterskiing, and third snow skiing. Other than that, I love to learn. I read a lot on those long plane rides to foreign countries.

Which do you like more, snow or water skiing?

I don't really know how to answer that. Waterskiing is my career and I could not ask for anything better to call my job. I love to go to work every day! Snow
skiing is kind of my personal freedom and that is priceless as well.

How does your snow ski training affect your water ski training?

Well, first off, snow skiing is a great workout. We do a lot of back country skiing in Utah, so on an average day, we hike around 4000 vertical feet. 2-5 hours per day hiking above 9000 feet is a great workout. Secondly, when I snow ski, I think about the movements that I do on my WaterSki. Whether I'm
carving turns on groomers or skiing waist deep powder, the movements feel similar to those on water.

To ski at a high level a person has to stay fit. Do you follow any specific nutritional theories? I.e. The Zone, Adkins, South Beach, etc.?

I think the best choice for a healthy life is to think of everything in moderation. My fiancé is an unbelievable chef, so I eat like a king. The food she prepares is both healthy and extremely tasty. If I were to recommend anything it would be to study food combinations and stay away from processed foods as much as possible.

What is your favorite food? Movie? Music?

I love the Asian food. My favorite movie right now is Finding Neverland with Johnny Depp and I listen to Brant Bjork and Eminem mostly.

What do you do for strength and cardio-vascular fitness?

The back country snow skiing in the winter is all anyone can handle. When I come back to Florida, I jump on my cycle and pump the heart rate up. I tried running, but it just beats me up to much.

Where do you live?

I live in Orlando, Florida from April-November and Alta, Utah December-March.

Where is your lake?

My lakes are located on the east side of Orlando.

What is your current Pro World Ranking?

5th

What do you consider to be your finest moments?

Right now, every moment is a great moment for me. I have sponsors that are supporting me 100% and my skiing career is booming.

How many sets a day do you ski?

I ski 1-3 sets per ski day.

How important is your off the water training?

To be a top athlete, I believe you need to continually push your body. I like to do sports rather than weight training as I like to coordinate my muscle with dynamic movements. This keeps me light and strong. Muscle mass is not advantageous to the way I ski.

How many days a week do you ski?

7-10 sets per week. I would probably increase that to 12 sets per week if I was not to be coaching so much.

How many months per year do you ski?

7-8 months

On the water, you must have different types of sets like conditioning sets, top pass sets, back to back sets, etc... What types of sets do you use, when and why?

The first month of my skiing is where I try to implement new ideas into my skiing. In order to accomplish this, I run my opening pass (32 off) almost every pass of every set. This gives me the best chance of learning new movements and also lets my ski strength develop before I push my body at shorter line lengths. As tournament season approaches, I work less on new technique and more on tournament focus. These sets are down-the-rope sets where I ski until I miss. These sets are shorter, so I increase them to 2-3 per day that I ski. As the tournament season winds down, my sets get fewer and farther between. I try to just have fun and ski as I know that the season is over.

When you are skiing, what are you focusing on?

Gates and dynamic (fluid) movements.

What do you feel is the most important thing to do to run 41 off consistently?

Remain calm and make my movements flow one to the next. It's not as hard as we want to make it. I have run 41 where it feels like 39. I do not feel like 41 is that short, so I just need to accept that and ski it like 39.

What is it that you do that others don't that makes you such an extraordinary athlete?

I am continually learning about myself and the sport. The smarter you are about your skiing, the less strength based it is. I see a lot of skiers trying to make themselves run a pass where I am trying to study it and find the most efficient way to complete it.

What type of supplements do you take and why?

Just a whole-food probiotic multivitamin.

Who do you use as your coach and why?

I am my coach. I use skiers around me to help me see what I can not see or feel, but as my knowledge grows, I need them less and less. I believe you can be your best coach as long as you have the right knowledge. If I need help with my ski, I come see you. If I need help with my movements, I ski with either Jamie Beauchesne, Marcus Brown, or Terry Winter.

What is the biggest mistake you see your students making?

Skiers want to force new technique into their skiing. I believe you ski to what you know. If you fully understand what you want to do, it just happens. If you only think you know, than you will try to make something happen and do very static (muscle based)
movements.

What changes would you like to see in amateur waterskiing?

I like the idea of ability based competitions. That is what is so fun about pro skiing. We are all at the same ability level which makes it highly competitive.

What changes would you like to see in professional waterskiing?

I just think we need one organization that heads up all professional skiing. I think World WaterSki Pros can be that organization. It seems to me that the skiers are not getting what they need out of the system as it is right now. One organization to set the schedule, the formats to be used, the venues for the tournaments, and a strict points system.

What can be done to bring more notoriety to pro-skiers?

Well, I think that falls on the manufacturers and their marketing departments. I am very happy to be a part of teams like HO Sports, Tige Boats, and O'Neill. They are in tune with the market and are working towards changing the image that consumers have about
pro skiing.

In Europe, water-skiers are heroes. How can we change our image here?

Tournaments in Europe are unbelievable. It is so exciting to go and be a part of them. The tournament organizers are so thankful that you attend the event that they go out of their way to make you feel like a rock star. They cater to the athletes needs. Here in the states, there are a lot of professional events like the NBA, NFL, MLB and so on. There are so many things one can do; WaterSki events don't get a priority. I guess we need all the top sports to go on strike! In reality, I think we need to expose our sport to more people through TV, movies, and magazines and do a better job of informing the public of upcoming events through TV and radio ads.

What do you think of AWSA's policy of denying the existence of Professional Waterskiing?

I did not know they are. I just think they focus on their members who are 99.9% amateurs. WaterSki Magazine does a good job of covering the pro scene.

What has the American Water Ski Association done for you?

They provided me an amateur life that I developed and grew through.

What have you done for them?

I coach many of their successful athletes and try to encourage my students who don't ski tournaments to pursue it.

If you were in charge of USA WaterSki and IWSF, what would you change to promote waterskiing?

I just think the focus of traditional tournaments is on the members who are at the top of the sport. The skiers who go to Nationals are the same skiers year after year. This is the reason why I think the booths at Nationals seem to get smaller and smaller every year. I think we need fresh blood at our big events. I know the first year that my family went to Nationals, we bought the farm. As the years went by, we bought less and less at Nationals. This is where I think ability based events where someone who runs into 22 off qualifies for Nationals will spark new purchases to fuel the market.

What rule changes would you like to see?

I think there should be a ' buoy in scoring. We are abusing the rule of "handle in skiing position" when you make it back to the wakes with the handle, but can not ski away. That is not the same as someone who turns the buoy and comes up short at the next.

What needs to change to get waterskiing into the Olympics?

Not having a driver, boat, or mechanical devices pulling us through the course. Basically, I do not think we will ever get into the Olympics. That's not
to say I would not like us to be, but I am just being realistic.

What does the USA need to do to win the Waterskiing events at the Olympics?

Not much as we dominate the World Championships already.

What needs to change to really make waterskiing grow?

The marketing programs need to change with the times and the products we use need to continually get better. If skiing was easier to learn, more people would do it. If skiing was perceived to be cooler, more people would do it. I like what HO and O'Neill are doing with their "2005 Skier Search". It is designed to encourage younger skiers to pursue their dreams. Two lucky individuals (Under 21) will have the opportunity to be sponsored by two of my sponsors for the year. We need to reach out to the youth and figure out ways to keep them involved in waterskiing. I encourage all the young and up-and-comers to visit HO's website (www.hosports.com) to find out more about the 2005 Skier Search.

