Hard act to follow. The Ski Show Nationals this weekend will feature entertainment, dancing and of course amazing water-skiing stunts including the swivel ballet line. Pictured at back is Macey, Chelsea, Abi, Izzy, Dee, Keely and in front Tash, Tess and Tora.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
More than 130 water skiers, plus boat drivers and officials will line up for the NSW team at the Australian Ski Show Nationals this Friday and Saturday March 25 and 26.
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Held at the club’s Max Kirwan Ski Park the Ski Show Nationals have been described as, “the greatest show on water” resembling a stage show with lots of entertainment, dancing and of course amazing water-skiing stunts including trick skiing, jumps, ballet on water, pro-wakeboarders, sky skis, breath-taking pyramids and so much more!
There will be three state teams competing for the national title, including NSW, Victoria and Western Australia.
The (local) NSW team is directed by experienced local skiers Abbey Hicks and Braden Ellis and features a unique theme bringing many favourite and familiar characters.
This weekends Australian Ski Show Nationals will feature a number of parents skiing with their children.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Overall event director Pete O’Neill said the team which is made of mums, dads and their kids along with some of the more experienced skiers have been busily training at the park making sure everything will be falling into place to defend their national title they won in Perth in 2019.
“They have been training since September and a lot of work has gone into the show particularly in last two months,” Pete said.
Training and rehearsing for the swivel ski acts is Chloe Macknight and Chloe Harmer at the Max Kirwan Water Ski Park.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
“We have an awesome team made of a large number of kids right though to parents who have been an amazing help.”
Pete said the team had created a really fun show with a lot of attention to detail such as the colourful costumes right through to some big skiing acts that many locals would not have seen.
“In the ski club harbour we can usually get six people in an act for our summer ski shows but at the ski park we can have up to twenty in one single act.
“This ski show event is massive, with over 130 skiers participating, dressed in spectacular costumes and with amazing talent it’s sure to thrill the crowd.
“If you love water skiing, this takes it to the next level, with each team bringing new tricks to try to win the title,” Pete said.
Crowd participation plays a crucial role in the deciding of the points so if you love the show, Pete said the crowd need to let the judges know with lots of noise.
“Bring your hooters, whistles, clappers, pom poms and cheer on our team loudly,” Pete said.
Each team will present an hour long show and are similar to those seen in the US where show skiing is extremely popular and very competitive.
The more experienced members of the local NSW team have been part of the successful second placed Australian team for the World Championships held in the US in 2018 and were poised to better that at home in Mulwala in March 2020 but those world championships were cancelled the week before the event due to the start of the COVID-Pandemic.
The team will rely on crowd participation to assist in keeping their national title so bring your horns, clappers, whistles and streamers.
After the completion of the shows on Saturday there will also be national swivel ski event and star doubles competitions and on Sunday team and individual jump competitions featuring some of Australia’s best skiers.
The Max Kirwan Ski Park is just a short drive from Mulwala on the corner of Tocumwal and Wemyss Roads.
The shows run from 8am until 4pm and entry is free. Bring a deck chair with food and beverages available at the park.
So come and support your local team for what is going to be a truly amazing couple of days on the water.
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