Is it really over?

Is it really over?

So as the ski season moves to a close I find myself looking back over some great events and fun times from L.A. Night Jam to the backyard Lago tournament to SCR Regionals, Awsa Nationals, fall collegiate tournaments, and the finale at the NCWSA Nationals held at the spectacular Bennett’s Water Ski school in Zachary, La. Seems to me there is nothing better to do now but start planning for next year! How do we improve and make each event even more fun? I guess we will need to be creative.

It is that time for regional coordinators to reach out to area clubs and start working on the schedule for next year. No, the printed guide is no longer a deadline hanging over us, but that SCR winter meeting is a place to be sure we have it all pulled together as a region for the council to vote on and approve the summer's events. This year’s Winter meeting will be held in Katy, TX at the Springhill Suites Hotel on January 13th, 2024. So the meeting is on the books, however, we are missing a crucial piece to a successful 2024 SCR season and that would be a host site for the Regionals. Sadly, in recent years numbers have been down slightly for this event; however, that makes planning and hosting the event even more manageable. Your club too could be a part of the prestigious group of sites that have hosted the SCR regionals. Be bold! This event could even be done on a one-lake site! Contact me if you have any desire or interest in holding the best event in the Region.

My family and many others finished the season at the NCWSA Nationals. This event is distinctly different from any other water ski tournament, and I highly suggest you make it out to one at some time in the future. The University of Louisiana-Lafayette won the Division 1 event followed by the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Dozens of our SCR young people skied for one of the 24 teams that competed over the weekend. The event ended with a grand banquet at the Crown Plaza of Baton Rouge where supporters were honored and inducted into the NCWSA Hall of Fame. Two of our very own were among the inductees. Scott Greenwood for his 3 plus decades of driving Collegiate tournaments as well as his volunteering and hosting collegiate tournaments. Greenie gave an inspiring speech and honored his supporters from over the years. Kelvin Kelm was honored for his thousands of volunteer hours spent supporting collegiate water skiing webcasting, hosting tournaments, pulling tournaments & practice, housing, and feeding a majority of the SCR collegiate skiers at one point or another. His family and friends were there to support him as he humbly accepted this honor. These men are inspirations to us all and a great example of the spirit of the South Central Region of Water skiers.

In that very spirit let’s make 2024 better than ever!