WORLD JUNIOR WATER SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

August 9 - 11, 1996
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The following is a mini bulletin to keep you all informed of the happenings surrounding the World Jr. Championships in 1996. Note that all monetary figures are quoted in Canadian Dollars and as of this week, the following conversions are in place:

1 USD = $1.35 CDN
1 UK Pound = $2.10 CDN
1 FF = $.27 CDN
1 SF = $1.15 CDN

THE CITY OF EDMONTON:

EDMONTON, Alta. The capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta, Edmonton lies on the North Saskatchewan River. It has been a distribution center for northwestern Canada since it was founded in 1795 as a Hudson's Bay Company fur-trading post.

Edmonton is a modern 21st Century city and located 667 meters above sea level. It offers a multitude of amenities including the World's largest shopping center, West Edmonton Mall comprising hundreds of stores and entertainment facilities including an indoor wave pool, water slides, bungie jumping, submarine rides, and an indoor amusement centre all in the confines of one building. Other attractions include the River Valley Park, Fort Edmonton Park, excellent Golf Courses and a host of other amenities. Most areas are within a 20 minute drive from the ski site.

Only a few hours away are the magnificent Rocky Mountains which can be reached by car or bus including famous areas such as Banff National Park, Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefields, and Jasper National Park. Take some time off to enjoy these areas; they are spectacular!

For more information, contact Water Ski Canada at (613) 748-5683 or Fax (613) 748- 5867 or, if you are on the INTERNET, visit our WEB site at:

http://www.ualberta.ca/~kelder/96.World.Jr.html

for the latest in what's happening right up to and including the tournament. Presently we have pictures of the site on this WEB page. During the tournament, we will be downloading on the spot results via the Internet including photos and reports as they happen.

HOTEL ACCOMODATION:

The Official Hotel will be the Coast Terrace located 15 minutes from the site in South Edmonton at:

440 Calgary Trail Nth., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Postal Code, T6H 5C2 Phone No.: (403) 437 6010 and the fax number is (403) 437 0153

This is a first class hotel with excellent dining facilities, banquet halls, swimming pool and physical fitness centre. The special room rates for this event are as follows:

Single/Double rooms: $75.00 per night
Triple Rooms: $80.00 per night
Quad Rooms: $95.00 per night

Advise the reservation desk that it is for the World Jr. Water Ski Championships.

THE SITE:

The lake is 2100 feet (640 metres) long and about 250 feet (76 metres) wide. It is a minimum of 8 feet (2.4 metres) deep in the competition area with 12 feet (3.6 metres) deep in front of and beyond the ski jump.

A unique underwater cabling system allows us to submerge all buoys leaving only the required buoys for a particular event on the surface. This avoids any confusion between the different courses. Complete course changes can be accomplished in less than 5 minutes which allows us to provide some unique formats with respect to the competition.

While this is not the first event we have held with international skiers (previous events have included Andy and Deena Mapple, Carl Roberge, Bruce and Toni Neville, Sammy Duvall, Kreg and Jaret Llewellyn, Helena Kjellander, Kristi Overton and others) it is our first event that has been awarded to us by the IWSF. The positive feedback from these professional skiers would suggest that we will have the opportunity to have future events like this since it is considered to be a skiers site. Many personal bests have been set here and we hope you can do the same. The site is well sheltered from wind and equipped with some of the finest facilities and equipment available.

Shalom Park has been the host site to many elite water ski events such as:

1995 Western Canadian Championships
1994 Canadian National Championships
1994 International Water Ski Classic (Pro Stop)
1993 Canadian National Championships
1992 International Water Ski Classic (Pro Stop)
1992 Canadian National Barefoot Championships
1991 Canada vs. USA Challenge
1990 Western Canadian Championships
1989 Canadian National Championships
1988 Western Canadian Championships
1986 Canadian National Barefoot Championships

...and many more !!

TRAINING FACILITIES

For those who arrive early and wish to get some practice time before the tournament, 4 sites have been set aside for this purpose. As these sites are not vacant, but are in fact used by various water ski clubs, some restrictions apply so please note the details:

Innisfail Water Ski Club
160 Km south of Edmonton on major highway
Site information: Natural lake about 580 m long and 350 m wide, has slalom course and jump course. Host site for the 1985 Canadian Nationals plus home town and former training site of Kreg and Jaret Llewellyn. Lake located within Town limits and is close to all amenities including hotel and restaurants. Presently using MasterCraft boats although arrangements can be made for Nautiques.
Site Rental Fees: Site is available in four hour blocks of time at a fee of $550 (includes boat rental) and skiing is available from 0830 to 1700 hrs each day. A weekly rate can be obtained for 5 days per week, 6 hour days at $2,950 flat rate.

Thunder Lake Water Ski Club
About 50 Km west of Edmonton
Site Information: A natural lake about 850 m long and 90 m wide with good wind protection with slalom course only. Lake is quite close to hotels and restaurants.
Site Rental Fees: Site is available in four hour blocks of time at a fee of $500 (includes boat rental) and skiing is available from 0830 to 1700 hrs each day.

