Kevin Boylan has been involved with Junior water ski racing training in NSW for over 20 years and has done a superb job of bringing on skiers such as the Stouts, Eagles and Procters, and many others with plenty of Australian and World Champions produced.

On Sunday former world champion Lauryn Eagle set off from Manly in NSW, Australia to set a new record skiing from Sydney to Newcastle and another record doing the return trip.

Thanks to Sue Fleming for the results and Karen Brooks for the report from the 2nd round of the British Water Ski Racing Championships which were held at Hunstanton on Sunday.

The first time Belgium hosted the World Water Ski Racing Championships was 14 years ago in 1995. As we get close to Belgium’s 2nd World Championships, let’s reflect back on the 1995 Worlds.

Hawkesbury Hero Chris Stout and his sister Trudi dominated both the Men’s and Women’s Open titles at the weekend. Chris set a blistering pace to score an impressive win from a class field that included two former World Champions Wayne Mawer and Paul Robertson to take out The Bill McLachlan Men’s Open Title.

Well known for being some of the most treacherous pieces of ski racing water in the world, Viersel is the ultimate test of a skier (and crew) and fittingly hosts the final round of the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships.

Rob Harks of VVW Kruibeke Belgium reports that Darren Kirkland won the mens F1 Race in Viersel, Belgium on the weekend behind Kelly Nulens F2 outfit.

Teams using Force Boats broke SIX records in the Powerboat Bridge to Bridge AND the F19x Konica Minolta Team are the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Champions AGAIN.

Susan Cartwright is a member of the Australian F2 women’s team for the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships.

Neil Pallender has shared a couple of shots from last week’s British national race from Lyme.

Courtesy of Tom Vets who observes with the F1 Ghostbuster Women’s Team in Belgium, below are a few shots from the weekend’s race at Beringen, Belgium.

1st place 6 litre at the 2009 Sydney one-up Bridge to Bridge Water Ski race was Craig Gordon.

Skirace.net stats for April 2009 were:

Steve Flament of Belgium capture Dylan de Weert getting some air at Beringen, Belgium yesterday.

Aussie photographer Rob Storum of In Tha Zone Images was on the water and on the banks of the Hawkesbury for the 2009 Sydney One-Up Bridge to Bridge race. Rob wrote the following words and sent in a selection of superb shots for skirace.net readers.

Mick Kelly who does a great job of running the Aussie water ski racing site letstalkskiracing.com shares this article from the weekend’s Sydney Bridge to Bridge 1 up Water Ski Race.

Rob Storum of In Tha Zone Images was at the fundraiser in QLD on Saturday Night. The shots below were taken at Michael Souwer`s “Crimsafe Headquarters”.

Neville Fry of Cairns, Australia shares this piece of archived footage of the 1990 Cairns to Green Island Ski Race.

On 9 May, America holds a Puddingstone Fun Day sponsored by Goldsmith Construction with some social races geared towards entry level competition and just having a good time.

The British water ski racing season has kicked off on a local level and national races are about to commnece on 3rd May at Lyme Regis.

Brad Dutton from New Zealand reports on the the New Zealand Junior Ski Race Team which has recently returned from Australia with their hands still firmly gripped on the Trans Tasman Cup.

The Karl Brooks Ski Training Camp took place recently at Lake Mead near Las Vegas, USA. Karen Brooks has published this report.

France will once again host an international water ski race in the country town of Eguzon. Last’s year’s event was a great success and the 2009 race promises to be even better. More news will follow in due course.

One of the great international classic water ski races in the world is rumoured to be on its way back.

A green Share this icon like the one at the foor of this post now appear in every post on the site. This is an opportunity to share your favourite water ski racing news, photos and movies with people outside of racing who probably don’t visit skirace.net.

Jeff Barrus of Goldfinger Racing Productions has once again produced an outstanding piece of water ski racing footage in this 4 minute reel of movie action captured during a recent US F2 race.

Brothers Dylan and Roy de Weert were caught bunny hopping in a two-up fun-race at Harderwijk in the Netherlands recently.

Jason Walsh shared these shots from Newcastle where Filthy, the legendary Ray Ball and Chris Stout were racing recently.

