AWSA tournament skiboat accreditation

The Australian Water Ski Association (AWSA) held its tournament skiboat accreditation program at Mulwala Water Ski Park (NSW) at the end of October.

Although the once popular event only attracted two skiboat manufacturers - Skicraft and Malibu - each boat entered met the AWSA's stringent testing criteria and is now eligible to tow at national waterski events.

In Skicraft's debut at the program, its Senator XR (inboard) was endorsed for all three events - trick, slalom and jump - while its Senator XR (outboard) went for, and was subsequently endorsed for, the barefoot division.

A more seasoned campaigner over the past 10 years, the American designed/Aussie built (under licence) Malibu's are inherently approved for Australian events via their US accreditation, but were put through their paces just the same.

Complying with AWSA tournament policy, Malibu's Sportster, Sportster LX, Response, Response LX and Sunsetter LXI were all endorsed for three events, while its Flight Craft model was endorsed for barefoot.

Although full accreditation of each boat is only granted once a boat has successfully towed a small number of AWSA sanctioned tournaments, both manufacturers were pleased with the outcome of the weekend.

According to Performance Marine's (Skicraft) Peter Webb, the AWSA-endorsed tag takes his AMIF 2000 Skiboat of the Year - the Senator XR - to another level.

"We came to this program because there were no Australian designed/built skiboats accredited to tow tournaments in this country," Webb said.

"While the AMIF's 2000 Skiboat of the Year award recognised the Senator XR as a well-designed, value for money, family skiboat, the AWSA's endorsement officially recognises its performance and potential for competition skiing... Which is sure to have far-reaching benefits."

As the governing body of competition waterskiing in Australia and a member of the International Water Ski Federation (IWSF), the AWSA's program creates the opportunity for endorsed boats to strive for world accreditation.

Malibu's Xavier West explained the AWSA endorsement could open the door for potential world accreditation for both Malibu and Skicraft once each craft had been fully accredited.

"The AWSA endorsement has sanctioned us to tow at national tournaments, which upon full accreditation, will put us in a position for world approval," West said.

"In most cases, to gain world accreditation, an accredited boat has to tow a world tournament event, even though at present that would be pretty hard to achieve in Australia, as there is currently only a couple of these tournaments each year."

Nonetheless, AWSA Facilities Director Ron Fergusson was quick to point out both of these manufacturers now boast craft that have an 'edge' over other manufacturers in the market.

"Once an annual event, lack of participation prevented the accreditation program from being conducted for the past few years, however following comments from this year's participants, the AWSA is confident the program will, over the next few years, once again attract a large number of Australian skiboat manufacturers," Fergusson said.

"These manufacturers will all be vying for official recognition of their boats, which if they receive it, will once again prove Aussie-made can cut it with the imports... In quality, style, performance and price!"

Candid Camera...

Conducted annually for almost 20 years, the AWSA tournament skiboat accreditation program's primary purpose is to identify and officially recognise boats that are suitable for towing tournaments and for use at ski schools around the country.

Held at the Mulwala Water Ski Park (NSW) each year, it has the advantage of two lakes on which the boats can be put through their paces and has been very popular with skiboat manufacturers over the years.

Assessed on their performance in trick, jump and slalom, or in the barefoot division, in this day and age, computers play a big role in establishing whether a boat meets the specified criteria.

AWSA's Ron Fergusson explained while a boat's performance in the trick event is mainly assessed by the skier, slalom and jump relied on the use of video and computer monitoring equipment.

"A video camera is set-up to monitor any movement, or deviation, of the boat as it's towing the skier... The amount of pull placed on a boat in slalom and jump obviously affecting how a boat performs," Fergusson explained.

"A pole is fixed in the middle of the boat, which allows the amount of deviation to be clearly viewed on a computer screen where the footage from the camera is sent.

"On completion of the run or jump, the computer collates the information and prints out a detailed assessment report on the boat's performance."

An extensive list of other criteria exists, which each craft must meet before the AWSA gives its official endorsement.

Such criteria includes ensuring gauges are fitted, power and acceleration, boat handling, wake formation, engineering of a boats features and more.

"The detailed criteria boats must meet is very stringent, to ensure the boats can safely and effectively handle the tasks they are required to perform under tournament conditions, but at the same time, they are realistic targets," Fergusson said.

"The important aspect of the program for all manufacturers to realise is that even if a boat doesn't pass the first time it attends the accreditation program, the information gained on its performance is very valuable - in that it can be used to make any improvements to the boat, to make sure it meets the criteria on its return visit."