The Start of the New Waterski Season part 3

The last few weeks, we asked skiers what they did in winter to stay in shape and how their season started. In part 1 Frank Schulze from Fischlham, Austria shared his plan and tips for this year’s season. Last week in part 2 Rikos Zervopoulos showed us how he started his season at Kaiafas Lake in Greece.

Today in part 3, we have reports from Hungary, Finland, Austria, Sweden and Norway.

At Sylvia Lake in Hungary they only stopped skiing for a short period. Gabor Nemeth and his team skied until the lake was frozen, his wife Szilvia writes. Then the lake was frozen for almost one month and they were forced to take a rest. As soon as the ice started to melt, they broke it with the boat. Winter skiing went on like this: sauna, ski, sauna, ski, sauna, ski, … etc. etc. In winter they skied four times a week, but they had to use the sauna every time.

Laura Lammi

Laura Lammi

Laura Lammi

Laura Lammi from Finland did a litte cross-country skiing and went to a training group to stay fit during winter. She also did some snowboarding for fun. In Finland they still have so much ice on the lake that you can drive a car on it. The end of April it will finally melt and they start skiing right away when there is no ice floating around. That is usually around the 1st of May.

Every spring, Laura used to go abroad to ski. Usually to Cory Pickos and sometimes to Laghetto in Sperlonga in Italy. This year she will start in Finland.

Lunch at NoWave Lake Austria

Putting the buoys in at NoWave Lake Austria

Putting the buoys in at NoWave Lake Austria

Moritz Engelhardt skiing at NoWave Lake Austria

Volker Engelhardt’s ski club in Tulln an der Donau, Austria is almost ready for the season. Last week they put in the slalom buoys and this week they got to ski.

Ambjörnarps Water Ski Club

At Peter Svensson’s club in Sweden, the Ambjörnarps Water Ski Club, they haven't started waterskiing yet. Peter writes: “Normally we start mid April, since the ice normally stays on till then. This year it went off early, which was perfect since we're changing our slalom course this year and we could start that work last Saturday. So we have the new course in till Easter weekend and then we put the boat in”.

SIAP Skarnes

Lasse Johnson from Norway writes that it is still winter in Norway. His waterski lake at SIAP Skarnes will hopefully be open by the end of April. Lasse went to the Worlds 35+ in Chile and after the Worlds he has been skiing and snowboarding in the mountains every weekend. And he went to the gym three times a week to build (and keep) strength and stamina. He hopes that this will make the transition to waterskiing a little bit easier and less painful. Lasse will go to Jolly Ski San Gervasio in April to train a few days with Genadi Guralia.

Finally, this is the lake where Jutta Lammi skies in Finland. The lake is still frozen, Antti Laakso writes, but they are hoping to start skiing very soon!

Do you have an interesting story to tell about the start of your season. Please let us know by sending an email to jacky@waterskisites.com.

The Start of the New Waterski Season part 1

Now the season has started, we asked some skiers what they did in winter to stay in shape and how their season started.

We start with Frank Schulze from Fischlham, Austria. He shares his plan and tips for this year’s season.

I started slalom skiing in 2001 with 1@52 18,25m. I worked for 7 years to ski 12m in a tournament in 2007. After another 7 years I was able to to run 11,25m in a tournament in 2014. My tournament PB is 5@10,75 55km/h in 2017. Bronze Medal EM 2013 Silver Medal EM 2014

My start in a new season

The water is 4 degrees, the air is 8 degrees. All my stuff must be warm. My ski, binding, gloves, suits and handle all are warmed up until 28 degrees. I dress up in a warm container of 28 degrees. I jump start from the dock and ski a set with 6 passes without the course and I don’t stop between passes. Then it’s back to the dock. I don’t touch the water because it´s 4 degrees cold. I do this 5 times in 10 days. The next 10 days I ski on the 14m rope, 4 or 6 times in a row if it´s possible. I don’t stop between the passes.

Now my body is shaped for the real training.

Yes, I train hard. But it is not enough. I must train harder, because most of the skiers around the world have a better technique than I and they train with coaches in Florida. My goal is running the 11,25m rope on every lake and in every tournament. And my secret goal is running 10,75m in training on my home lake.

My skiing season

1. you need time 2. have a training plan and a buddy to train with 3. have a big and a rewarding goal 4. never stop training for the entire year 5. ski on the water from February to December 6. ski 2 or 3 sets in slalom 5 days a week from May to October 7. ski always in tournament mode, don’t go with the speed down or ski with a driver that doesn’t drive straight 8. ski 6 times in a row with the start line in the beginning of the season 9. ski killer sets, start cold from the dock with 13, 12 and 11m 10. ski a lot of 13m and a lot of 12m passes 11. think before you ski about what you want to do, find your focus 12. let someone video your skiing and then analyze the mistakes and find the solutions 13. do mountain biking 2-3 times a week to relax 14. take a 45 min. body massage weekly to relax 15. you must be a little crazy 16. work on the solutions and not on the mistakes 17. the most of the people helping you, tell you your mistakes, just a handful have positive words and give you a solution 18. never give up 19. ski always with a smile on your face 20. carpe diem

Off Season

I keep in shape by doing snow skiing, crossfit, biking and hill climbing.