Neville Fry has just shared this great piece of movie action with us. It’s footage from the 1993 and 1995 Green Island Water Ski Race with Wayne Mawer skiing behind Ray Hall and Peter Sharp’s ‘Legless’. Neville said; “Legless and Gotta Be Crazy were the main stepping stone for Wayne’s real taste of success in the unlimited classes.”

Avis is now supporting the Karl Brooks fund and has already loaned a complementary 7 seater vehicle to the Karl Brooks training camp in the USA this month.

Below is a short aerial video from the popular annual Clifton Challenge water ski race in South Africa – 22 March in Cape Town.

I’ve had a request to open a discussion thread on former World Champions. You can find a list of all the World Water Ski Racing Champions to date here.

Ski Racing NSW has made a change to the total number of events an Unrestricted skier can enter at the 2009 NSW State Titles to be held at Port Macquarie in May.

With just over a week to go – Karen Brooks , Martin Brooks, Kurt Brooks, Scott Brooks, Scott Gibbons, Sam Clapson, Jack Lynch, Daryl Tyndall, William Newland, Billy Smith, James Smith, Kristian Bartley, Alex Benny, Amy Clarke, Lucy Gale are all off to Las Vegas!

On 18th July 2009, there will be a boaties & skier’s reunion dinner at Club Forster. Bruce Robberd has sent in the following flyer with full details.

The Belgian world championship organising committee has been asked if they can help with boats for the following Australian skiers:

Vera Van den Bossche writes …It is with great pleasure that I send you herewith our “Logistic Info Bulletin” containing all information on our beautiful country “Belgium” , where to go, what to do… etc.

Vera Van den Bossche has issued an amended version of the 2009 Belgian water ski racing calendar. Click on the calendar below to open a full size printable version.

If you have nothing constructive and interesting to write in your comments, don’t waste your time writing them as they will will simply be deleted without becoming visible to others.

I intend to keep the site full of interesting content without any juvenile junk.

28,504 hits in March for www.skirace.net – 13,868 were unique visitors, 6,705 first time visitors and 7,163 returning visitors. The NZ Worlds in 2007 saw the biggest spike in stats when hits were over 5,000 per day.

Ben Pearse captured a bunch of great shots down on the Murray. Lloyd Woolman was the main act and Rhys Duggan closed the performance.

Neville Fry captured the proud moment for the members of the 2009 Australian National Water Ski Racing Team and Wayne Mawer has shared it with us.

Kim Lumley rescues driver after Dutch team “The Dream” barrel rolls in Belgium. Action captured by Luc & Pepe www.powerboatracing.be

Update 31 March: by Deb Oben – Hey everyone – saw Dennis tonight at PA Hospital. Considering his long list of injuries, including about 20 broken ribs, punctured lung, broken pelvis (just to mention a few) he is looking ok. He is sitting up and talking slowly. He will be at the PA for at least another two weeks. The main thing, he is back with us… yeah! Deb x

Update 27 March: by Deb Oben –  Dennis has been transferred to PA Brisbane Hospital for an operation that was very successful. He is now out of his coma and is sitting up in bed. He should be out of ICU by Monday but in hospital for a few weeks. I will be hopefully visiting him next week so will update you all. Deb

24 March 2009: Deb Oben (Pat Cole’s daugher) has passed on the unfortunate news that Dennis Lindsay fell from a height and broke 4 vertebrae in his back and is now in a coma. Dennis is currently in ICU at Gold Coast (Queensland).

I’m sure that many old timers out there wish Dennis all the very best in pulling through this.

British Water Ski currently has a vacancy for a Development Officer to play a key role within the organisation to assist in achieving short and long term goals.

Kara Williams submitted this great shot of Mitch Williams flicking bunnies on the Hawkesbury River.

If anyone needs help in finding a boat for the 2009 worlds, contact Worlds Secretary, Vera Van Den Bossche in Belgium as soon as possible:

The Belgian organising committee has received requested from New Zealand seeking an F1 boat for a Junior Girl and an F2 for an F2 Men’s skier.

EAME Racing Council Secretary, Vera Van den Bossche, has published the latest version of the 2009 water ski racing calendar for the EAME (Europe, Africa, Middle East) region. Click on the calendar below to open a full size printable version.

Brooke Gray has shared these two shots which she took of Kurt Brooks in action with Nick & Wendy Feros.

Brooke Gray was in the right place at the right time to snap up Chris Stout’s bunny at Wisemans on the weekend.

