Thanks to Wim Lamot who grabbed a copy of the results from round 2 of the worlds.

MUST WATCH ! – Roger Lincoln caught one of the most incredible world championship races ever on video at round 2 of the Men’s 16th Worlds at Genk today. Watch the phenomenal race between Wayne Mawer and Todd Haig towards the end and listen to what both of these outstanding skiers had to say after the race.

Roger Lincoln was at Genk to capture the action of round 2 of the 16th World Water Ski Racing Championships on Tuesday 21 July. This video is of the Juniors

Roger Lincoln was at Genk to capture the action of round 2 of the 16th World Water Ski Racing Championships on Tuesday 21 July. This video is Women’s F1 & F2

Roger Lincoln caught the world’s best Women F1 & F2 water ski racers in video action at Gent which hosted round 1 of the 16th World Water Ski Racing Championships.

Roger Lincoln caught the world’s best Junior water ski racers in video action at Gent which hosted round 1 of the 16th World Water Ski Racing Championships.

Courtesy of Pepe Escoda, here are the results from Round 1 of the worlds

Watch Roger Lincoln’s Video of Round 1 of the 16th World Water Ski Racing Championships at Gent.

Belgium’s moviemaker Stevie captured F1 & F2 Mens at Gent on Sunday in the 4 minute movie.

The moment that haunted New Zealand’s Adelaide Cox and resulted in a broken foot/ankle –  just as she was performing superbly well in 2nd place Jnr Girls Rnd 1.

Someone going by the name of Barflybaja on YouTube has posted these 6 videos of the Men’s F1 & F2 at Gent on Sunday. If anyone knows who Barflybaja is, please let me know so we can give them the credit for making the video.

The videos are set to play in high definition. If your internet connection is not very fast and you encounter pauses in the video, either click the HD button on the video you are playing, or let the video play once then the 2nd time you play it, there shouldn’t be any pauses.

Round 1 – Prizegiving shots by Wim Lamot. All categories.

Keep checking the official Worlds site at http://worlds.waterskiracing.be/ for all the great photos that Wim Lamot is taking and of course the official results. Also keep an eye out for more Twitter updates as and when I get news, as I’m only accessing the laptop once a day in the evening.

There was a certain degree of uncertainty before today’s racing. A narrow and short course and a lot of boats. But all credit to the drivers and observers who safely navigated races which saw 3 to 4 boats simultaneously powering around the turn in front of the crowds.

Wim hosts the official worlds web site and will be posting a lot of photos there. Go there now http://worlds.waterskiracing.be to see:

Pictures from

–          Opening Parade

–          Opening Reception

–          Training Session@Ghent

If you’ve been following the updates on Twitter, Facebook or the right hand side of skirace.net, you will know that the opening ceremony took place yesterday and then a number of teams hit the small piece of water in Gent where the first round of the Worlds takes place today – Sunday 19th July.

Guy’s photo album from Friday 17/07 is now online:

http://guy594.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album138

The start of the 61st Catalina was a challenge for all the smaller boats to get out the breakwater into the open sea. Some skiers fell which caused a delay to the start of the bigger boats, which started 9 minutes later.

Daren Van Ryte was at Long Beach on the weekend capturing the action under glorious Catalina sunshine.

Just days before the 16th World Water Ski Racing Championships commence, let’s reflect back on 30 years of World Championships and the Crème de la Crème of our sport. Whether it was 2007 or 1979, every one of these people achieved outstanding excellence at the very highest level of water ski racing

The following schedule of events is an extract from Worlds Bulletin 3.

If you can’t be in Belgium for the Worlds, there are a number of ways you can stay up to date with what’s happening.

Courtesy of Vera van den Bossche, and published at the request of the organising committee, below is the list of entries for the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships.

Thanks to Ken Vaughan, below are the full and final results of the 2009 Catalina Water Ski Race.

The 2009 Worlds Logistic Secretary (Ann) has issued a “HAPPY HOUR” invitation for Friday!

Open as from Wednesday 15th from 07.00 am till 12.00 pm – “Siegfried Bakery” @ Viersel camp site.

The organisers of the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships have issued the letter below.

Guy594 captured a lot of shots at the Geel race in Belgium yesterday.

If you are supporting your country at the Worlds, why not help rte your team’s achievements and write an article about each day’s racing.

There is a growing number of photographers doing some great work and it’s excellent that you share your work with the ski racng world.

