Local coach takes water skiers to top

National team wins gold medal at

IV FAKES Canadian water-ski ceach Steve Bush some thought before he can describe what type of coach he is.

By Anna Marie D’Angelo Contributing Writer

“*} guess 1 am patient and ! believe in keeping the instruction simple and sticking to. basics,” said the North Vancouver resi- dent.

But it takes no time for Bush, 47, to explain why his team beat out 37 countries this month to win the gold medal at the world water-ski championships in Vitlach Austria.

“ft was probably the strongest team I've ever coached. And this was really the time we had the bonding, ihe people pulling together. ['m really pleased on how we did,’’ said Bush whose day job is assistant chief at the North Vancouver District fire department.

Bush has coached the national team for I4 years and this is the first time Canada has placed first overall in the international com- petition. The U.S. had won the world championship every time the event had been held since 1946.

Canada’s six team hailed from Alberta, Saskat- chewan and Ontario with the alternate member residing in B.C. The team consisted of five men and two women who ranged in age from 18 to 26.

Bush is actually the team cap- tain or head coach and he had two coaches under his direction.

Although the team had trained for 10 months in Florida and Bush had set up a daily practice spot at Salzburg near the tourna- ment site, he could not prepare for everything.

“Kreg Llewellyn who won third in tricks, third in jumps and se- cond overall cut his calf with a ski in preliminary competition,’’ said Bush.

**] saw his bone exposed and he had to have 30 stitches. It was frozen every day and he did all three events.”

Shortly after Liewellyn’s acci- dent, the possibility of the team's top male athlete dropping out of the conipetition was discussed.

“*"We talked about ‘it’. There was no decision,’’ suid Bush re- ferring toLiewellyn’s determination to continue.

members

ee

world championships

en SL: NEWS photo Mike Waketieid

HEAD COACH Steve Bush took home gold after his national water-ski team defeated the world's best in Austria this month.

All team members competed in jump. slalom and tricks competi- tions for over seven days ending Sept. 8. Other outstanding per- formances included a third-place female overall finish from Judy Messer of Ontario. And Liewellyn’s younger brother, Jaret scored third-place overali in the men’s competition. The Llewellyn brothers are from Alberta.

More than 200 world-class water-skiers took part in the championships with the U.S. plac- ing second, France third, and Australia fourth.

One international footnote in- volved Croatia und Georgia (U.S.S.R.) having their applica- tion for participation refused.

Along with Canada's three coaches and water-skiers, a physiotherapist and sports psychologist went to the champi- onships.

“At this level a psychologist is

not unusual because the talent is pretty much there. It’s how you handle the anxiety on tournament day,"’ said Bush.

Bush refused the honorarium (payment) for coaching the world champions because of sport-fun- ding cutbacks in Canada. He ac- cepted travel and expenses only.

Besides federal subsidies, team water-skiers receive money from a procircuit, in the non-Olympic sport. Unfortunately, Vancouver failed in an attempt to be a pro- circuit stop but competitions are held in Toronto and U.S. cities.

“The money is sort of like ten- nis. The ones at the top do very good and it draps aff quickly after that."* said Bush.

Bush has coached B.C. teams, the 1977 and 1985 Canada Sum- mer Games teams besides having water-skied himself at the national level.

Bush said he water-skis almost

WV golfer sinks three holes-in-one Capilano Club member says shots weren’t flukes

A WEST Vancouver woman says luck has got a loc ta du with the three holes-in-one she has sunk this golf season.

“TL just play for the enjoy- ment. | think foam very foriu- nate. They weren't fluke shots though,” said Leone Cartile.

Before this year, Carlile tast sunk 2 hole-in-one in the early 1970s.

Carlile’s series of holes-in- ene began in’ April on the Pl6-yard fith green at Capihine Golf and) Country Club.

Carlile is a member of the vol club and she next sunk 3 hole-in-one there in: August on the short par-3 I4th hole. Then Carlile sunk another hole-in- one at the same U10-yard bole this month.

“They (fellow golfers) all hate me because | keep doing it.’ quipped Carlile.

Carlile has piayed golf for 45 ears and has a 16 handicap. She said her lifetime coral is six holes-in-one.

These days,

she plays golf

Uiree times ao week including one weekly round with her husband. Curlile said her hus- band’s handicap is slightly lower than hers

“E originally took up) golf because f was tired of hearing my husband talk about golf," said Carlile,

The golf club's head profes- sional Gerry Chatelain said: no one there has ever had three holes-in-one in one year,

“Hs certainly a record for us,” said Chatelain.

44 More than 200 world-class water Skiers took part in the championships with the U.S. placing second, France third, and Australia fourth. 99

every day for pleasure in Deep

. Cove and uses a dry suit when it’s

cold. He said the first ime he slalom skied competitively, he got what water skiers call ‘course- itis."

“Waterskiing ois exhilarating and powerful. You reach speeds up to 60 miles an hour and you

have to resist a pull of 600 pounds from the tow boat when using short line. Pius it’s very rhythmic and a total-body sport,” said Bush.

The world championships take place every two years. The 1993 world championships will be held in Singapore.

Canadians advance in Davis Cup competition

NORTH VANCOUVER’S tennis ace Grant Connell and his Cana- dian teammates advaneed to World Group of top 16 countries in 1992 Davis Cup championships after wins at the qualifying round in Havanna. Connell, 25,

defeated Cuba's

Mario Tabures Sunday 6-1, 6-3, 64 to win the best-of-five series between the countries.

Connell is credited with leading his teammates to the World Group in Davis Cup competition last year as well. The left-hander is ranked 7Sth in the world.

Duathlon athlete places fourth

THE TOP North Shore ‘gmate athlete in the Cinadi Fall Duathlon was fourth-place Sabky Spires of North Vancow.er who had a time of one hour, 10 minutes and 37 seconds.

The race was held Sept. 140 at the Sexvinour Demonstration Forest and Spires time was in- advertently deft out of last week's duathlon results. Spires competed in the female age 0-44 category.