With nationals teams around the world not all selected, who do you think is going to the Worlds and why?

Add your thoughts to the comments box below.
Note that unsportsmanlike comments will be not appear.

Helmet cam of Nico Bertels taking the new GTS Bernico for a 150km spin down the canal. Also photos of the GTS

Aidan Rowe of Victoria races behind kane it in the 2.5 litre class. His cousin Daniel Rowe captured him pulling bunnies out of the Murray at Echuca over the Xmas holidays.

Chris Stout got caught pulling a Bunny at Wiseman’s on the weekend by Ringo Racing Photography.

12 superb shots by Daren Van Ryte from the recent racing at Parker USA. See Peter Proctor, Lacey Nordblad and others captured in action.

Vera Van Den Bossche writes; Welcome to the 2009 Worlds in Belgium!

Bulletin 2 – General Information: Camping Site

More Cairns action from Grant. This time he’s released the NQOSSA Cairns to Port Douglas promo, with special thanks to Charlie.

If you can recognise who this actioman on a race ski is, post your thoughts in the comments section below.

As most people in water ski racing know, Mike Avila has achieved a lot in the sport of water ski racing. He’s been on the ski and in the boat at the highest level and accomplished a lot in both roles.

Britain’s former world Junior team member, Sean McCann is currently in France and en-route to Rome. Sean writes …

Nicole Mitchell caught some great bunnies at the recent Robinvale by Brett Dominguez, Chris Stout, Daniel Shipp and others. You can also see them on the dedicated Bunnies page.

More great movie footage from North Queensland. This time it’s the 2007 Green Island Race. Learn more about the NQOSSA at www.nqossa.com.au

Click the poster below to open a higher resolution poster. the final version will be published shortly.

Nads vs. Nads Racing from Jeff Barrus on Vimeo.

Due to the threat of Cyclone Hamish that was of Cairns on Saturday the 7th the Ski race that was to be held was called of – reports Neville Fry of Cairns. He went onto say;

The False Cape Course on Saturday March 7th will officially be a “Race Day” not a Training day as previously stated. Go to http://www.nqossa.com.au for more details.

Check out the video footage of The 2008 Green Island Water Ski Race. Courtesy of North Queensland Offshore Ski Association – To enter the 2009 event visit www.nqossa.com.au for details.

Check out this great piece of movie action from Cairns, Australia. This is ski racing like nowhere else in the world. Ski, Swim & Run. Is that Wayne Mawer running up the hill on Fitzroy?

Water Ski Racing in North Queensland is alive and kicking with the North Queensland Off Shore Ski Association (NQOSSA) web site has a heap of stuff on its web site. Check it out at www.nqossa.com.au

Courtesy of Vera Van den Bossche at the EAME Racing Council, the 2009 EAME Racing rules are available here.

This spectacular new design is derived from our stable of championship winning race boats. It combines impressive performance capabilities with the luxury expected by the discerning sports boat enthusiast.

The EAME Racing Council has widely circulated the International Water Ski Racing rules which apply to European Racing in 2009. Also included are technical obligations, racing categories, bid obligations amongst many other things. Click below to open and print the 29 page PDF document.

EAME Racing Technical Bulletin 2009

The infamous Günter Schmutz from Austria has sent in a few photos of some of his new bunnies. They’re posted below and on the main bunnies page.

America’s Andy Anderson has announced a fundraiser night to promote “Puddingstone Fun Day”  – a day with entry level races and a unique racing format.

With six of the eight selection races now run and done, there’s a lot of talk about who will or won’t be in the team.

Chris Grabyn has published his shots of the 2009 Southern 80 at

www.multi-verse.net

Mirror Image

Top Gun

Cinders

Fresh from Belgium, the organisers of the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships have published bulletin 2 for the big event in July. Vera Van den Bossche and her team have done a superb job of putting together this 21 page information pack. It’s a 3mb PDF file so be patient if your net connection is running on low octane fuel.

Rob Storum was right in the thick of the action again and shares these sensational shots that he captured at Wisemans Ferry on the weekend when Australia’s best fought it out as the Aussie World selection races draw close to their end.

I caught up with Wayne Mawer and Kim Lumley just before the 2008 Diamond Race to see what they had to say about canal racing and the 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships in Belgium.

Wayne Mawer won another hard fought world selection race today in Australia. Peter Procter was 2nd and Chris Stout 3rd.

