Spotting Ropes

Question
I just recently took a coaching job at my local HS and the spotting ropes over the 1Meter is broke.My question is do you know of a local company in or around Detroit MI that would be able to repair and replace the ropes for us. I am at Lanse Creuse North HS in Macomb Township MI48047

Answer
Jerry - The only person in the state of Michigan that help you is Dick Kimball. He is a multiple time Olympic Coach and now retired coach from the University of Michigan. He knows more about over the water spotting rigs than anyone in the US.I am sure he can help you. His contact info is: 1540 Waltham Dr Ann Arbor MI 48103, (734)663-7003. I do not have his e-mail address. If this contact info does not work, go to www.usadiving.org. Click on clubs and then Find A Club. Enter MI and a list of teams will come up. Look for the Michigan Dive Club. Contact the University of Michigan coach Chris Bergere and he will know how to get you Dick's e-mail address and any other info you need. The University also has spotting rigs over their one meter.

If all you need are ropes, I would go to a marine supply store and get a good quality rope used for sail boats. They work great. Do not get ropes that mountain climbers use because they have a stretch quality to them which is bad for spotting purposes. The hard part in this operation is climbing up to the ceiling to install them. There is where Dick is a master at how to do this.

You can also try www.springboardsandmore.com. They have replacement parts for dryland equipment and can offer advice on your problem.

Hope all this helps.