2024 Officials Seminar Report

Europe & Africa Confederations

Report from the Irish Delegation

On the

2024 SEMINAR

For Officials of Waterski & Disabled





Athens, Greece April 12-14th 2024

Europe & Africa Seminar for Officials of Waterski & Disabled


Synopsis of Events

Organisation:

Europe & Africa Waterski and Disabled Councils

HWSF (Hellenic Waterski Federation)


The E & A Waterski & Disabled Officials’ Seminar was held in Athens, Greece (Glyfada area) from 12/4 to 14 /4/2024.

The E&A council indicate that the most important part of the seminar is attendance. The success of the seminar depends on all officials! AS it is the best opportunity to share knowledge and experience.

Also only officials who have attended a waterski officials’ seminar within the last three years will be considered for Europe & Africa Titled Events and other major competitions.


Venue:

CONGO PALACE HOTEL ****

Address: 81A Leoforos Posidonos 16674 Glyfada – Athens Greece


SEMINAR ENTRY FEE

The entry fee for the seminar was 35,00€ /pers

TRAVEL to the Hotel and Seminar Venue

Nearest airport is ATHENS AIRPORT (EL.VENIZELOS)


SOCIAL PROGRAM FRIDAY / SATURDAY

There was a very good organisation by the Greek confederation to keep the group together for unofficial networking and discussions. There was a Friday night dinner with GREEK HOME MADE CUISINE, at a cost of 25,00 euros/pers, a Saturday night dinner with SEA FOOD, 35,00 euros/pers

And taxis and buses for these events were included in the price.


Waterski Europe website 

(https://www.waterksieurope.eu


CONTACT ORGANISATION

Dimos Alexopoulos

Aristotelis Balais

mobile +30 6942293030

or

mobile +30 6937164762

email: dka@hotech.gr

email : balakis00@hotmail.com


CONTACT WATERSKI COUNCIL CONTACT DISABLED COUNCIL

Hannu Rintanen Carmen Ferrer Bosch

Email: htrwski@waterskieurope.com Email: carmen.ferrerbosch@gmail.com

Friday April 12

2024 Official’s Seminar - Athens


PROGRAM


MAIN ROOM

14.00 – 16.30

RULES World rules, E&A Additional rules (waterski and disabled) Candido & Gavin

16.30 – 16.45

Short Break

16.45 – 18.00

BPMS – slalom and jump/ Driver portal / Splash eye/ Sure path Donal & Candido, Ricardo & James

19.30 Bus departure for Friday dinner


Saturday April 13

Room 1

Room 2

Room 3

9.00 – 10.00

SLALOM &

TRICKS / Candido

EYETRICK & Tech software / Donal

EMS & SCORING

Dany and Morten

10.00 – 10.15

Short Break (15 min)

10.15 - 11.15

SLALOM &

TRICKS / Candido

EYETRICK & Tech software / Donal

EMS & SCORING

Dany and Morten

11.15 – 11.30

Short Break (15 min)

11.30 - 12.30

SLALOM &

TRICKS / Candido

EYETRICK & Tech software / Donal

EMS & SCORING

Dany and Morten

12.30 - 14.00

Lunch Break

14.00 - 16.00

EXAMS THEORY

EYETRICK black box overview / Donal

Disabled waterski

16.00 - 16.20

Short Break (20 min)

16.20 - 17.20

EXAMS TRICKS

EYETRICK black box overview / Donal

DRIVERS issues

17.20 -17.45

Short Break (25 min)

17.45 – 18.45

EXAMS SLALOM

EYETRICK black box overview / Donal

Homologators

19.15 Bus departure for Seminar dinner (outside the hotel)


Sunday April 14

MAIN ROOM

09.00 – 10.30

ISSUES, SITUATIONS etz

10.30 -10.45

Break

10.45 - 12.00

COUNCIL INTRODUCTION FEEDBACK

12.00

Closing seminar



Report 

A big congratulations to the Greek Confederation for putting on a marvelous conference. They could not have been more helpful.

Friday

Friday began with the welcomes and explanation of the event, followed by a detailed discussion of rule changes. This always takes a good few hours as there are many changes and over 100 delegates from around Europe.

The biggest changes are:

Slalom – a new T handle is being trialed (supposed to prevent arm injury). This handle has its own homologation system. The boat course monitoring system (surepath)

Tricks – There are 4 new flips. Eyetrick is beginning to be used in official events but not until Donal has tested every judges use of the tablet.

Jump - The boat course monitoring system and driving the course. There is no weaving allowed.

All these rules are explained in much more detail in the 2024 rule book available at the IWWF website.

Saturday

Saturday morning had breakout sessions. 

We attended the eyetrick demonstration. We did not get to use the tablets due to internet constraints but Donal went through the interface and it was very informative.

We attended a trick writing session by Candido. He demonstrated the 4 new flips and their permutations. What constitutes a credit or no credit? He then went through some top level ski runs and we practiced writing and giving credit or no credit.

Barry went to a second eyetrick demonstration and managed to use his tablet.

After lunch we got to attempt the exams. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful by a small margin. Partly because there seems to be a problem with understanding some of the English and partly because we do not have some of the equipment to practice on. It was good practice though and we can retake the exams again at a later date. 

We gave some feedback about the exams regarding maybe checking the English as some answers are very ambiguous and that perhaps for most of us writing a trick exam at the beginning of the season is not the best time as 90% of European judges have no practice over the winter. They said we can retake them again in the autumn.

Sunday

Sunday was for feedback and more discussions and there was a very interesting presentation on Safety regarding “initiation ceremonies”. There has been a long tradition of an unwritten initiation ceremony for new comers especially in the U14/17/21. This is now officially not allowed as some will see it as bullying or unsafe behavior.

Overall

There is a lot to be gained by an Irish delegation attending these seminars. We could so easy be left behind, in the world of waterskiing, because the technology at the big events are rapidly changing. Skiers who travel to world and European events need to be prepared and this seminar assists us in this area.

Networking is also a very necessary part of the seminar. Meeting those in charge of surepath, EMS, Eyetrick etc. Judges who are J1 and J2etc. Homologators had a big event because of the amount of changing technology. Getting to talk to these officials will help us getting officials for our events. For example we have a couple of J2 and J1 judges who are willing to travel to our waterski nationals. 


Thank you to the IrWWF and the WIS fund for enabling us to attend this event.

End of report.

Eileen Galvin WIS Officer

Barry Galvin Waterski Officer


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