More news and photos when they become available.

Check on the previous results from the Aussie selections here or on the Aussie Worlds page at www.skiracing.com.au

Calendar for Aussie World Selection Races

Race 1 & 2
Saturday and Sunday 8th & 9th November 2008 at
Gosford.

Race 3 & 4
Monday 19th and Wednesday 21st January 2009
Lake Charm Victoria.

Race 5 & 6
Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th 2009 February are
Wisemans Ferry

Race 7
Saturday 28th March 2009
Lake Charm Victoria

Rob Storum has shared some sensational shots from the 2009 Southern 80 weekend. Rob said; “mate it was one of the strangest weekends I’ve had.

A state of emergency has been declared in Victoria, Australia. Ambulance and Emergency Services have been deployed to other regions in the state. The BBC reports here.

Due to this action, the organisers of the Southern 80 have had to abandon the racing today (Sunday).

Please visit the S80 web site for updates on plans.

Plenty of racing took place on the Saturday of the 2009 Southern 80 weekend. You can get all the results here at the S80 web site. More racing Sunday.

Below are the top three from the Baker’s Blitz

1st
Blazen
Noel Griffin
Bernard Simpson
Chris Stout
Grant Turner
Time: 6 mins 50.88 seconds
Ave speed: 175.60 kph

2nd
The Syndicate
Garry Rudd
Clif Bamford
Kevin Vahtrik
Danny Cropper
Time: 6 mins 53.26 seconds
Ave speed: 174.33 kph

3rd
The Mistress
Leo Welch
Bradley Johnson
Jai Welch
Zac Welch
Time: 7 minutes 23.81 seconds
Ave speed: 162.52 kph

Mark Cranny from Team Hell has won the Southern 80 4 times already. Can he do it again in 2009?

Wim Lamot has issued the final 2009 World Water Ski Racing Championships Promo movie.

André Schürle, the driver from the F1 Team Germany water ski racing team recently arranged a superb event in Lech am Arlberg, Austria.

Below are a selection of the boat and skier shots from In Tha Zone Images at the recent Aussie Titles / World Selections Race 3 & 4 at Lake Charm in Victoria. Rob Storum gives a special thank you to HB Promotions for getting him down for the Championships and to Brian Nutley and Ian Pearse for getting the lines he needed.

In Straham, Tasmania on Saturday 31st January 2009 at 7am, hundreds of skiers, assistants and organisers attempt to beat the long standing record of 100 skiers set by Cairns & District Powerboat and Ski Club on 18th October 1986. Watch the Cairns record here.

Wayne Mawer was one of the skiers in 1986

Strahan’s attempt is planned for Sunrise on Saturday however all day Saturday and Sunday is reserved for a backup in case of bad weather or technical difficulties.

See www.skirecord.com for full details.

One of Bernico’s customers has asked them to build a TS model with twin Merc 300 short shaft engines on a Bernico trailer.

Stephen Robertson of Australia writes …yesterday (06.30am Saturday 24th January – Sydney time) 2 of my very good friends & former fellow ski racers David Morris & Dean Hanckel were involved in a tragic accident whilst on a training ride for an upcoming ironman triathlon, they were struck down by a truck causing Dave’s death, at this stage Dean is fighting for his life.

21 Jan update – By Neville Fry —
Wayne Mawer has taken out the forth selection race at Lake Charm – second was Chris Stout, third Ben Gully. Unfortunately Peter Proctor’s boat had another problem before half way through the race –  Peter was leading at the time. These two skiers have not had a full race without a mishap, when they do it will be a good race.

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

Selection Race Highlight Results
Note: On the official results for the 4th day of racing, there is no “1” for 1hour. So you probably need to add the hour onto the Men’s times below. e.g. Wayne didn’t do the race in 3 minutes and 34 seconds.