The pre-worlds international race at Geel took place in Belgium today with teams from Great Britain, Australia, Holland, Austria , USA and of course Belgium taking part.

America’s Todd Haig won the Catalina Water Ski Race today at Long Beach California for the 9th time. Britain’s Kim Lumley won the Women’s for the 7th time and took 3rd Overall and broke the all-time Women’s record by 5 minutes.

Nine days before the first race, I spoke to Dave Bishop in Melbourne about the team that Australia has ready for the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships.

Listen to this 10 minute interview withVera Van den Bossche about the forthcoming 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships.

The latest round of the British Water Ski Racing Championships took place in Brixham on 5th July. Courtesy of Sue Fleming, the results are below.

Luc & Pepe have uploaded their photos from Hasselt BeNeLux Cup 2009 and they are truly sensational.

UPDATE 8 July: Neville Fry shared some good news leading into the World Titles regarding Australia’s Mark Weaver:

Former World Water Ski Racing Champion and former World Wakeboard Champion Wayne Mawer squeezed in his final session with a croc-fan in Cairns before boarding a flight to Belgium today.

Shane Wilson has issued the new membership forms for the 2009-2010 water ski racing season. You can download these new Ski Racing Australia Membership Forms below.

Brixham GB National Video that took place yesterday posted by Dan Ellis.

Kurt Brooks has been announced as an F2 Skier For Team GB at the World Championships later this month. This is Kurt’s 1st year in Men’s F2 skiing behind a Force 21 with Dell Estall driving and Martin Brooks observing.

After Saturday’s practice day in Ghent where round 1 of the Worlds will be held, teams moved to Genk where round 2 will be held, for a practice yesterday.

Australia’s Chris Stout and driver Robbie Wright (GB) came face to face with the grey walls and the boilling water of Ghent yesterday. The vertical walls and tight turns below are what will face every team competing at the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships in Belgium later this month. 

Dutch team captain Thea Klarenbeek has announced the Dutch team for the 2009 world water ski racing championships.

As the 2009 Catalina approaches, many of the world’s best prepare for the 61st event. Even with the Worlds starting in Belgium on 19 July, the likes of Kim Lumley, Todd Haig (both 2008 winners) and others will be heading to Long Beach to participate in the great race, before flying to Belgium in a bid to secure more World titles.

Below are a few photos of the Hotel Maya. The host hotel for Catalina 61.

Steve Flament has posted his photos from the recent race at Kruibeke in Belgium here: http://fotos.supersnelleboten.be/#26.0

Skirace.net had another record readership month for 2009 with 51,180 hits recorded through June. This included 21,766 unique visitors, 10,380 returning visitors and 11,386 first time visitors.

The Canadian Water Ski Racing Team is looking for an F2 boat and driver for the Worlds. If you can help, please contact Vera Van den Bossche as soon as possible:

Tel: +32 (0)3 252 83 79
Mobile: + 32 (0) 479 697362
E-mail: vera.vdbossche@skynet.be

As more than 200 people bid Wayne Mawer good luck  as he prepares to leave Cairns for Belgium, 7 TV reports from the special event hosted at Lui Garozzo’s Salthouse on the weekend.

Darren Kirkland returned to top form yesterday in a nail biting race on the canal at Hasselt in Belgium. As he and Australia’s Chris Stout raced side by side in gruelling canal water, he pulled ahead and notched up a convincing victory, just weeks before the world championships.

Stout took 2nd and Belgium’s Dimitri Bertels took 3rd. Former observer for Darren, Matthew Northover said; “it was an incredible race between Chris and Darren. Darren was on top form and skiing like he used to”.

Darren told me; “it’s a result for the over 40’s“.

The IWSF Racing Council hosts a “Competitors’ Meeting” at each World Championship event. This gives teams a rare chance to discuss their sport with the committee that is charged to take the sport forward throughout the world. To date, there seems to have been no public communication on the time, date and venue of this meeting in Belgium.

The IWSF Racing Council is expected to confirm the time, date & venue of the 2009 Competitors’ Meeting. The sooner this is communicated, the less competitors will be inconvenienced at the Worlds. N.B. The Racing Council’s own meeting has already been confirmed.

Wim Lamot has posted directions from various hotels to the race venues at the 2009 Worlds. You can find them all here: http://www.waterskiracing.be/directions

Keith Slater has now published his photos from the Weston-Super-Mare British national races at www.keith-slater.org.uk – Below is a small selection of Keith’s shots from that weekend:

The 2009 British Water Ski Racing calender as published by BWS here is:

Vera Van den Bossche and the Belgian organising committee for the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships have published the 3rd official event bulltin. You can download and print the full 12 page PDF document below.