How can we all help bring these changes about?

Continually seek to find new ways to look at our sport.

Is growth good for skiing and why?

If you don't change what happens? We are still marketing the sport as if it were 1985. Companies like HO and O'Neill have made substantial changes and investments in their marketing over the past year and I hope the rest of the industry follows suit. In order to grow, we need new, enthusiastic skiers to join. If we don't grow, eventually we will die as a competitive sport.

Who would you say are the up and coming skiers down the road a bit?

Well, we are already starting to see skiers like Will Asher, Matteo Ianni, Ty Openlander, Nick Parsons, Billy Susi, Thomas Moore, Ian Trapp, and Cale Burdick coming into the tournament scene and having success. They will be great skiers and champions.

What do you think will be the Men's Slalom World Record 10 years from now?

Something more than a full pass at 9.75m (43 off).

Who will hold it?

Me of course!

Who will be the next person to break the existing record?

Me of course!

Do you think its fair for Professional skiers to compete and/or set records in amateur divisions?

No, we're professionals. Leave the amateur records for the true amateur skiers. This is a major flaw in our system. There is no distinction between pro and amateur. I do not think I should be able to ski in amateur events, even Nationals. If they want pros to ski in these events, have them ski for exhibition
only. Same goes for local, state, and regional tournaments.

Who is more important, senior skiers or young skiers and why?

Both are important. Youth is our only hope of continuing to grow this sport. They will help to bring the sport to new levels in performance. The senior skiers need to keep financially fueling the sport while the younger skiers grow up. The senior skiers can learn the newer techniques so they can pass it on to the younger skiers. I wish that I was taught, right from the start, the way I ski now. If that were the case, I would be the current World Record holder. Everyday I ski; I fight the poor techniques I was taught as a kid. Basically, we all need to continually push ourselves to learn as much as we can about the sport we devote ourselves to.

You skied for Goode for many years. Why did you switch sponsors?

I skied better on the HO. I was ranked 12th before I switched and by the end of the season, I was 5th in the world! HO is committed to building me skis that I can win on, whatever that takes. I switched sponsors 4 days before the MasterCraft Pro Championships last August, had the top score of the first round (1@41), and finished 3rd in the tournament! I like the vision HO has and the direction they are going as a company. Quality products & construction, devotion to Research & Development, the largest dealer network, and top notch customer service make HO the leader in the WaterSki industry.

Tell us about your other half.

My fianc&etilde;e Ellen is the most remarkable woman I have ever met. Beautiful, talented, smart, sexy, charismatic, funny, etc... She is my best friend in the world. I could spend all day, every day with her and never be bored. We both appreciate the life we are living together and live it to the fullest. She travels with me to every tournament around the globe. Ellen is a chef of un-measurable talents. We hope one day to combine our talents to offer our clients the best skiing experience on the planet. We look forward to our marriage in September and a long life together.

What big changes do you envision happening to skis, fins and bindings in the future?

Who knows what the future will bring? I am working on some things through my sponsors that could end up being what you ask. Only time and money will tell.

What are your fin/wing settings and why?

I ski on the 67" HO Monza. My settings are as follows:

2.515 depth
6.818 length by laying caliper on fin
6.875 length by tips of caliper
0.705 tail
8.228 schnitz block caliper
9 degrees of wing

I run these settings because they work the best for my style. Most skiers have to run their set-ups with more tip than I run due to their lack of body movements (less developed technique).

What are your binding settings and why?

I run my bindings the following:

Front boot pivoted open (toe out) 3/8" and located 29 1/8" from the tail of the ski.

Rear boot pivoted open (toe out) 7/16" and located 16 15/16" from the tail of the ski

The pivoting and boot location is the best I've found for balancing my stance.

What size and flex ski are you riding and why?

Stiffer than stock.

What bindings do you use and why?

I use the Goode PowerShells size medium with their Thermo-Fit liners. I have been using this set-up for the past 9 years and have had great success with them. The inter-loc can be intimidating at first, but with experience your confidence grows.

Do you like stiffer or softer skis and why?

I like stiffer skis. Being a pro skier, I put more force on the ski due to riding it properly. Soft skis turn too much for me. If they over flex, I lose acceleration and width. Most armature skiers will perform better with stock skis which typically are softer than mine.

What do you feel are the differences?

You need your ski to flex to get a dependable, tight turn. You do not want it to over flex though as it will not provide the proper acceleration, feeling like a "noodle". I ski with a lot more ski in the water than 99.9% of skiers out there, so I need a stiffer ski to support me. I have been all across the board on this issue and have settled on stiffer skis for my style. One thing to remember is that all skis are softer now that they are being made out of carbon. The old fiberglass skis needed to be stiff for them to accelerate due to fiberglass's inefficient properties.

If your ski could do something better, what would you want it to do?

Run more buoys with of course! Wait, that's my technique problem, not the ski's!

What do you feel is the shortest line length you personally can run?

Well, 41 off (10.25m) does not feel that short and I run it in practice, so I guess something at 43 right now. I know that if 3 guys got around 1@43, it is possible for me to run that pass as well.

Seventy Five years from now, what will Chris Rossi be remembered for?

Being a great person.

Tell us a short horror story about skiing.

I don't have any horror stories. Skiing has only offered me many lessons in life. Some good and some not-so-good, but they are all learning experiences and I have benefited from every one of them.

When driving skiers, what are the most important things to assure a great pull?

Driving a set takes extreme concentration. It takes as much or more than you put into your skiing. Things like asking great drivers what they do and riding in the boat while they are behind the wheel will help. I learned how to be a great driver by having you (Schnitz) work with me while driving other skiers and by you skiing behind me and offering advice. I think you should write an article on how you would teach someone to drive and what is to be expected from them. I put 1000's of hours behind the wheel before I would say I became a great driver. I am not saying I am the best, but I know that I'm good because everyone who skis behind me has a good set. Skiers fall much less behind a great driver and they reach new heights in their buoy counts. A great driver has what I call great "feel". That means they know exactly where the skier is and does not fight the skier. When I ski, I am totally at the mercy of the driver and I can only perform as well as my driver drives. If you want to get better as a skier, find yourself a great driver.

When coaching skiers, what are you looking for?

Balance mostly. I want you to ski with your mind rather than your muscles.

Who do you feel skis technically correct?

Myself for right foot forward skiers, and Jamie Beauchesne for the lefties. No one skis perfect. I believe I can get up to 40% better with my skiing technique. The day you stop learning is the day someone else passes you.

What are the basic skills a skier needs to master?

Balance and mental discipline.

How would you suggest people train differently in order to get to the next level?

Find a coach that you want to ski like and listen to what they have to say. Without a coach you will not get but a buoy better per year. Skiers need to realize that it takes a lot to become a great skier and the things pro's have learned to get to where they are can be passed on much easier. This is true in every aspect of life. I try to get the most out of anyone who knows more than I do. Would you learn how to fix your car faster from a book or a great mechanic? I know which one I would choose!

Who has been the most influential person to you on your path to slalom perfection?

