Sit Skiers - Divided into 3 classes (MP1, MP2, MP3) this category includes quadriplegics (MP1) paraplegics (MP2 or MP3 depending on level of injury), double leg amputees and others who are unable to ski standing upright.  The classes are further divided by gender.  The women's class are the same.

Standing- Divided into 2 classes, those who ski with a prosthesis, and those who ski without a prosthesis.  It is also divided by gender.

Vision impaired - Divided into 2 classes (V1, V2/3), totally blind skiers (V1) and skiers with partial vision (V2/3).  Classes divided by gender.

           Sighted slalom skiers negotiate turns around buoys placed a set distance from the course centerline and on alternating sides of the towboat path.  The effort is made more difficult after each successful pass through the course by a combination of increasing boat speeds, and then a series of towrope shortenings after a maximum speed is reached.  A skiers run is ended when they cannot negotiate every buoy in the set course.  Blind slalom competitors are judged by the number of wake crossings to a minimum distance from the course centerline they can make in a set time.  A device measures the rope angle and when the skier reaches a minimum angle from the centerline path a loud horn sounds.  At the sound of the horn the skier turns sharply and cuts through the wake, repeating the process on the other side of the boat path.

 Trick skiers perform a variety of spins, jumps, slides on specially designed skis, with each trick assigned a point value based on difficulty.  Skiers are allowed two twenty second passes to amass the greatest number of points they can without repeating the same trick.  A fall during any pass ends the skier’s pass no matter how much time remains on the twenty second clock.

            Jump competitors simply ski up and over a 14 foot wide, 22 foot long jump, flying as far as their speed off the top of the ramp will carry them.  Skiers riding traditional jump skis may also depend on some leg spring, or “pop”, at the top of the ramp to gain extra distance.  Ramp heights vary from 3 feet to as high as 5.5 feet at the skier’s discretion.  Of course, a jump is not scored for any distance unless the skier lands and skis away, which sounds much simpler than it is, at least for the beginner!