Please watch the following video before reading the text below.

So this is the 2nd time in a row that I have gotten cut on my Toe Side. I for sure get the ski at least 85 degrees around, but probably at 90 every time, however I have asked judges why it was cut and I have concluded that because my body doesn't rotate sideways, (only my knee and down does) I get cut on them.
So is tricking not about what the ski does anymore? Picture this... You put your feet in a 90 degree angle. Your non-dominate (handle) foot is pointing forward, and your other foot is turned 90 degrees to the side or your dominate foot. Now lift your forward facing foot on to the seat of a chair. This is how I am when I do a TS. My whole body isn't turned sideways, however as long as your foot is 90 degrees, the ski will have the same angle. I have learned this technique because I have flexible hips and it is not necessary for me to rotate my whole body to get my ski around the full 90 degrees. There were separate judges, however this has been a recurring problem for me. There appears to be a bias that favors more experienced skiers and it gives them the benefit of the doubt. There appears to be a bias favoring more advanced skiers. When questionable or obscured from view, it is assumed their trick was sufficient scoreable while a less experienced skier doing the exact same motion is assumed to be insufficient to score.
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As for the other skier he gets the ski around a lot farther.
Tricks are hard. Every trickers gets cut. Get coaching. Keep tricking.
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Masterline ★ McClintock's ★ Performance Ski and Surf ★ Reflex ★ Radar ★ Stokes
Yes, there is bias.
Your competitor got credit due to wake obstruction and tie goes to the runner ideology.
You on the other hand are not 90 degrees and are clearly no credit. however if the judge told you you are not getting credit due to not rotating your body then that judge or judges need to go have a clinic. Here in the southern region and especially Florida trick judging is very tight and over the top Anal.
Dont be disgruntled go make the trick credit it only needs another 10 degrees.
I remember a skier many years ago that continued not getting credit for his toe slide and in one round he held it all the way down the course hollering at the camera and boat pointing out the trick!
I think the bias against giving you credit is because you often see skiers who just give a quick little hip twitch and don't get anywhere close to even 45 degrees. You give that impression because it is quick and your shoulders aren't rotating.
Shorten your rope, hold it a moment longer, and I think your odds of receiving credit will improve.
@ms you are proving your own point again - you know nothing about tricks.
Again, it’s called “judging” for a reason and that’s why there are multiple judges for trick and slalom let alone high diving and gymnastics. The “correct score” is not always obvious. The best advice to any athlete is to make the trick as clean as they can so there is no doubt in the judges mind. Some of the worlds best trickers are actually very easy to judge because their runs are so clean.
Stephen has now judged many national, international records as well as a world record. and is one of the southern regions best trick judges and A Pickos pad-wan!
Move on!!
To score yours more consistently, you need to bend your toe knee more and stand a bit taller. Gain on the boat, weight the front of your foot to level the ski more and display the bent toe knee control. The foot should be turned parallel to the water. This involves the entire lower body which smoothly and controllably drives the trick. And shows that control to the judges.
Your rope length is fine if you like it for your other toes. Work on your other toes so you can abandon TS.
Boat video is supposed to be near the top of the windshield. Too low and judges can't see the ski. Too high and they can't see wake clearance.
You will certainly get unfairly cut in tricking. Keep tricking.
Eric
As far as the video, judges get to see ONE review in real time. No slow motion or stop action. Ironically, I would have been more likely to give you credit in real time (in this video which has no lead in to the TS) than I did with the slow-mo.
In terms of rope, I would try shortening your rope a bit. You are right on that second rooster tail which also obscures the ski. A foot or so shorter would help.
I'd bet you get credit about half the time doing it that way and the other skier would likely get credit 80-90% of the time,
AWSA Chairman of the Board
AWSA Southern Region EVP
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(I don't know,I'm just super sarcastic and I somehow opened this thread by mistake)
Two views at full speed is all we are allowed before turning in our pink sheets. Further views to resolve issues on the pink sheets are allowed - so check your pink sheets and ask the judges for another look if they got something wrong (which happens). Two views on the records as well (for the judging).
I was on a record review panel as an out of area judge on another record. Two views was all I was allowed for the review.
We are allowed to watch videos and practice as much as we want (need). Practice judging to get it right the first time and check your transfer to the pink sheets for the second.
The rule book might not be as harsh as some (FL) judges!
Eric
My guess is that if you start keeping your shoulders higher, and more importantly, pull your rope leg in with a more pronounced movement, you'll get credit more often even if you don't turn your ski any more than you do now, and it may prove a kind of bias. But if you advance yourself more on the boat with your rope leg, it's also probable that you'll find it an easier trick to complete.
AWSA Chairman of the Board
AWSA Southern Region EVP
But it made me think about the core issue here. Is there a bias favoring experienced skiers?
I've been good for a while. I still think the judges screw me. I still avoid tricks the judges like to cut (TS). But I shudder to think if I have gotten preferential treatment. Trickers need to score tricks (if we are going to have any trickers left) and judges need to consistently score the tricks. Serious mistakes obviously need to be addressed. But cutting a TS for 5 degrees short is wrong (given the variations in views and styles). Bias and prejudice do not belong in tricking.
This post was an experiment to see if @Horton had banned me. Probably out of worry that I'd speak my honest mind - trick judges are too strict.
Eric