British Team Captain Wayne Harvey has published the British squad for the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships in Belgium. Click the image below to open a full size version.

Stevie has produced a new video from the F1&2 racing at Kruibeke, Belgium on the weekend. Aussie Chris Stout won the race comfortably, skiing with Robbie Wright and Rob Manchett. 

Guy594 Photography was at Kruibeke in Belgium yesterday to capture the day’s racing. He shares a selection of shots with us below and you can see 100s of others at: http://guy594.myphotoalbum.com

Maherajah Water Skis have committed to supporting Skirace.net for the next 12 months and will be advertising on the site in 2009 & 2010.

Guy594 Photography of Belgium caught Gregory Dumetier getting some airtime on a Belgian canal.

Gregory Dumetier

You can see more Guy594 ski racing shots at www.guy594photography.com

A send-off come fundraiser is being held in Cairns for Wayne Mawer, who will represent Australia at next month’s world water ski racing championships in Belgium.

Keith Brice has just written to say that the great boat racer Bill Simpson sadly passed away on 14 June 2009.  He was the owner of the GN ( grand national) Kilo record setting boat the “Tub of Fools”. It was the last boat Dawna Brice ever raced behind.

Chris Stout was caught on video pulling a neat little bunny at last year’s Southern 80 on the Murray River in Australia.

The Force F21 Team of “TUFF ‘E’ NUFF” that includes Brent Wisemantle driving, with Andrew Fyfe observing and Daniel Cotton skiing. The team have successfully qualified to represent Australia in the Men’s F2 Class in the up and coming World Water-ski-Racing Championships in Belgium.

You can now access 43 of the water ski racing videos that people all around the world have shared with us.

The 5th round of the British Water Ski Racing Championships were held on Saturday and Sunday at Weston-Super-Mare.

Rob Storum of In Tha Zone Images was on the edge of the Clarence to capture the action at the 2009 Queensland Titles at Grafton recently.

The team to represent the USA at the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships in Belgium is:

Aussie F2 Worlds skier Kylee Jones competed in the Open Womens Marathon at the Qld state titles recently. She was encouraged to do this by the team of “Category 5” from QLD – so she agreed on the condition that Shane Helson (Japs) and John Vesley sported their new racing overalls. So here are the girls boys below in true blue Dame Edna Everage fashion.

The 2009 Australian Worlds Team Captain/Manager is Rick Love. Rick and his team have created a dedicated web site for the upcoming Worlds to relay information specifically about the Australian Team, back home for those who can’t be at the event.

Neil Pallender was at Cardiff and he shares his photos with us via his Flickr account.

Nevile Fry of Cairns reported that an iconic lighthouse proved a beacon of hope for Anthony Greenwood as he battled towards victory in the Fitzroy Island Ironman Ski Race. Greenwood completed the 25km ski leg from Cairns to Fitzroy Island and 400m swim with few complications but soon started to feel the pain on the 4km return run to the lighthouse.

The South Australian State Championships were held over the weekend of 6th and 7th June at Berri Waterski Club.

Update: 19:45 CET – 9 June

Kim De Witte – Van den Bossche writes …It is with sadness that we have to confirm the passing away of Richard.

“Ladies, Gentlemen, Dear Sport Friends

It is with sadness that we have to inform that Richard died this morning.

Please find herewith the funeral arrangements:

Saturday June 13, 2009 at 10.00 h

Church: “Notre Dames de Messires”

Rue de Bertaimont

At 7000 Mons (Bergen)

Belgian Skiers are requested to bring their ski to pay tribute at the Church to Richard and his beloved family.

We are counting on your presence.

Kim De Witte – Van den Bossche – Team Captain Belgium

===================

Join the dedicated group on Facebook:  Pakuszewski Richard R.I.P.

===================

22:00 CET 8 June

Peter Moorkens has confirmed the very sad news that Richard Pakuszewski has lost his courageous fight to survive the injuries from the accident he suffered recently.

Luc Vermeiren was in the hospital this evening together with the crew from the boat, where the sad news was confirmed.

