GULFCOAST CLASSIC WAKEBOARD TOURNAMENT WHAT IS THE GULFCOAST CLASSIC? A peaceful assembly of sports men and women showcasing their talents to on looking.

GULFCOAST CLASSICWAKEBOARD TOURNAMENT

WHAT IS THE GULFCOAST CLASSIC?•A peaceful assembly of sports men and women showcasing their talents to on looking friends & family with a backdrop of major metropolitan city, Tampa, Florida.

•A Wakeboard Tournament open to all ages and skill levels.

•A fun day by the Hillsborough River.


WHAT IS THE GULFCOAST CLASSIC?Event Location :

Curtis Hixon Park

Event Dates:

October 2nd, 2005

Event Sponsors:

Nationally Recognized Vendors


WHAT IS WAKEBOARDING?

•A water sport, where an individual gets towed w/ a rope and handle behind a boat at approximately 20MPH. The individual uses the wake from the boat to perform aerial maneuvers. Similar to Trick skiing.

•The Wakeboard is rectangular fiberglass board approx. 125cm-145cm in length.

•The rider positions him or herself standing sideways on the board with their feet secured firmly in the bindings.


WHAT IS WAKEBOARDING?

Pier Fest – St. Pete

Tower LakeOldsmar, FL

Tower LakeOldsmar, FL


The location of the Event:•Curtis Hixon Park & The Hillsborough River

•The Hillsborough River – Waterway used for the tournament.


The location:

Across the river from University of Tampa

Looking North

Kennedy Street Bridge


The location: Park Layout

MC

Vendors/ Spectators

Boat Path

Vendors/ Spectators


The MC (Announcer) will be positioned at the mid dock located at Curtis Hixon Park. This will allow the MC to act as a spotter and announce an issues that may be a hazard to the Participant.

HERE


Safety is #1The Top Priority of the Gulfcoast Classic is to ensure the safety of the spectators and participants throughout the duration of the tournament.

The following measures will aide us in successfully completing this goal:

•Communication – All Tournament Officials will be in contact with each other thru hand-held radios and cell phones.

•Spotters- Several spotters will be positioned thru out the park to aide spectators and participants.

•Jet ski Spotter – In the water


Safety – 1st priority

•Each Participant will be required to wear a United States Coast Guard Approved Life Vest.

•This vest will give the Participant adequate floatation at all times.



•A Professional Towboat and Driver, from a sponsoring manufacturer, will be used to tow Participants thru the Tournament Course.

Tournament Towboat


Safety – 1st priorityEach Participants gear will be inspected to ensure compliance with Coast Guard Approvals, prior to participation in the Event.This check will be performed by the spotter at the start point of the tournament course.



•Jet ski's will be used for safety and protection of Participants and Course.

•(3) Spotters on Jet skis will be positioned in the tournament course.

•The spotters will have radio communication with the Boat Driver and MC.



•The spotters will assist in the following ways:

•Pick-up fallen participants.

•Inform and direct boat traffic to remain outside of the course limits.

•Communicate hazards to MC and Boat Driver.


Jet ski Spotters will be positioned throughout the course.

Spotters


SAFETY - #1 PRIORITY

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The Tournament Format:

-There will be (5) Divisions for Participants to enter in the tournament. The Divisions are the following

-Beginner – Just starting out! (Children 5-12)

-Intermediate- No Aerial Maneuvers

-Advanced – Limited up to (6) Aerial Maneuvers

-Women's – Female Riders

-All-stars- Unlimited Maneuvers



• Each Participant will be called by the Division / Sequential number order to the Start Platform at the Middle of the tournament course.

• The Participant will be towed thru the tournament course. The Participant will be given points based on the types of maneuvers they perform during their pass thru the tournament course.

• (3) Tournament Judges will be in the Tow boat to score each Participant. The Judges will use a Nationally recognized scoring system to determine the score of each participant.



• Each rider is permitted one fall and a restart during their pass thru the course, with no penalty to points.

• Once all participants have completed their passes thru the course. There will be an awards ceremony. Trophies and Prizes will be given to the Top (3) Participants in by division.

• Prizes will be donated by nationally recognized sponsoring vendors.


Tournament Starting Point – Marriott Water Platform.

X

Participants will start at a North End

of the Course.


The Participant will be towed by Professional Tournament Towboat from the North End Cass Bridge of the Hillsborough River Channel and will pass in front of the spectators at Curtis Hixon Park. As the Boat approaches the South Bridge (Kennedy Bridge) the Boat will do a 180 degree turn. The Boat and Participant will pass in front of the spectators for again for a 2nd pass. The boat will then return the Participant back to the course Starting Point, where the jet ski spotter will return the participant to the spectator area. Should the Participant fall at any time during this course, A spotter on a Jet ski will assist the participant until the boat has returned to the aide of the participant.

The Tournament Course:


Tournament Course – Arrows indicate Boat Travel

Boats Course

Signal Buoy

Signal Buoy


Limits of Course – Will be marked by 6’ Inflatable Buoys provided by Red Bull

Signal Buoy

Signal Buoy

Boat will not go beyond bridges


Will the Tournament affect the Flow of Traffic in the Hillsborough River?

•No, the flow of traffic will not be affected by this event.

•The tournament will shut down as on coming traffic approach. Safety is the 1st priority. The tournament will resume once traffic as safely exited the tournament course.


PARKING FOR THE EVENT:

•There is a public parking garage adjacent to Curtis Hixon Park.

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How does this event help Tampa?

•Exposure!! Exposure!! Exposure!!

•Tampa is a sports driven town!

•Superbowl Champions, Stanley Cup Champions

•Diversity is key in the sports market!


How does this event help Tampa?

•Outside of the Superbowl the other big sporting events that draw 100,000+ fans are the following:

•The Olympics

•The World Cup

•The X-Games


How does this event help Tampa?•Tampa could host the X-games.

•A perfect venue to showcase Downtown and the Channelside district.

•World Renowned – Skate Park of Tampa

•A World Class River running thru the City.

•The St. Pete Times Forum and Convention Center in close proximity.

•Great Vacation Destination!!!


X-Games – Los Angeles, CA 2003.


X-Games – Los Angeles, CA 2003.


Possible Spectator Events


Tampa Boat Show – Same Weekend

•The Tampa Boat Show is the same weekend as the Gulfcoast Classic.

•Boaters from all over the nation will be in town for this event.

•Wakeboarding is one of the sports that the Tampa Bay Boat show promotes. Several Vendors from the Boat Show will be sponsoring the Gulfcoast Classic.

•This is an overlapping event. Caters to the same market.


Boat Show @ Tampa Bay Convention Center – Same Day

West End of the Course Will Be Blocked from Traffic.


Tampa Boat Show – Convention Center


PERMITTING & APPROVALS

•United States Coast Guard – Permit Submitted

•City of Tampa, Parks and Recreation – Permit Submitted

•Marriott Hotel – Approval from Mary Scott, General Manager

•Tampa Boat Show – Approval from Larry Barryman, Show Manager

•Contacted Port Authority for Approvals

•Contacted FWC for Approvals


Conclusion:

The Gulfcoast Classic Wakeboard Tournament is peaceful assembly of sports men and women showcasing their talents to on looking friends & family with a backdrop of major metropolitan city, Tampa, Florida.

GULFCOAST CLASSIC WAKEBOARD TOURNAMENT WHAT IS THE GULFCOAST CLASSIC? A peaceful assembly of sports men and women showcasing their talents to on looking.

Documents

tournament course

wakeboard tournament

tournament format

tournament towboat slide

tournament judges

tournament officials

fl slide

water slide