Run off at the state championship

The USA Waterski Association hosts state competitions for every 50 states. Indiana's was held near Danville this year - just west of Indianapolis. All ages competed in slalom, jump, and trick skiing events over two full days.

One of the most fun events this year was men's 4 slalom. Although these men are in their 40s, it's one of the toughest groupings; skiing some of the shortest rope lengths. Kevin Smith took first place in this event, and Paul Miller took second, with an exciting run into 38 feet off the line. Paul M. Is impressive, and to watch - he just hangs on to the handle no matter what, even if his body slams into the water around the buoy. He'll hold on to the handle when most of us would be finished, keep his ski under him and keep going. So exciting. I think he got 2 buoys at 38' but don't quote me on that. He had run a bunch of complete passes around the buoy before that at the longer lengths.

The thing was, three other competitors in the class all scored the next best - these men all got .5 buoy at 38' off - don't ask me to explain the weird (half a buoy) scoring now, the terms are old fashioned. There's the metric scoring used world wide but most people in the U.S. still use English measurement in common conversation. Brad Beerman, Chris Clark and Paul Goldman tied at this score, beating the rest of the field. This meant a run-off for third place statewide.

Goldman won the coin toss, and chose to go last. Beerman went out first, at 35' off. No warm up here; that is really smokin' hot at 34 mph. Brad did not make it around one ball at 38'. Clark was up next. He ran solidly through 35', and then looked strong at 38', even though he had reported rotator-cuff problems. He came up with 2.5 at 38'. Very impressive - but what it did was set a goal for Goldman to reach. He no longer had to try and run the whole pass - he just had to get past 2.5 to win.

Goldman is cool and collected under tournament pressure, about as trim looking as he was in his twenties, long-legged, a bit more slight than the other men - lean. He stayed on the back of his ski, didn't over pull and jerk himself out of position, and smoothly nailed 35'. There was lots of anticipation in the crowd before his 38'. All eyes were down at the far end, waiting for the boat to take off. And there he came, and around ball one, two, stretching out at this super-short rope length, slipping his ski around ball three, and then just back behind the boat, in control behind the wake.

He had won it. Slick as it could be, he did, and didn't risk falling and blowing it by going on and trying to run the whole pass. Choosing to go last from the coin toss had paid off. It was fun for the crowd, and a good story to report from the iPad. On to the regionals in Minnesota the competitors will now go. More challenges ahead. See you all later.