Well, it has been different for the different levels of skiing I have gone through. My father got me as far as he could and then we found you. You took me from an above-average-amateur to a pro. From there I guess it would be Jamie Beauchesne. We skied together for 4-5 years pretty regularly and we came up with some things that were completely different than I had been previously thought possible. My sponsors are extremely valuable to my skiing path as well. Dave Goode supported me to where I've come to this point in time and HO is providing me with what I need to step into the future. By the way, I am very excited about the future!

What influence has your mom and dad had on your skiing?

I would not be where I am today without their influence. They supported me and helped me to build a foundation about how to live my life that has led me to today and will continue leading me into tomorrow.

How many times have you wanted and/or tried to quit skiing?

Once I was close. I had not progressed in my skiing for almost 5 years (college years) and I was frustrated. I felt the pressure of reality coming and could not decide if skiing was going to be my job or just a hobby. I made a decision to completely devote to my skiing and give it one last shot. If that had not panned out, I would have joined the real world and got a job behind a desk somewhere. That is the point that I came to work with you at the Goode Technology Center. My World Ranking went from 235 to 35 in one year!

What is the hardest thing in skiing?

Buoys are pretty hard when you hit them at 39 off, 36mph! But seriously, skiers go do what they are comfortable doing. This goes back to the thing you taught me with the "If you don't change, what happens?" lesson. You need to be continually learning. Some skiers get to a point where either they are happy where they have got to or they think they can't get any better. In our sport, you can continually get better for many years. I have skiers into their 70's that are getting better year after year. If you are skiing "old school", you have closed your mind to new things and effectively stopped your learning process. That is why it is called "OLD SCHOOL". My way of skiing is neither old nor new school, its efficiency of movement.

What style do you ski?

I believe in efficiency of movement. Old school is a very static way of skiing. Basically, you turn, pull, and then turn again. This is a very narrow and strenuous line through the course. New school is skiers trying to not be so static (muscle based), but there is some big flaws there as well. Most new school skiers think that bending their knees out of the turn is what makes them be dynamic. False. If you bend your knees to finish your turn, you end up falling back on your ski, ending up in a static position. My goal is to find movements that are light on the line (rope). Basically, I want the skier to stay in constant movement. The easiest way I can explain what I am trying to say is to take one specific part of the skier's path. Let's talk about the completion of the turn since everyone seems to focus on this part the most. At the completion of the turn, think of falling into handle while keeping your inside shoulder high and trying not to push on your ski. Yes, your knees will bend slightly to keep from loading on the line or pushing on the ski, but they bend after the hips have started to fall in. Once you understand this, you then need to learn how to fall more in the direction that you want to go, which is toward the next buoy, not back. The closer to the apex you feel the boats pull; the more back you are falling. I do not want to feel "load from the boat" until I am close to the wakes, not out by the buoy. Efficiency in skiing is doing things with the least amount of resistance to the boat. If I were to explain every aspect of the run, I would have to write a book, and I am not a writer.

What are the 5 most important things within this style?

Movement, movement, movement, movement, and you guessed it...movement.

Do you elevate your bindings and why?

I elevate my rear heel. It makes me feel more balanced. I have tried elevating both boots, but I do not think skis are designed to handle this. The sweet spot is small enough as it is and it gets smaller when you raise the boots.

If you could comfortably elevate your bindings 18" above your ski, would you and why?

Of course I would as it would make me the equivalent of 7' 8" tall. The pros would run a pass better! It really would not be an advantage as every pro would do this and we all would be locked up again, just a pass farther.

Who are your sponsors?

HO Sports (skis)
Tige Boats
O'Neill
Accurate ropes and handles
Performance Ski & Surf

Who would you like to thank for helping you to be in the position in life you are now in?

My fiance Ellen, Mom (Cindy), Dad (Mark), and Brother (Tony)
Current sponsors:
HO (Herb O'Brien & Chris Sullivan)
Tige Boats (Charlie Pigeon & Chris Bischoff)
O'Neill Wetsuits (Bret Muhlitner)
Performance Ski & Surf (Bill Porter)
My friends:
Rhoni Barton
Wade Cox
Todd Ristorcelli
Brandon Bucher
Chris Sullivan
Jamie Beauchesne
Wade Williams
Renee Jaquess
Jason Paredes
Marcus Brown
Terry Winter
Bret Muhlitner
Jack and Veida Lawton
Mike Nelson
Dave Goode
Schnitz & Patti
And many others!

Thank You Chris!

Thank you Schnitz for helping me to get to where I am today. You are a great mind in our sport and I hope I can help you as much as you've helped me.

THE JERRY STOKELY INNERVIEW 12/13/2004

There's this unassuming guy from Tulsa Oklahoma who has some lofty goals and ambitions. Aside from his locked front knee and his shark tooth fin, Jerry has a few things to share with us common folk. In his own words, here's Jerry's view on just about everything;

Q; Jerry, give us a little background on just who Jerry Stokely is and why God put you on this earth;

Ans: Jerry Stokely is a "work-in-process";. I am an addicted water-skier. God put me here, as he did everyone else, to do my best and, I hope, to do no harm.

Q; How young are you?

Ans: It feels like it varies from day to day, but the calendar says 62 years.

Q; What ski are you riding and why?

Ans: I recently changed to the HO Monza. In my opinion, this is the best ski ever built and has great bindings.

Q; When can we expect to see ole "STRAIGHT LEG STOKELY"; as ole "BENT LEG STOKELY";?

Ans: NEVER!

Q; When, where, why and with who did you start skiing?

Ans: I started skiing with my parents and brother in 1954 at Ft. Gibson Lake in northeastern Oklahoma. Those were the days! There was no air conditioning at home and on weekends the roads were filled with people towing their little boats with the 25 hp Evinrude's, Johnson's, or Mercury's hanging on the back.

Q; How would you categorize yourself as a skier?

Ans: As above in first question, addicted and always looking for a better way to do it without bending my legs (cause that ain't going to happen).

Q; What style do you ski?

Ans: Jerry Style. I guess in a word, "stiff";. Like Jeff Rogers, I have bird legs, too.

Q; Describe what you feel during an awesome ski set.

Ans: It's wonderful!!! People who have never experienced this have no idea what they are missing. Years ago, people tried to get me interested in trying a slalom course, but I couldn't see it. Years later, I did try a course in Carlsbad, CA, and was at once hooked. A good friend of mine here in Tulsa, Tim Greene, knows about being instantly hooked, too. He say's that it's my fault because I took him out to try a course.

Q; Is an awesome ski set better than anything else?

Ans: Real close.

Q; If you could choose the instant that you would pass into the hereafter, when and where would it be?

Ans: It would be many years from now and the best place would be at a beautiful lake. Would it be a sunny day? All days should be sunny. Would it be warm? All days should be warm. What would you be wearing? Whatever fits the occasion.

Q: You have spoken about Flea Jackson and Ken White. How well did you know these guys?

Ans: As a footloose, single guy back in 1966, I moved to Florida with the idea of skiing at Cypress Gardens. Buster McCalla, the director in charge, agreed to fit me in the show with yard duties between shows. His offer was $50 per week and all the orange juice I could drink. I said "No Thanks";. I also proceeded to tell him what the future would hold for show jumping. He said "Not possible, can't be done."; But Rinehart and others have proven that it can be done.