Last winter I did:

30 days of snow skiing, not like a tourist, but like a GS or SG skier with real carving turns 10 Races in a GS or SG Tournament 25 times ski touring 20 times workout in a gym or a crossfit training 10 times indoor biking on a home trainer 10 times hill climbing/walking

After 18 years of being a little crazy and hard work, I am ranked in slalom in the Top 10 in Europe and number 28 in the World.

I never went in Florida for winter training, I did it all in Fischlham, Austria.

This is my plan.

Text and photos by Frank Schulze

Moomba Masters 2020 - The Ultimate Guide

In the aftermath of Moomba Masters 2019, waterski fans worldwide are Googling like crazy…trying to figure out how they can get themselves to Melbourne for next year’s event.

As a first-timer to Moomba this year, I have to say, it was everything I dreamed of as a kid. The sun was shining (mostly!), the skiing was incredible, and the atmosphere was electric. If you have been to a ski site anywhere in the world — you are bound to run into someone you know at Moomba — it is a massive waterski-nerd fest!

Watching Moomba Masters 2019 Jump Semi-finals from the banks of the Yarra

For those of you new to the sport — the first pro waterski event of the year is possibly the most challenging for the men, women and juniors that take to the water. Set in the centre of Melbourne on the Yarra River, there is often a strong current to contend with. This doesn’t hold them back though, and amazing jump, trick and slalom scores are put on the board each year.

Mens Slalom, first round, Moomba Saturday 2019

Although challenging, skiers report that it is also the most rewarding tournament, with thousands of spectators filling the banks of the river. The Moomba Masters waterskiing and wakeboarding is part of the Moomba Festival, which also includes show skiing and disabled ski demonstrations, skateboarding, basketball, the Birdman Rally, a parade, live music, fireworks, and a huge funfair — the Moomba Carnival — with rides and street food stalls.

Show skiers at Moomba Masters 2019. Photo credit: Haystack.com.au

Held over the long weekend in March, the Moomba festival is said to attract 1.3 million people each year and has been running for 65 years. No stranger to the Moomba Masters, and a Victorian local, World Jump Champion Jacinta Carroll gives us the low down on visiting the Moomba Masters 2020.

Q: What advice would you give ski fans visiting Moomba for the first time?

A: My number one tip, although my mother would despise me giving it away: bring a chair and get in early. Each year, while I happily sleep away, my mum wakes up bright and early to head down to the river with her camp chairs. She lines them up in the best vantage point, under the shadiest tree she can find. As a result, no matter the weather, size of the crowd, or length of the day — we know we have a great vantage spot to watch the best skiers in the world from. Trust me, if you attend Moomba without a picnic rug or camp chair, you will be wishing you were best friends with my mum!

Second best tip: watch the night jump during the fireworks! This is seriously a once in a lifetime opportunity for both the athletes and the crowd — but get in early, as literally hundreds of thousands of Melbournians flock to the water's edge right on 9:30pm.

Q: As a Victorian, do you have any top tips for visiting local places nearby before or after the event (wineries, tourist attractions, etc)?

A: While in Melbourne itself I love to try and check out some local coffee shops and eateries. Following the event, I would HIGHLY recommend a trip down the Great Ocean Road to see the 12 Apostles. There is plenty of little beachside communities to stop at on the drive and the drive itself is just as rewarding as you circle down the cliff edges against the Pacific Ocean with blue waves crashing against the foreshore. And if you love an adventure — the Adventure Company offers a scenic flight in an old-school biplane across the 12 Apostles. I recently purchased this for my partner's Christmas present and believe it is one of the best experiences I have ever had.

Jacinta Carroll jumping at Moomba Masters 2018

Q: Where is your favourite place to grab a quick bite in the city (Melbourne)?

A: Oh, this is a tough one – I absolutely love food. However, am always worried about time and not wanting to venture too far from the site when I am competing. Close by to the site, Dad and I experienced some great food, and beer (Dad of course), at the Hophaus in Southbank. This German pub is tucked away upstairs on the Southbank Promenade, so when it comes to Moomba Monday and there are thousands of people around, it's nice to escape upstairs and be rewarded with great food.

Q: Where is the best place in the city to stay during Moomba?

A: Personally I stay at an Airbnb in Southbank. My hosts have been lovely and always very accommodating. Anything within walking distance to Southbank and Flinders Street Station will generally allow you to be in the heart of things for the weekend.

Q: What is your favourite part of the event, as a skier, and as a spectator?

Moomba Monday Jump Finals — hearing the crowd raw. As a Victorian and growing up only one hour away from the site — I absolutely love knowing that there are so many people on the banks cheering me on. The crowd’s influence on the adrenaline and excitement you feel on the water is no other. The feeling of jumping in front of so many eager spectators would nearly have to be the best experiences I get while competing, both in Australia and overseas.