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Wasa youth golden at Provincial Water Ski Championships
By Nowell Berg
On August 17, Wasa/Cranbrook resident Erica Godsave placed first in the U12 category for slalom and first for trick water skiing at the provincial Water Ski Wakeboard BC championships.
With over 70 participants of all ages from across B.C. assembled at McIvor Lake, Campbell River, this was Godsave’s first tournament.
Commenting on her first place finish, Godsave said, “It was really good and fun.” On finishing with two firsts, she said, “it shocked me a bit.” Very exuberant and excited about the first place finishes, she said, “I’m really happy, I was really going there for the experience as I wasn’t quite sure I was going to place or anything.”
In terms of the slalom race, Godsave reached 25 miles per hour (mph) and completed 2.5 balls out of six for the best U12 finish. The slalom race starts at 21 mph and increases by two mph after each successful completion of the course. Her personal best is two balls at 28 mph.
In the trick water skiing competition, Godsave performed several stunts on two skis. She started with two side slides, one on the left and one on the right. These were followed by two 180-degree surface turns clockwise and counter-clockwise. She finished up the trick sequence with two 360-degree spins which was enough for her to place first.
The other award Godsave received was a plaque for the “Best Crash.”
“I was leading first in slalom, trying to go for my personal best and I crashed on three ball. I went out the front and the ski came back and hit me in the head.” This is called a Scorpion crash which is defined as, falling on your face while folding yourself in half…the wrong way.
As for her future plans in the sport, “I have no idea, just trying to beat my personal best.”
Godsave regularly practices trick skiing at Wasa and slalom at a near-by lake.
She wants to send out a “big thanks” to slalom coach Ron Smith and trick ski coach Larry Gould.
“It was a great experience just to go there. Since it was my first tournament, I was really nervous and everything.”
She would recommend other young persons to get involved in water skiing. “The water ski community is so friendly. They just welcome you in, they’re just really nice.”
She plans on attending the tournament next year but will be moving up a category to U14. Also, she hopes to qualify for BC Summer Games in 2020.
Lead image: Erica Godsave in action at the Water Ski Wakeboard BC championships. Â Photo credit Kristen Leech/Water Ski Wakeboard BC
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