I went to Orlando and got a job in a machine shop, skiing as much as I could. I was standing on the dock at Lake Ivanhoe with my ski and Doug Erwin, who at that time held the Men's 4 jump record, was there. I asked him if he had time to pull me. He did, and after that, skiing on the weekends with him, Vic Gally, and Liz Allen became a habit for the rest of the winter.

Doug asked me if I wanted to go to "Whitey's";. "Who's that?"; I said. We went, and I could not believe what I was watching! Ken was fantastic! Years later, I heard that Ken had a lake and ski school near Ferris, TX. I went down to check it out, visited a while and in the summer sent my son for a session at his school.

Fleet Jackson was a name that was often in Doug Erwin's conversations during that time in the sixties in Orlando. I did not actually meet him until 40 years later. I was at the ProTour in Lauderdale and got to talking to a fellow who was reminiscing about designing side curtains for jumps which were accidentally installed wrong and have remained wrong. I asked him his name and he answered "Fleet Jackson."; I couldn't believe it and called Doug the next day to tell him that I had finally met "Fleet Jackson";.

So, I only knew them in relation to their names in water skiing. Much like Roland Hilliard, or Tom Watson, who were both world champions in their times. Remembering Hilliard's name from when "Lil Monster"; was popular, I went into his real estate office close by Lake Ivanhoe in Orlando about six years ago. I introduced myself as an old day's skiing buddy of Doug, Vic and Liz, and we talked for a while and he took me to another area of his office and showed me his trophies and pictures from his skiing days. I asked him why he and Ken were not in the Water Ski Hall of Fame. He answered that he and Ken were like black sheep in those days and he didn't think that they would ever be in the Hall of Fame. Ken has since that time been inducted into the Hall of Fame. In my opinion anybody that becomes World Champion or breaks a record should be automatically in the Hall.

Tom Watson went on in later years to develop Ski Watch Estates in Milton. I met him in the late 80's when I purchased a lot there. Even though I have since sold the property, I still stop to visit when I pass through the panhandle.

Q; What other old time big name skiers did you have the opportunity to meet and get to know?

Ans: See above.

Q; The land your lakes sit upon is like a Cinderella story. Please give us the whole story.

Ans: Everybody I've met has already heard the story, but for everybody else, here goes. Like a lot of skiers, I had always wanted my own private ski lake and always watched for possible sites wherever I went. I had given up when I came upon an ad in the Tulsa newspaper classified section listing an upcoming land auction. The ad contained diagrams of the parcels and one had a "blue"; patch on it which caught my attention. I dismissed the idea thinking that at 49 I was too old to be thinking about a lake. That lasted about an hour and then I picked up the paper again and said to Steve, my then teenage son, let's go look.

We entered the property on a dirt road, 6 foot weeds covered the land and we couldn't see water anywhere. We drove deeper into the property and all at once, there was the water! We then picked up Phyllis and went back and by stepping off found the water size to be about 300' by 1400' and decided that this had possibilities.

The property being auctioned was from the extensive Owasso (just north of Tulsa) holdings in the estate of Larkin Bailey, a local millionaire. Even though we did not have the cash to handle a purchase, we went to the auction anyway. It was to be a 12-round auction with high bidder in each round taking his pick of what remained. We decided on a limit of $300 per acre as our bid. The first picks were land more suitable for building than the plot I wanted and they went for very high prices. As the auction progressed and the more desirable plots were taken, the price began to drop and we began to increase our bid. Finally at $500 an acre, we were high bidder and grabbed my dream. One of the earlier buyers came over and asked what I wanted this land for. I said, "For a water-ski lake."; "That's certainly an answer I did not expect to hear; we have lakes all around Tulsa."; was his reply. And that kinda sums up the neighborhood's view of my idea. He did not understand, but he does now. He purchased the parcel next to ours to use the soil in building material that he manufactures and sells. This kind of soil was so important to his business that his bid on his purchase was $1200 per acre.

Then the work began to finance our purchase. Thanks to the Federal Land Bank, this was accomplished well before the Indian land grants were cleared from the title so that we could close. I was getting anxious to get to work.

As water-skiers know, the lake needs to be at least 200' by 2000'. So we were about 600' short. Luckily, the Corp of Engineers had made a mistake on a project about 15 miles away. I gave them the dirt they needed in exchange for their removing it in the area and to the depth I needed. And with a nearby railroad needing to repair an embankment, I got the first lake completed. That's what you call luck.

But even better luck was coming. I was able to work out a sale of the dirt on the second lake and still get it dug to my specifications. By the time it was completed, the land had paid for itself 4 times over.

Q; You have the most unique lake I have ever seen. Give us a little history on it.

Ans: The existing lake on the property was north to south and the prevailing south wind would make skiing difficult on some summer days. In an attempt to solve this problem, my idea for the second lake design included a series of berms along each side opposite the turn buoys extending into the lake almost to the boat path to keep the water smooth. I really took a lot of flack from the other skiers about this plan and soon the new lake under construction had the nickname "suicide lake";, and they all vowed to NEVER use it.

After about 4 years, the lake was finished and the windy day arrived that made the first lake too rough while the new, unused lake was smooth. "OK, "they said, "Jerry, you get to go first."; I wonder why?? The end of the story is that the new lake is now preferred by everyone on any kind of day, and they have discovered that it is safe.

Q; You own enough land for 5 lakes. When do you expect they will be finished?

Ans: As the situations permit, but my target date is 2010 (or sooner).

Q; Have you ever considered putting on any major tournaments?

Ans: Yes, when conditions are right and I am prepared. My main objective, after the five lakes are finished, is to have the nationals here. Tulsa is centrally located, my site is near Tulsa International Airport, and the weather here is great in August.

Q; You claim to have invented the wing that MasterCraft used on their rudders a few years back. Please give us your side of the story.

Ans: I had a 1978 Ski Nautique. This boat put up a wake too big for comfortable skiing and I wanted to be able to make it better. In the late 80s, I came up with a device that I called the "Wake Tamer";. The Wake Tamer made my boat operate so much better that I advertised and made and sold a number of them to skiers across the US and in other countries. I guaranteed satisfaction and none of them were returned.

This device is identical to the one that Mastercraft brought out about eight to ten years later except that theirs is one complete mold and mine is a fin that bolts onto each side. When the picture of MasterCrafts came out in the Water Skier, I started receiving phone calls asking why I did not get credit for this instead of Rob Shirley and Chris. A number of skiers know and used my fin long before Mastercraft and will vouch for it.

Q; You spend your winters in Lake Worth, Florida skiing daily at Okeeheelee Park. How many sets a day do you ski?

Ans: Three or four sets a day.

Q; How does a person your age have the stamina to ski that much?

Ans: It is something that I WANT very much to do and I do very little else to take my energy.

Q; Describe a typical day of skiing and training.

Ans: I try to start the day with an easy jog alternating with a bike ride along Lake Osborne by my condo. Then go to the lake to enjoy the company there and ski.

Q; What are your other favorite activities?

Ans: What other activities???

Q; What are your goals for the upcoming ski season?

Ans: I would like to be in the top 5 in my class and be able to ski in the Nationals in the summer.

Q; Who would you say is the most influential person in the waterskiing community and why?

Ans: It is impossible to pick one person. There are many excellent skiers who have contributed much to the sport.