On Golden Pond
About 45 km from Edmonton (50 minutes from Shalom Water Park).
Site Information: A natural lake about 760 m long and 150 m wide with a slalom course and jump. Ski Brendella tow boat.
Site Rental Fees; Site is available in four hour blocks of time at a fee of $550 (includes boat rental) and skiing is available from 0830 to 1700 hrs each day. At this time, the site has only been made available for the dates of August 6 to 11, 1996. It may be extended in the future.

Shalom Water Park
About 15 minutes from the host hotel in Edmonton.
Site Information: (See Above)
Other Facilities: close to hotels and restaurants. Large starting dock and tournament centre.
Site Rental Fees: Site is available in four hour blocks of time at a fee of $800 includes boat rental (Ski Nautiques with speed control). Due to other programs, there will only be a limited availability for this host facility. August time slots have already been booked.

Wizard Water Ski Club
about 60 km from the host hotel and 25 minutes from Shalom.
Site Information: Long narrow public lake (approx 5 km long). There is a slalom course and jump and skiing is best done in the mornings if the wind is not blowing from the west or southeast. Calm water for trick skiing can always be found. If you provide a boat, skiing is free at the Club if you identify yourself. Otherwise, skiing is available at $10 per 8 minute session (American Skier TBX inboard). A good place to tune up.

For more details and all bookings for the above sites contact Vern Oberg at the following:

Fax: (403) 486-2246
Email: 75262.1567@compuserve.com
Phone: (403) 483-0164 (Bus.)

SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM

As per IWSF rules, the official speed control system to be used for the 1996 World Jr's in Edmonton will be the Perfect Pass Controls system. This unit has been used with great success at the 1995 Canadian Nationals and Regional Events, and as well, the 1995 Latin American Championships in Santiago, Chile. It will also be used for all Canadian Regional and National events in 1996. An attempt will be made to have units installed in all training boats at all certified training sites listed above. The unit is commercially available for all interested parties wishing to train with the unit prior to the event.

WEATHER INFORMATION:

Edmonton is located at 53 deg north latitude at an altitude of 640 meters ASL. and is formally under Mountain Daylight Time or -7 hours from Greenwich Mean time. During this period of Summer, the sun shines for 16 hours per day. The weather is normally dry with cool nights (12 C) and warm daytime periods (20-30 C).

CAR/VAN RENTAL:

An official agency has not been determined as yet but preliminary costs for a 12 seater van is $55/day with 100km plus $.15/km thereafter. A 15 seat van is $60/day. Gasoline prices as of this date are $.45/liter. Cars can be rented for as low as $30/day unlimited mileage. An update will be provided as soon as it is known.

AIRLINES:

Official airline will be set in the next month. However, Edmonton can be reached direct from Europe via Amsterdam, Frankfurt, England and other locations using Canadian Airlines and Air Canada on a daily basis. From Asia, daily flights are available usually stopping in Vancouver or Los Angeles.

VISA INFORMATION:

For Citizenship and immigration information regarding travelers to Canada, please contact the nearest Canadian Embassy in your Country. We will attempt to clarify this matter in our next bulletin.

BANKING AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE:

Money exchange locations will be provided to you when you arrive and most banks can provide this service. A large number of bank machines are located in shopping malls, banks, and other locations which may be more convenient for your needs. US dollars are taken by stores but usually at a greatly reduced rate of exchange. Travelers cheques are accepted in most places as well as most major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, and American Express - Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted).

Cab fare from the Airport to the Hotel is approximately $25 and most cabs accept credit cards.

WELCOME!

The entire City of Edmonton welcomes you to enjoy our amenities and we are busy trying to make your stay here as pleasant as possible. We are confident that this will be an exciting event that everyone will enjoy. So, come on down to the relaxed atmosphere of the Canadian North, enjoy our warmth and hospitality and cheer on your favourite skiers in the 1996 World Jr. Water Ski Championships!

Vern Oberg

Additional Training Facility

MOOSE COUNTRY WATER SKI CAMP REXFORD, MONTANA USA
Moose Country Water Ski Camp is a full service (room, food, skiing and amenities) water ski training facility located on days drive south of the Junior Worlds site, on the USA side of the border, just south of the British Columbia line.

We are a hour away from Glacier Park International Airport, in Kalispell, Montana for clearing customs, or travel by air. US highway 93 runs right by us on the way to Canada.

We have two slalom courses, one jump and over a mile of free or trick skiing areas on a calm, private lake.

We provide Perfect Pass Auto Throttle, Drivers with ratings from Assistant thru Senior, and a USA National Coaching Committtee Member on staff.

We can accomodate 20 skiers a day and can be skiied by the run ($15.00), by the day ($90 with lunch) or by the week ($650 with room and board). Team discounts may be applied.

We have a complete training facility including a gym with state of the art cardio and anerobic equipment, hot tubs, and recreational opportunituies.

For more information we have a web site on the Internet at: http://www.libby.org/mooseweb/camp.html

or contact us:
Moose Country Ski Camp
Frederick Weber
Head Coach
100 Moose Country Rd
Rexford, Montana USA 59930
Voice Mail: (406) 889-3410
Fax: (406) 889-3012
Email: mooseweb@libby.org