THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407010233
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 63 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
The River City Challenge Waterskiing Tournament could feature a new look this year.
Although the tournament still appeals to the novice skier, this year many more competitors will be looking to qualify for state, regional and national meets at Shipyard Landing.
The seventh annual River City Challenge, sponsored by the River City Ski Club, will be held June 9 and 10 beginning at 8 a.m. at Shipyard Landing in Camden, just off N.C. Highway 343. Admission is free to the public.
Tournament director Jeff Mitchell, also a banker at Wachovia Bank in Elizabeth City, said the tournament could mean more this year to expert skiers around the state.
``It's the last tournament with all three events (slalom, trick, jumping) to qualify for the state championships. Some will also be trying for the regionals and nationals,'' Mitchell said. ``There were less tournaments in North Carolina this year. Three big ones were canceled.''
Randy Keaton, who helped head up the registration for the tournament, said that 53 skiers quickly made the tournament a sellout for the third year in a row.
``Some of the skiers that will be here will finish in the top five in nationals,'' Keaton said.
Among the competitors will be 11-year-old Jennifer Armstrong and 83-year-old Walt Gross. Also, Treece Barringer, a 14-year-old from Badin Lake, N.C., who finished fourth in national last year, is expected to compete in all three events.
``He's an all-around great skier,'' Mitchell said. ``He tricks, slaloms, and jumps. He has no fear of jumping at all.''
Despite the stiff competition expected at this year's tournament, Keaton, while watching club member Richard King of Shiloh take some practice runs, said the club still caters to the novice.
``We run two learn to ski days. One was a big success this year at Riverspree. We had four club boats and 28 people came out free of charge to learn,'' Keaton said. ``We also hold an all day learn to ski clinic and we donate a family ski day to the (Elizabeth City) Rotary Club Auction.''
``We try to put an emphasis on the novice skiers at our tournament,'' Mitchell said. ``That's where the growth in the sport is. They are the state, regional, and national skiers of the future. It's just as much fun for the novice skiers as for the expert skiers.'' by CNB