Q; What changes would you like to see in waterskiing?

Ans: I would like to see slalom competition a little more fair for the shorter person. For example, the 1.5 foot difference between 38 off and 39.5 off is a big difference for the 34 and 36 mph skiers. The tall skiers with a longer reach have a definite advantage over the shorter person. Some method should be developed to adjust the overall line length for each competing individual which would serve the purpose of giving a "handicap"; to the shorter person. This would be measured in additional line length inches for shorter individuals.

Q; In what direction do you see waterskiing going in the next 10 years?

Ans: I believe that the sport will continue to grow in popularity worldwide. There seems to be more and more private ski lakes being built and more people wanting to be a part of this kind of community.

Q; Do you think Slalom skiing will grow?

Ans: Yes, I believe that slalom skiing will continue to grow and will outlast and bypass the wake boarding that is so popular now.

Q; Do you think 3 event skiing will grow?

Ans: It will probably continue to appeal to a certain group of skiers.

Q; What has the American Water Ski Association done for you?

Ans: It has provided a framework for organized competition and has set rules in which to operate. It keeps the sport together.

Q; What have you done for them?

Ans: I have paid dues since 1966 and operated within their rules

Q; What can be done to make water-skiing a far better sport?

Ans: More participation and more public facilities.

Q; What do all seniors need to do to stay healthy and enjoy their senior years?

Ans: Find an interest (not necessarily water skiing), eat right, exercise, & stay active.

Q; You have always told us about the support you receive from your wife Phyllis. Where would you be without her?

Ans: Living under a bridge.

Q; Your son Steven is a great skier even though he spends very little time on the water. Why do you think this is possible?

Ans: Beats me.

Q: What advice do you have for parents of skiers?

Ans: Don't push. Let their own desires and ambitions take the lead.

Q; Who would you like to thank for helping you to be in the position in life you are now in?

Ans: Although Phyllis & I have worked hard to be in the position that we are in, we must always remember that without living in a country where we had the opportunity and without God's blessings, it would have all been for nothing.

In any of the following "INNERVIEWS", if we've missed a question you would like answered, please submit it.

6/13/2004 THE SCHNITZ INNERVIEW by Craig Wilson

Hello Steve, it is truly an honor to be the one to Innerview you. My name is Craig Wilson and live up in the cold damp corner of the country in Washington State. I would imagine that I am similar to the many readers of your web site, in that I am a Slalom junky, and a faithful reader of your web page but I have never met you. So let's start with the easy questions.

C) I know from your ski tests that you prefer a 64 to 65 inch Goode. That seems very small. How tall are you and how much do you weigh?

S) I'm 5'8" and 160 pounds. I skied on a 65.5" Goode from 1998 until 2001 when I was doing a clinic in Nashville Tennessee. I parked our pickup truck with our skis and equipment in the bed. I went into a copy shop to get some printing run off. I was waiting inside the store, watching the truck when a couple of men pulled up along side. We had a for sale sign in the window so it appeared they were looking with that intent. Then, all of a sudden, this guy reaches in the back of the truck, grabs my ski case, drops it in the back of his truck and they're gone. I ran out of the store and gave chase after them but it's a good thing they got away. The ski that was stolen was a custom, ultra soft lay-up that Goode had specially built for me at my request. The only other one like it was a 64" which belonged to my girlfriend Patti who just happened to have an extra. Once in the past I borrowed her ski and set a National Record on it so I again did the same and am still riding it. I have asked Goode over and over to please build me another but they refuse so until I find something better, I'm stuck on Patti's 64" ski.

C) Where did you grow up or spend your impressionable years?

S) I grew up in New Rochelle, New York from the age of 12 until I was about 20. This is the same town Mike Ferraro is from.

C) Besides skiing, what are some of your other interests?

S) Computers, photography, rollerblading, bicycling, snorkeling, travel, business, etc...

C) To ski at a high level a person has to stay fit. Do you follow any specific nutritional theories? i.e. The Zone, Adkins, South Beach etc.?

S) I live on a high protein diet. I learned years ago by listening to my inner self that carbos were really hurting me, literally. I was so sick trying to eat a high carbo diet. I was always in pain! I have found that my digestive system is quite different than most people. I have a very slow metabolism and cannot handle carbos without protein or I get sick and am in serious pain. I try to eat lots of fruit, nuts, fresh veggies and lots of vitamins. My girlfriend Patti is always reading about nutrition, fitness and health. She takes good care of me.

C) What is your favorite food? Movie? Music?

S) My favorite food has to be chicken. My favorite movie is of course "FIELD OF DREAMS" and my favorite music is Jazz.

C) What do you do for strength and cardio-vascular fitness?

S) I must admit, I could be in much better shape and being in much better shape would lead to better skiing but my "LEVEL OF COMMITMENT" in this area is not as high now as it once was. I like to ride my bike and rollerblade in the spring and fall and snow ski in the winter. In the summer I cut back on the biking and rollerblading and mainly ski.

C) Who has been the most influential person to you on your path to slalom perfection?

S) Early on in my Slalom career, there was this guy who was a World Record Holder in Tricks. He taught me what he perceived were the basics even though they were not accepted as such at the time. He laid the foundation for my skiing success in the future. His name, Russ Stiffler. Russ would mainly take me free skiing. I'd do a bunch of cuts and he'd nod or shake his head. Other than Russ, I learned a lot way back when from Bob LaPoint, Hugh Peterson, Rusty Carter and Lucky Lowe. A special note also goes to my first female coaches, Diedre Mahler and Carol Colbath who would pull me, set after set, hour after hour, day after day, week after week, year after year ... ... ...

C) It appears that you read a lot. What is one book every athlete has to read?

S) "THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS" a translation by Stephen F. Kaufman. This is a book about and by Miyamoto Musashi, an ancient Japanese swordsman and warrior who competed in real "mortal combat" and lived to die of old age. Unlike the slalom warriors that we perceive ourselves to be, Miyamoto knew any mistake at any time could be fatal. Miyamoto trained harder and smarter than everyone he ever faced because he enjoyed life more than he would accept death. Winning was not only important and a matter of pride, it was absolutely necessary! When I look at Andy Mapple, I see the Miyamoto attitude as Andy is deadly serious about winning. Another warrior with this attitude is Dr. Jim Michaels. Other great books are "THE 48 LAWS OF POWER" by Robert Green and Joost Elffers. This book also is filled with history and how to use power to your advantage. "THE RULES OF WAR" by Sun Tzu is a must read... "THE NEW TOUGHNESS TRAINING FOR SPORTS" by James E. Loehr, Ed.D. is another great book to use to prepare you for the upcoming battles. "THE SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH" will teach the athlete to train their brain and get off their butt to produce the desired results be it in riches or buoys. I must admit, there are many great books I have read which have created my foundation that I can no longer recall which have played a dramatic role in my life, teachings and philosophy.

C) You have been very successful in waterskiing. Were you successful in other sports?

S) I never participated in any. I played with the other children in the neighborhood, be it baseball, football or what have you but I was never interested in organized sports. When I was 12 my dad built us a home on the Long Island Sound, bought us a boat and a pair of skis and the rest is history. I used to ski past Davenport Park and wave to the people up on the rocks, envisioning myself skiing before a crowd. Never could I have imagined that my entire life would someday revolve around water-skiing.