Richard Pakuszewski
Born in Mons on 21st June 1968
Passed Away in Geel on 9th June 2009
Funeral 13th June 2009

Funeral:
Zaterdag 13 juni 2009 om 10.00 h
Kerk: “Notre Dame de Messires”
Rue de Bertaimont
7000 Mons (Bergen)

Last respects:
Richard groeten kan op :
Donderdag 11 en vrijdag 12 juni
Telkens van 14.00 tot 18.00 h
Adres: Funerarium Borgno
Rue des Arquebusiers 2
7000 Mons Bergen

Keith Slater captured Paula Newland in action as she prepares for the World Championships in Belgium. The 43 year old mother of two finished 5th in the 1999 Women’s event in Spain and teams up again with driver Dave Llewellyn, and husband Nigel on the canals.

Luc Vermeiren captured some sensational shots at the recent Olen BeNeLux Cup 2009. You can see them all at www.powerboatracing.be

If you’re unable to be at the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships in Belgium (19-26 July) you can keep track of events via Twitter.

The team that will represent France at the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships is:

Belgian Team Captain, Kim De Witte – Van den Bossche has announced the names of all members of the Belgian team for the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships.

Britain’s F2 Women’s representitive for thye 2009 Worlds, Clare Kirk has been injured in a fall. It is uncertain at this stage as to whether Clare will be able to take part in the Worlds with her team Greg Bassam and Roy Taylor.

Force Boats have just pushed their latest Force F21 out of the factory. “STINGA F2” includes its trademark funky colour design with a combination of White, Applied Red, Light Orange, Central Blue and Royal Blue. Removable Rear Lounge for training and racing, triple ballast system, Rex Marine custom installation, Detwiler Jacking plate, Outrigger Steering, Drivers Seat Slide and Observers Seat Swivel, Bimmini, Clarion CD Stereo, Force Custom Transom Plate and Carbon Wind Deflector. Powered by a Mercury 300xs Optimax Outboard engine.

This weekend, Grafton will host the 2009 Queensland Water Ski Racing Titles on the Clarence River. A nice early start on Saturday morning with a 7am briefing.

The 2009 Fitzroy Ironman takes place on 8 June from Cairns, QLD, Australia. Grant from Cairns has published version 2 of the 2008 Ironman.

Keith Slater captured two days of racing on camera at the recent round of the British national water ski racing championships in Cardiff. Below is a small selection and you can see all of Keith’s shots via the links at the bottom of this page.

A serious accident occured in Belgium on the weekend when Richard Pakuszewski fell and is now is a poor condition. Whilst I have received a number of details, I shall only report below what Jules Leyson has sent me.

Keith Slater was on hand at the British National race in Allhallows to capture Will Newland getting some air before securing 2nd place in F3.

skirace.net has grown in popularity in every consecutive month this year and has now set itself a new record in May by getting 32,800 hits.

The 4th round of the British water ski racing championships took place on 30/31 May at Cardiff.  Thanks to Sue Fleming, the results are here.

Luke Keys was captured in action whilst pulling this bunny off the Hawksbury this weekend.

A few up and coming young Aussie skiers were caught on camera at Wisemans Ferry this weekend as they awaited the start of the Under 10’s 2 -up race.

There are now too many people commenting without identity or pretending to be someone else. Some sites don’t mind this, but I don’t want it on this site.

So I’ve now clicked a button which means that anyone who wishes to comment must be registered with the site and logged in, before they can comment. You need to register using an email address that you have access to as that is where your password will be sent to.

The identity of all commentors is logged from here on.

If you are not already registered click here to register

If you are registered and have lost your password click here

Two shots below of Buby Bertels in action and getting some air on a Belgian canal.

Neil Pallender has posted a pile of great shots that he took at last weekend’s British nationals in Alhallows. Click any image below to go to his Flickr library.

The Cyclone Boat Co. GB now has more Cyclones that ever on the expanding British watr ski racing circuit.

Brooke Gray capture this shot of David McMillan at the Region V races in Australia on the weekend.

Here’s another video compilation to help promote the forthcoming 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships in Belgium.

Yesterday after the 3rd round of the British Nationals at Allhallows, British Team Captain, Wayne Harvey, announced the National Team for the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships.

The 3rd Round of the British Water Ski Racing Championships took place at Allhallows on the weekend.

America has a great ski racing forum at Riverdavesplace.com

Andy Anderson reports: On Saturday, May 9th NWSRA Region II hosted its “Puddingstone Fun Day” sponsored by Goldsmith Construction. The event was designed to encourage entry level participation and incorporated some fun races similar to what are typically run by the Lake Arrowhead Water Ski Club.