You can find complete selection results for F1, F2 & Juniors here at the Ski Racing Victoria web site

Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4

Men’s F1 World Selection Race 4

1st
Tru Blue
27 laps
03:34
Wayne Mawer
Mark Cranny
Damien Matthews

2nd
BURNN
27 laps
04:20
Chris Stout
Noel Griffin
Mike Kelly

3rd
Merc Force
04:35
Ben Gulley
Don Gulley
Gerald Gulley

Women’s F1 World Selection Race 4

1st
Still Crazy
19 laps
49:41
Cara Jochinke
Geoff Jochinke
Rod Hogben

2nd
Thunder
19 laps
49:54
Bethany Pledger
John Jnr Robertson
Adrian Pickering

3rd
Tuff-N-Up
16 laps
49:46
Lauryn Eagle
Danny Knappick
Rory Brown

Men’s F2 World Selection Race 4

1st
Force This
25 laps
03:30
Mark Weaver
Troy Kennedy
Jason Bennett

2nd
Tuff E Nuff
24 laps
03:10
Daniel Cotton
Brent Wisemantel
Andrew Fyfe

3rd
Showbiz
24 laps
04:11
Richard Souwer
David Tidswell
Trent Souwer

Women’s F2 World Selection Race 4

1st
Tuff E Nuff
19 laps
50:21
Trudi Stout
Brent Wisemantel
Andrew Fyfe

2nd
Still Sparken
19 laps
50:36
Kylee Jones
Craig Boswell
Murray Hackett

3rd
Stalker Evinrude
18 laps
49:51
Susan Cartwright
Brad Groves
Shaun Williams

Junior Boy’s World Selection Race 4

1st
Sudden Force
12 laps
33:16
Jack Houston
Greg Houston
Kevin Boylan

2nd
Smack That
12 laps
33:47
Ben Hackett
Wayne Harrison
Murray Hackett

3rd
Tru Blue
12 laps
34:29
Ben Pearse
Mark Cranny
Damien Matthews

Junior Girl’s World Selection Race 4

1st
Prime Time
10 laps
33:46
Sarah Teelow
Chris Teelow
Adrian Pickering

2nd
Tuff-N-Up
10 laps
33:47
Maddison Boyer
Danny Knappick
Rob Henderson

3rd
Heat
10 laps
34:37
Natalie Keys
Bernie Elliott
Graham French

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

19 Jan – Wayne Mawer won the third Aussie selection race in Men’s F1 at Lake Charm. In the other selection races, Cara Jochinke won the Women’s F1 whilst Trudi Stout won Womens’ F2. Daniel Cotton secured a win in Men’s F2 and in the Juniors it was Jack Houston and Sarah Teelow taking the honours.

The selection races have been run as part of the Australian Titles week and hosted in Victoria.

Please find herewith the invitation for our “1st EAME RACING SEMINAR 2009” which will take place at Amsterdam on the weekend of March 14, 2009.

The NWSRA has a Marathon Series Season Opener at Lake Havasu on 21 & 22 Feb. You can get the flyer with full details here and book accommodation at the Nautical Inn Resort www.nauticalinn.com

Carlo Cassa has proudly announced that at 20:45 on 18 Jan in Cantù (Como), Italy, Barbara brought their son Giacomo Cassa into the world.

Jeff Barrus has published a snippet of footage of the 2008 Catalina DVD which is scheduled for release on 15 Feb.

Who’s voice was on the video and when?

Vera Van den Bossche of Belgium writes … Dear all, It is with great sadness that I have to inform you all that Hugo Van Loon at the age of 64, passed away this morning January 13th caused by a heart attack.

Hugo was a well known figure amongst us, not only as International Judge but also as former racer, Chairman of WSV Racing,  Belgian Judge and Organiser of the Antwerp edition for the Worlds 2009.

The funeral will take place on Saturday January 17th at 09.30 a.m. in the Church of Sint Katarina at Stabroek (Belgium).

14 Jan update

Services for Howard
Saturday, January 24 @ 2:00 pm

The River Christian Reformed Church
459 E Highland Ave
Redlands CA 92373
909 798-2221

Gathering following:
Redlands Country Club
1749 Garden St
Redlands CA 92373
909 793-1295

—————————–

Many will already have heard the terribly sad news that Howard Haig passed away on 9th January.

Howard was returning from a trip to Miami and was taken ill whilst at the airport. An ambulance took Howard to hospital, he was stabilized, but then passed away.

So many people will be saddened by the loss of this most charismatic and friendly member of the water ski racing world and my thoughts go to his sons Todd, Michael and other family and friends at this difficult time.

Ski Racing Australia wishes to advise that DVD orders are now being taken for each River Race Classic for the 2008/09 season.

British Water Ski has a vacancy for an experienced Operations Manager to play a key role within the organisation to assist in achieving BWS short and long term goals.