C) O.K., enough of the easy stuff, I was surprised to read that you still pay to get coaching for yourself. Who are the best coaches out there?

S) I think we need to look at the skier more like we look at a race car team. A race car team will have all kinds of support centered around the driver. Before they even get on the pavement, there must be a financial team, a physical trainer and a sports psychologist. Then there's the chief chassis engineer, a suspension technician, an engine specialist, a computer specialist, a tire specialist, an aerodynamic specialist and on and on and on. I all too often watch athletes who are called PROS compete with amateur equipment. I watch their skis perform miserably and let them down in their time of need. PRO skiers should be on PRO equipment. Look at Andy Mapple. He spends countless hours testing equipment and it shows! From what I'm told, Andy works with personal trainers, sports psychologists, financial planners and so on. Andy has built a team around him to get the support he needs to be successful at what he does. So I think the coaching community needs to be broken down into it's components to arrive at a fair answer to this question. To answer your question based upon coaches that focus on skiing, I would have to say the best out there are (in alphabetical order); Jamie Beauchesne in New Hampshire (Jamie is now training at Trophy Lakes in South Carolina), Tanguy Benet, Marcus Brown in California, Mike Ferraro in Orlando, Mike Kusiak in Charleston, Brent Larsen in Wisconsin, Chet Raley in Boca Raton Florida, Matt Rini in Orlando, Chris Rossi in Orlando and Terry Winter in California. Additionally, I recommend any top snow ski coach as they are trained to see how speed, equipment and bio-mechanics work together. This past winter I worked with Daniel Brais and Mario Gohier from Canada. They're both avid water-skiers and certified and caring snow ski coaches who have seen what we're working on and have a good eye for bio-mechanics. One of Dr. Jim Michael's trainers is Harald Harb who is a snow ski instructors, instructor. Harald is the number one person in snow ski coaching technology. I would like to see Harald put together water-ski seminars in addition to his snow ski activities.

C) If you were in charge of USA WaterSki and IWSF, what would you change to promote waterskiing?

S) The question before us is "do we really want water-skiing to grow"? All the manufacturers and associations would love this as they would make more money. What has happened at many public and private sites is that they have become so overcrowded that every skier's time is severely limited. In Aspen Colorado, a one hour time slot costs thousands of dollars every year. As a skier, what advantage is there to you if waterskiing grows if all it does is limit your skiing time even more? As for my views, I do all I can on a daily basis to promote water-skiing whether by educating the skiing public (for free) via my website, free clinics during the winter months at Okeeheelee Park, always helping anyone around me who needs help and by creating water-skiing communities which I'm currently in the process of building.

As for the changes I would make if I ran IWSF and USA WaterSki, I would change with the times. If we make it easier to be a judge, more people would judge. There are a vast number of slalom skiers who know nothing about tricks and jump. Let them judge slalom! And now that you've got me going about judging, judges and all tournament officials need to understand that the tournaments are put on so the skiers can perform, not so the judges, drivers and scorers can get ratings, not so the judges, drivers and scorers can exert their power, not so the judges, drivers and scorers can exert their control. Tournaments are put on for the skiers! Any official that thinks and acts otherwise should be eliminated!

As for driving, if there was a true baseline for driving technique, some sort of instrument that could evaluate a drivers pull, we would have more consistent driving from one driver to another. I know proposals have been made to the chiefs at AWSA and IWSF that would introduce auto-pilot steering as well as speed control. This would make skiing much more fair as a driver can easily and undetectably control the outcome of a tournament. I know of one system that already exists and of a Star Wars company that can easily build systems that will retail with speed control included for little more than twice the cost of Perfect Pass.

I would like to see skiers show up on the starting dock with a smart card that the boat operator would insert into the Smart Card reader which is connected to the Auto Pilot. This card would contain the program that the skier chooses to ski behind. This would contain the skier's weight and let's say for example, a Tommy Harrington pull or a Steve Helton pull. Get the picture? Everyone would have the opportunity of skiing their style behind a driver that suits their style. This would be more fun.

I would make the Regionals non-mandatory to those who have exhibited their lack of need to attend. I have been told that by forcing skiers to go to the Regionals, this gives others the opportunity to see great skiing! It has nothing to do with being qualified! I would make the Nationals larger rather than smaller with more divisions which will create more winners. More winners equals more fun and more fun equals more participation.

I would establish a standard for coaching where all beginners are taught the same skills no matter where they learn. There needs to be coaching and learning structure similar to that in the snow ski world.

I would not permit any pro to ski in any amateur division. I would throw out all records set by Pro's in amateur divisions regardless when they were set. I would have yearly records that are wiped out on January 1st each year. This would give others more of a chance at fame.

I would bring Wakeboarding into the fold and introduce a new OVERALL division where people who Wakeboard can also compete for overall points on a trick, slalom or set of jump skis. This will bring the young generation back in.

I would change the equipment rule to allow anything safe on slalom skis.

Yes, if I were in charge there would be great change. And great change comes at great emotional expense!

C) The eastern block countries dominated many Olympic sports for many years, in part because of their superiority in the sport psychology department. How do you develop the confidence and focus needed to be champion?

S) In order to grow you must face your fears. The more you face them, the less you fear them. When I started competing, I skied about 20 tournaments a summer. In the beginning, I was extremely nervous and could not perform. I recognized the problem and knew if I kept competing, I would get used to the pressure. Over the years, this happened. One of the techniques I currently use is to have people ride in the boat when I ski so I am always pressured to perform. Often times prior to competition, I have mini tournaments with other skiers on the dock. We'll spot each other buoys and then go out and ski, again, under pressure to perform. Preparation for competition to me means doing the same thing in competition as I do every day, therefore, every day in practice, I need to compete. Use smaller competitions as practice for bigger competitions, each leading up to major competitions.

C) What method of coaching is best: A lesson with a pro? Videotaping? Or trial and error?

S) When people ride in the boat when I ski, I never know what will transpire. Sometimes I learn the most from people that I would never think of as a coach. Generally when I ski with the Pro Skiers, I try what they suggest but rarely have success. Lessons with great coaches on the other hand lead to long term change and results. It is extremely difficult to get big short term beneficial change. I do like to videotape and self critique. I'll watch it, make some mental notes and work on the changes I think I need. Trial and error takes too long. Why not use someone who is trained to prevent and correct problems rather than burning in bad habits which can take years to unlearn?

C) Steve, we know that you are not afraid to say what is on your mind. Have you ever wanted to take back something you said?

S) There are many skeletons in my closet as there are everyone's. In water-skiing, I guess the one I'd take back was giving Nito Quitavis a vulgar piece of my mind at the Nationals in Duquoin Illinois one year so here it is in writing, Nito, please accept my apologies for my rude behavior. Additionally, Patti and I would like to rekindle the friendships lost during our battle with all of our former friends who make up the Ski Club of the Palm Beaches. We would like to put all that behind us and move positively into the future.

C) You are a pioneer in the sport of waterskiing, inventor, coach and champion. Do you ever see a day when waterskiing takes a back seat?

S) Hopefully that will never happen but we never know what tomorrow may bring. I plan on coaching, teaching, skiing and developing water-skiing products and communities as long as I am breathing.

