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
