Three Event Skiers
Skiers receive points based on their performance in each event. Points for rounds are combined to give a skier their total score for that event, the athlete with the highest combined score wins that event. If a skier competes in all 3 events, then they are eligible for an overall ranking. This takes their scores from each event and totals them up.
SLALOM
Competitive slalom waterskiing is a high-intensity discipline that demands a blend of explosive power, precise timing, and technical finesse. Difficult to master, a skier must ski through an entrance gate, around six staggered buoys and an exit gate while being towed through a central course.
The challenge scales in difficulty through two primary variables:
Speed: Top speeds vary by age class - for example for a Mens 5 age division skier, 54 km/h (34 mph); for women, it is 52 km/h (32 mph).
Rope Length: Once a skier successfully clears the course at top speed, the rope is shortened in standardized increments.
As the rope length decreases, it eventually becomes shorter than the actual distance from the boat’s pylon to the buoys. This requires the skier to use their body length and "reach" to round the turn. At the most elite levels, the rope is shortened to lengths like 9.25 meters (43 feet off),
Success depends on a consistent "stacked" body position and a rhythmic cross-course pull.
Missing a buoy results in an immediate end to the pass.
TRICK
Trick Skiing Gear:
Trick skis are short, wide, and—most importantly—finless. Without a fin to track the water, the ski is incredibly "slippery," allowing the athlete to spin 360 degrees or slide sideways with ease.
The Rope & Handle: For certain maneuvers, skiers use a "toehold" handle, which allows them to attach their foot to the rope and perform rotations while leaving their hands free.
Competition Format
In a tournament, a skier has two 20-second passes to accumulate as many points as possible. Each trick has a pre-assigned point value based on its difficulty.
Hand Pass: The skier holds the handle with their hands, performing surface rotations (like 360s or 540s), wake crossings, and flips.
Toe Pass: The skier attaches one foot to a specialized toe strap on the handle, performing intricate turns and rotations using only their core and leg strength for balance.
Scoring and Strategy
Variety is Key: You cannot repeat the same trick for points within a pass, though many tricks have a "reverse" version (spinning the opposite direction) that counts as a separate maneuver.
Speed: Unlike slalom, where the boat speed is fixed by the rules, trick skiers choose their own speed—typically between 16 and 21 mph—to optimize their balance and wake size.
Judging: Shore, boat and video based judges must "call" the tricks, verifying that each rotation was fully completed and the skier remained in control.
JUMP
Competitive jump waterskiing may be the most adrenaline-fueled of the three disciplines, combining technical boat-timing with the sheer physical bravery required to launch off a fiberglass ramp at highway speeds.
The Objective: Unlike the precision of slalom or the technicality of tricks, the goal here is singular: distance.
A skier is given three attempts to cross a ramp and land a "rideable" jump. The distance is measured from the base of the ramp to the point where the skier’s heels hit the water.
The most critical part of a jump isn't the airtime—it’s the approach.
The Whip Effect: While the boat travels at a constant speed (a maximum of 35.4 mph for men and 33.5 mph for women), the skier "cuts" across the wake in a massive arc.
Extreme Velocity: By the time an elite jumper hits the base of the ramp, they have accelerated to speeds exceeding 70 mph.
G-Force: During this cross-course pull, athletes can experience over 4 Gs of force as they fight to maintain their edge against the boat’s pull.
Jump Skis: These are significantly longer (up to 90 inches) and heavier than slalom skis. They are designed with extra reinforcement to survive the impact of landing.
The Ramp: The ramp is roughly 22 feet long and coated with wax and a constant stream of water to reduce friction. The height is adjustable based on skill level:
5 feet: Standard starting height.
5.5 feet: Intermediate/Professional women.
6 feet: Professional men.
Elite Milestones:
To give you an idea of the scale, professional men regularly clear 200+ feet (the world record held by Ryan Dodd is over 250 feet), while top women clear 180+ feet. Landing a jump of this magnitude requires a "delayed" rotation in the air to ensure the skis are perfectly parallel to the water upon impact.
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