C) I see that you are also becoming a land developer, of course it is a water-ski lake development. How has that been going? What has the impact of private man-made ski lakes been on water-skiing's appeal?

S) We currently have offers in on 4 properties. It's a slow and tedious process to find the right piece of ground at the right price with the right terms and the ability to do what I want to do with it. I want to be like Johnny Appleseed. I want to continually plant these communities all over the country and hopefully, all over the world. The more access people have to ski, the more skiing will grow.

C) Steve, there is a lot of discussion on your web page about theoretical analysis of techniques and equipment. Where are the biggest gains to be had, technique or equipment?

S) I'll let you answer this question. If we screwed your bindings onto a 1" by 6" piece of oak, how would you ski? On the other hand, suppose we screw your bindings onto the best ski you have ever skied on. This is how important your equipment is. Now let's take it a step further. Suppose you had a ski that would do everything you wanted. If you want it to slow down and turn it does. If you want it to speed up and get wider it does. If it does everything you want when you want it, you will literally run out of rope. With a screwdriver and an Allen wrench, I can add or take away buoys in seconds that would otherwise through coaching, take months or years or possibly never be attained.

C) Are there any new equipment inventions out there that would blow our minds?

S) Yes and I think we'll see them after Nationals.

C) Thomas Edison failed in his attempts to build the light bulb thousands of times. How many attempts did it take you to come up with the Schnitz fin? How did you come up with the adjustable fin?

S) The adjustable fin is nothing but a clamp and a fin. This is not even an invention. What is unique about the Adjustable Fin is knowing what each movement does. Years ago, I wanted to know what larger and smaller fins would do to a ski. I needed a way to build fins from easily available flat aluminum stock so I made a set of fin clamps. I then made up a bunch of fins that varied in length, each one progressively longer than the last. Having done this, I showed a good friend of mine, Finklea Tomlinson these fins and told him what I intended to do with them. Finklea suggested that I just rotate the front of the fin up into the clamp or ski to arrive at a shorter length. So rather than having three holes in each fin where the fin clamp bolts passed through, I put three slots in the fins so I could adjust them up and down. The earliest versions allowed only up and down movement as the slots were only 1/16" larger than the bolts. From these early adjustable fins we (we meaning me and the people whose skis I worked on) learned about tip and depth. Soon thereafter, I made the slots 3/4" long allowing the fin to go forward and back and up and down introducing another dimension. The Adjustable Fin remained pretty much the same other than evolving fin shapes for a few years until Duvall and Kidder Skis came out with a new, one piece, screw adjustable fin clamp, a great idea. From there, fin clamps remained pretty much the same until Denny Kidder again came out with another revolutionary product, the internal fin clamp which was very cumbersome to work with and next to impossible to really calibrate. I designed an internal fin clamp in November of 1993 that's accessible from the top of the ski without removing the assembly and without the bubble on the top of the rear of the ski. It hasn't been marketed yet and awaits a progressive thinking manufacturer. The advantage of an internal fin clamp is that the effective thickness of the tail of the ski is thinner allowing the tail to ride deeper preventing blow out. By making the tail ride deeper, we now have the flexibility of making the entire ski ride deeper which will produce more angle and deceleration. Additionally, less height on top of the ski equals less drag, which again equals more efficient acceleration.

C) Are there any plans to make the Schnitz fin out of carbon? What do you think of carbon for fins? Do you think fin flex is important?

S) I've know about flexible fins for years. Way back in the 1980s, Warren Witherell and I, both skiing on Fiberglass fins made by me, both set US National Records at the same tournament I see advantages to composite fins as they can be tuned to compliment any skier's offside acceleration. This is not yet being done. What I mean by this is if the fin were layed up so it would roll under more out of the off-side buoys, this would allow the tip of the ski to point further across course and away from the boat, both causing an increase in angle that is lacking in the current balanced lay-up of today's composite fins. Today's composite fins act like suspension on a race car to absorb overload situations and allow a certain amount of tail slippage. I do this with aluminum fins by regulating the thickness. I have found that thinner fins ski better but not at the cost of stiffness. What I mean by this is I made some test fins out of .060 titanium. These were 30% thinner than normal but much heavier and stiffer. They did not work well. I have had discussions with my machine shop regarding building the current generation of carbon fins and they're ready. All they need is the go ahead from me and it's a done deal.

C) Should a person set up their ski to what is ‘comfortable' and evolve/tweak it or set it to rip and learn to ski it?

S) As I stated earlier; With a screwdriver and an Allen wrench, I can add or take away buoys in seconds that would otherwise through coaching, take months or years. A properly set up ski is passes better than one that's not.

C) Well, winding down here, I think that's at least your 20 questions. For all of us lost souls striving to figure out the slalom riddle, with an unending thirst for more knowledge, do you have any plans for a book or DVD?

S) I started writing a book but things change so quickly in this sport that much is out of date. If someone would like to coordinate this project, I'm game.

Thanks for your time Steve, and thanks for all you have done and continue to do for our sport, I hope to meet you someday soon.

Craig Wilson

A sincere special thank you goes out to Craig for taking the time to do this INNERVIEW! Schnitz!

                        THE MATT RINI INNERVIEW 6/12/2004

Matt, What year did we first start skiing together and where?

The first time I skied with you was March of 1987 at Lake Osborne in Palm Beach.

What are some of your most memorable memories way back then?

All the jokes and gags you and Mike (Ferraro) played on each other!  No but really, meeting people who had accurate technical information.

Who were your first coaches?

I came to trick with Mike Ferraro. That’s when he said I would be slaloming with you.  I skied with Mike and Dave Spencer from up state New York in the early years.  Then later, I spent a lot of time with Carl Roberge.

What did they most impress upon you that to this day still bubbles to the surface?

Things have changed technically so much but I think the process of learning and breaking skills down has helped me learn the new techniques we are using today. 

What are some of your titles?

I was on the Canadian team when we won in Singapore. I won tricks at Moomba one year and I won the Canadian Nationals several times.

What years did you ski for the Canadian team?

1993 to 1996

Who are some of the more noticeable skiers you have worked with?

Aaron Rathy, Natalie Hamrick, Drew Ross, Thomas Moore, Jim Michaels, Sebastien DePasqui, Clint Baikie, Brigitte Lethem, Ryan Dodd , Whitney & Jason McClintock, Tom & Will Asher, Jason Seels and Damien Sharmen.

Who would you say are the up and coming skiers down the road a bit?

In the near future Will Asher for sure, Sully and I call him the chosen one.  Further in the future I think skiers like Thomas Moore, Whitney McClintock, John-Lex Kenerly,  Matao Ianni, Ian Trapp are going to be awesome.  These kids are learning the newest skills and have really good understanding of the biomechanics of slalom. 

Are you retired from competition?

Yeah pretty much, the weekends are for my family. 

What is the biggest mistake you see a high majority of skiers making?

Skiing with no plan, everyone’s needs are different.  I like to identify an area that needs work and then put together steps to make it better.  I find that people understand the skills better if you break them down rather than just saying “do this or do that”.

Why are you prices so low?

I don’t know I’ll work on that.

I see you work with the British Lottery Funded skiers.  How big is their budget?

I’m not sure but they all drive Range Rovers. No, I’m kidding I really don’t know.

I talk on my website about using technology like onboard computers to measure rope angle and effort against the boat to help build the skiers of the future.  Is this a reality with the British team?

