WaterSki Magazine

Kristin
2008-10-20 15:00:00 | 109 views | 0 Comments

The first tournament of the year in Virginia. A perfect Friday afternoon for tournament practice in Richmond. The wind was down and the sun was strong. As the work day ended, skiers slowly filtered into Loch Cochrane and the place starting coming to life. The chatter of greetings and discussion of the latest speed control was good to hear after 8 chilly months of not being around such familiar company.

Over near the dock, Rod Barney was preparing for his practice run. Keith Brady asked Rod if he was going to school the guys on the slalom course this weekend. Rod had been skiing well this spring and was on top of his game, running an occasional 38. “I would sure like to. I've been skiing well. It's been 6 years since I last ran 38 in a tournament, so I'd like to get it done!”

As the skiers took their turns during practice, Gene Levines had gotten word of this exchange. Always up for a good laugh, Gene decided to have a little fun. He approached Rod and asked “I hear you're going to be driving a bus?” Rod responded with a look of confusion “What do you mean driving a bus?” Genes replied with a deadpan face, “Keith said you were going to take us to school, so you must be the Bus Driver.” Rod smiled and they had a good laugh.

The story made it around the site that weekend. Everyone was asking who had the top score for the round. “Who's the bus driver?” was the question of the weekend at the starting dock. Little did we know, this was just the beginning.

A few weekends later, several skiers got together for a small one-day tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia, at Lee Mershons lake. Again, the Bus Driver banter continued for each round to see who could get the top score of the day. The tournament took place with nearly perfect conditions and another great day of skiing with friends had concluded.

As usual, the skiers got together for dinner afterwards. A few spirits and appetizers were consumed when the Bus Driver topic came up. Rod and Paul Santangelo started discussing how close many of the top Virginia skiers are on the rankings list, regardless of age division. We agreed that on any given day, one of 8 skiers could get the top score. Many skiers from M1 to M7 all had averages in the mid 38 range. That's when Rod and Paul started creating the Bus Driver rules. Just what we needed. A little friendly competition to spark us on to better scores. This would be a competition that would bring out the best in each of us, not to mention the ego boost and bragging rights to go along with it!

The Bus Driver rules were aimed to be as inclusive as possible, yet be very competitive: - To compete, you must have an average in 38 off (regardless of age/speed division) - Bus Fare is 5 dollars per tournament - High score takes the loot and the pride of being called the Bus Driver until the next tournament.

We discussed our rules with the others at the table. Game on. We decided our first “Bus Driver” would be the top score of the days tournament. M3 skier Dave Satterfield had a perfect 100, 4 @ 38 to be our first driver. Free dinner for Dave.

The following weekend, we were in the water skiing capital of Virginia, Sparta. Four tournament lakes within 10 miles of each other. A virtual skiers mecca. This weekend, it was the Lake Holly Slalom Fest. Senior driver, Ralph Hall, had driven at Lees lake the previous weekend. He decided we needed something tangible to show who was taking who to school. A black baseball cap with large white letters: “Bus Driver”. Now we had something we could really show off. An item of pride to show ones weekly dominance. Dave was given the honor of wearing it first…but only for a few hours. M4 skier Gene Levines would take ownership at the end of the weekend.

The season went on and every tournament brought about more and more Bus Driver bragging. As most water skiing communities go, it's a small family. Everyone knew about the bus driver competition. As bus drivers hopefuls came up to ski, the announcer would rattle off the top score of the day, keeping the crowd aware of who was at the head of the bus.

On several occasions, we didn't live up to our potential and never made it to the coveted 38 pass. Comments such as “Dude, you totally missed the bus!” or “That was a lousy set. You're in the back of the bus!” I recall one time, where I skied particularly lousy. My friends consoled me by saying “Have a nice walk to school.” This was going to be a great summer.

The tournaments continued throughout the summer. The Bus Driver hat was passed around at the various “Bus Stops” of Virginia. Timber Lake in Sparta, Bear Lake and Jennings Pond in Fredericksburg, and back to Lake Holly in Sparta and Loch Cochrane in Richmond after Nationals. The hat was well worn by many skiers by this time. But we had to determine who would brave the winter with the hat donned upon their head for the next 8 months. That could only be determined at the last tournament of the year, back where the rules started the game, in Williamsburg. The tournament was re-titled, “The Bus Driver Championship”. Yes, it's true; there really was a tournament by this name. We can only imagine the tournament names for 2009.

A mild September morning and perfect conditions for the final one-day, three-round event. With everyone at the top of their skiing form, we knew big scores were on the horizon. It wasn't just a hat and a few dollars on the line, but a trophy. A placard with the phrase “Bus Drivers Championship at Lees Lake”. Appropriately, it had a school bus embossed at the top.

Mens 1 skier, Corey Humberg, who wore the hat more than anyone this summer, started off round one by running his 38 pass, finishing with 1 at 39. He was there to show the old guys that real men ski at 36! An impressive score, but this was only round one. Gene Levines decided he was up for the challenge and tied Corey in round 2. Sounds like a post tournament run-off may be in order to determine the Champion!

But there was still one round left. It only takes one good round right? Just run the 38 and squeak the ski around 2 ball at 39. We've watched the pros do it time and again. Why else would we buy all the videos, study pro skiers with an eagle eye, dream about glass conditions and practice 5 days a week? This was what we've always wanted: to be a champion in our own back yard. To get the admiration of all our friends. To wear a black hat that said “Bus Driver” and confuses thousands of unknowing people only to show its significance to the 50 local skiers that knew its importance. This was the time. It had to happen now!

And so it did. With all the excitement on the final round, it brought out the best of everyone.

Dave Satterfield was on the water and made it through his first 3 passes. 38 started as smooth as any previous pass until 5 ball. The tip rose up, but Dave slammed it down and dug in for 6. Out the gates! Success. With a score of 1/2 at 39, he just missed the bus.

Rod was up next. Was the six-year tournament drought finally going to end? He had run this pass in practice more than any previous summer and he really wanted that trophy. And just like practice, he eased through 38. Just another day at the lake. To make things interesting, he tied the knot up even tighter by scoring 1 at 39. Now there were 3 at the top. But Corey hadn't skied his final round.

With one final chance to settle this without going into overtime, Corey took the water. He was on. You could see it in his opener. Flawless through 35. Not the slightest hesitation in his form or his mind. The trophy was going to be his. Then came 38. And again it went down. The shoreline went crazy. Every one was on their feet. This was the culmination of a full summer filled with intense training and great weekend sportsmanship. The boat wound up to 36 as Corey edged out for his 39 set-up. Nice gates! A little slack at one ball! No problem, relax and enjoy the ride out to two. Success! Game over. Corey wins with 1.5 @ 39!

Wow. What a summer.

As fall sets in, I sit at Smith Mountain Lake and ponder the past season. As the release of heat from the water forms a haze on its surface, I'm reminded of why this sport is so great. It's the people. It's striving for personal goals with your competitors helping you to be better than they are one day. Your competition is an accomplice in your success. How ironic. It's not a team sport, but you can't succeed alone. It's unique in so many ways.

Early this summer, as we sat in the restaurant enjoying each others company, we talked about the obvious; 38 is a tough pass. How do we get past it? For us, competition spurred us on to better scores. There are parallels at all levels of skiing, regardless of your line length. What are your goals? What will you do to increase your buoy count? One thing's for sure, you won't do it alone.