Rankings are used to seed the water-skiers in most local tournaments. If you are an un-ranked skier, you will be the first contestant off the dock in your slalom, trick or jump event. The higher ranked skiers go last. Some skiers thrive on the added pressure of being seeded at the end, but some wilt under that additional pressure. There is also a certain amount of prestige associated with a higher ranking.
This is also how all US regional and national tournaments are run. The tournament sponsor orders the entry list using the current US National rankings. For world tournaments, the same procedure is followed, except they use the world ranking list provided by the IWSF (International Water Ski Federation).
How It Works
- At the conclusion of every tournament, the final results are sent to the AWSA and the IWSF who then compile these results into their annual list. A skier must ski in at least two AWSA sanctioned events and their combined performance must equal an expert rating or higher to be included. The requirements for inclusion in the world list are higher. View the World ranking list rules.
Seeding adds to the excitement of the event, by having the best skiers come out last, which usually means the winner is not determined until the final skier has skied. Sponsors of professional and cash prize tournaments are especially aware of the benefit of having the excitement build with each skier.
World Rankings back to 1979 and recent US National and Regional rankings are available at TournamentWaterSki.com. So, if you have skied in at least 2 US sanctioned tournaments, your ranking for that year will be included.
Technical Details for USA National Rankings
- The American Water Ski Association, a sport discipline of USA Water Ski, compiles a national ranking list annually. The list ranks all athletes, with a combined average that earns an expert rating or higher, who competed in at least two American Water Ski Association sanctioned Class C or above tournaments that year.
For Individual Events
- The National Seeding Formula derives the rankings list value.
Slalom is determined by averaging scores from the skiers top five tournaments. If a skier has less than five scores, the value is reduced as follows:
Missing Score: 1 / Penalty: -2%
Missing Score: 2 / Penalty: -4%
Missing Score: 3 / Penalty: -8%
Tricks and jumping are determined by averaging scores from the skiers' top three tournaments. If a skier has only two tournaments the score will be reduced by two percent.