The British program is really cool they do everything they can to make their skiers better.  They have a few gadgets that give some scientific feedback.

If an instrument can measure these angles and forces, wouldn’t it be an invaluable tool for setting up skis as it would record all the differences? 

Yes for sure, anything that helps you understand what is happening on the water will help you make decisions on how you want your ski to react at certain places in the course.

Wouldn’t it also be an invaluable tool in evaluating and training drivers as some drivers feel easy and others hard?  This device coupled to a potentiometer would show how different movements of the steering wheel affect the pressures exerted by the skier.

This would be awesome, I ski behind the students a lot and they think that the Perfect Pass does everything.  I could show them how correcting at the wrong time makes the driving hard.

What technologies are the British team using?

I can’t tell you that.

Which country has the best water ski training programs?

The only Federations I am involved with are Canadian and the British.

They are both excellent because the people making the decisions are educated about what is happening in our rapidly changing sport and because they listen to the needs of their skiers.

What does the USA need to do to upstage all the rest? 

I’m not sure.  I am really not familiar with the US program.

What kind of money will this take and where should it come from?

Money is always an issue in this sport that is why listening to the needs of the athletes is the most important thing.  Our money is government funded based on our athlete’s performances.  The easy thing to say would be to get money from corporate sponsors but we all know this is not that easy.  I think a good alumni program helps.

Dr. Jim Michaels came to ski with you last fall after a short rest period.  Please tell us what happened.

Having Jim was a fun and inspiring experience.  He is not only a great and knowledgeable skier, but the stories about how much he skis are true.  He skied at 36 when he came and was making 39 pretty easy.  We discussed what areas he should target to bring the technical level of his skiing up.  When a skier like Jim comes, I do not take a video of Will or Jamie and say ski like this, because what Jim is doing is different but very effective.  I simply explain to him what these guys are doing and how it gives them more freedom at the ball and less work overall.  Then we try to integrate these attributes into his skiing.  He is very receptive and easy to coach. Expect to see some amazing things from him this year.

How would you suggest people train differently in order to get to the next level?

The key is a clear understanding of the goals in the different places in the course and ski with someone who can get you where you want to go.

What do you think of Clinchers?

They are cool; I tried them after Jim was here.  I kept missing the handle but when I got it the grip, they were amazing.

I read in WaterSki Magazine you were one of Thomas Moore’s trainers.  What do you have Thomas work on and why?

When Thomas comes over to ski we pretty much work on his gate pullout and his release into his offside.

Who do you feel skis technically correct?

I think every pro has technical strengths and there are many different styles that work well. What I look for is how effortlessly someone skis and how much freedom their style gives them at the buoy.  I think Jamie, Will, Rossi, Sully, Andy and Drew all ski different and all have outstanding attributes to their skiing.  There are many other skiers who I admire but these guys I have watched the most.

Please describe what technically correct is beginning at the pullout prior to the gates and throughout the course.

The overall goal of what I am looking for is to setup the gate with a balance of forward speed and outward momentum so that the course can be started when we choose to start it and with a tempo that is close to what we will have in the course.  Then in the course we are trying to climb on the boat to the point when we want to turn so that we can generate enough angle and speed on the down swing of the pendulum to carry us to where we want to be at the next ball.  

Please give us some of the new terminology, what it means, how it applies and why it’s so important.

Getting released out:  When you come out of the swing from side to side and stand out of your squatted accelerating position, we either get released out and keep climbing or we get released in and the boat advances on us.  This is important so we can turn high on the boat with speed and a tight line.  Upper and Lower body Separation: It is important to delay our upper body from coming to the inside of the turn, if we want to move our lower body to the inside of the turn first, we must leave our shoulders level and open.   If you close or drop your inside shoulder it blocks your lower body from coming through first.  This will cost you angle and control on the second side.

What are the basics a new student of this style needs to master?

I think the gate is important and learning the work zone.  The work zone is from the white wash out until the free hand comes back on.  The rest is riding the swing.

In the Martial Arts, a student first learns and masters a movement and then learns to combine these movements.  Isn’t learning this new style very much like learning and mastering the Martial Arts?

I’m not familiar with Martial Arts but what you said above is true, you must learn the movements and then put them all together.  They all work together and allow the next phase to happen with ease.

Who do you feel are the leaders of the “NEW STYLE” movement and why?

Jamie, Will, Rossi, Sully, Marcus, Thomas and Mike Champion.  These guys have unreal upper and lower body separation.

Which coaches are coaching this new style?

I’m not sure I have not been to ski school in a while.  Sully, Thomas and Mike help me when we ski together.

Does this new style apply in Jumping as well?

Yes and No.  The principals of the pendulum swing are the same but in fact the cut to the ramp is pretty much the opposite of slalom.  In jumping everything has to be in a line with the skis.  You want your most speed at the end of the cut so the start at the top of the pendulum is much different.

What ski do you ride?

Right now I am riding the new ski that HO has coming out for 2005.

What are your exact fin settings?

6.777, 2.509 & 0.765

Wing setting?

8 degrees, upside down.

Binding settings?

Front binding 29 ¼, back binding 1 hole back from there.

Flex?

Over the testing process I have ridden a wide range of flexes and they all have good things about them.  I have not skied on the same flex too many sets in a row. I am partial to softer skis.

What boats do you use at your school?

I have a 2004 Malibu LXI.

Who are some of your sponsors?

HO Skis and Performance Ski & Surf.

I understand you are married to a beautiful British woman.  Who is this lady?

Yea I am a lucky man; I am married to Sarah Blake.  We just had our 6^th anniversary.

Does she ski?

She used to ski competitively at a high level. We met down in Palm Beach. She was skiing with Chet Raley while I was skiing with Tanguy.  Now she skis as much as we have time for as our kids keep her very busy.  She will come to the lake and go out at 22 off and keep spinning the boat.  Usually it is 6 to 8 passes.  I don’t know how she does it. 

Do you have any children?

Two girls, Paige is 4 and Megan is 18 months.

Are they going to be skiers or wake boarders?

They can be either if they choose.  Paige skied by herself when she was just over 2.  The next year she skied almost every day but now she can take it or leave it.  She has been skiing 5 times this year.  I just want them to have fun at the lake so I can see them more.

Can you send us a family photo?

Sure

How can my readers get in touch with you?

My website is www.mattrini.com

Thank You Matt!

Congratulations on all your successes and your latest at Moomba. 

When should we be expecting a Freddy or Karen junior? Not for a few years J

How can we all help bring them about?  It’s being worked on as we speak. (see Andy Mapple's letter on Schnitzskis home page today 4/6/2004)

Other than Freddy J, who have been the most inspirational persons in your life? In skiing, I would have to say Bruce and Toni Neville, Jaret Llewellyn and Andy Mapple. There are all tigers on the water, but have the most pleasant and sensible personalities off the water.

What is your best slalom practice score?  2 @ 41

Do you think snow ski technique has a definite cross-over into water-skiing? Unfortunately, with two knee injuries and being a very inexperienced snow skier, I try to stay far away from the snow skiing for now.

Please use this space to sound off on anything you would like to say!

Thanks for our first Innerview!! Keep up the great work with the website! 

Thank You Freddy and Karen!

Schnitz!