Australian team named for World Water Ski Race championships

by Bob Wonders on 6 Apr 2009 Australian Ski Racing Division has named a strong team to contest the 2009 World championships in Belgium in July (19-26).

The 44-member team comprises 24 from NSW, 10 Victorians, six Queenslanders and an American, Mike Avila, who has been chosen as a boat driver.

Three prominent and qualified judges have been included in the team, Fran Hynes (Victoria), Jan Thurgar and Barbara Osborne, both from NSW.

The team comprises 17 skiers; they are Cara Jochinke (Vic), Open Women, Bethany Pledger (Vic), Open Women, Maddison Boyer (Vic), Junior Girls), Sarah Teelow (NSW), Junior Girls, Trudi Stout (NSW), F2 Women, Melissa Tidswell (NSW), F2 Women, Peter Procter (NSW), Open Men, Richard Souwer (Qld), F2 Men, Jack Houston (NSW), Junior Boys, Ben Hackett (NSW), Junior Boys, Wayne Mawer (Qld), Open Men, Daniel Cotton (NSW), F2 Men, Mark Weaver (Qld) F2 Men, Chris Stout (NSW), Open Men, Kylie Jones (NSW), F2 Women, Susan Cartwright (NSW), F2 Women and Lauryn Eagle (NSW), Open Women.

Boat drivers selected comprise Geoff Jochinke (Vic), Ross Jones (NSW), David Tidswell (NSW), Chris Teelow (NSW), Brett Wisemantel (NSW), Mike Avila (USA), Mark Cranny (Vic), Pat Cole (NSW), Troy Kennedy (NSW) and Greg Houston (NSW).

Thirteen observers will accompany the team; they are Murray Hackett (NSW), Robbie Henderson (Vic), Shaun Williams (Vic), Keith Buxton (NSW), Adrian Pickering (NSW), Damien Matthews (Vic), Andrew Fyfe (Vic), Kevin Boylan (NSW), Mick Kelly (Qld), Steven Robertson (NSW), Trent Souwer (Qld), Rod Hogben (Vic) and Jason Bennett (Qld).

Victorian Rick Love has been named team captain.

It looks a particularly strong team, with vast experience within Australia and overseas.

Several have previously raced on the tricky Belgian canals and know what to expect.

The World Water Ski Race championships have been staged every two-years since the inaugural event in the United Kingdom in 1979.

Until 1993, the championships comprised only Open Men and Open Women events.

In 1995, Junior Boys and Junior Girls were added and in 2003 Formula 2 for younger competitors on the cusp of Open competition was included.

Since 1979, including the addition of the Junior and F2 classes, competitors have done battle for 50 World championships.

Australia has been a dominant force from the outset, its skiers taking 25 of the 50 World crowns.

This team certainly appears capable of adding to Australia’s fine record.