In what will be one of the biggest water ski events to ever be held in the region the Mulwala Water Ski Club Ski Show Team is deep into their preparation for the IWWF World Show Ski Championships while an amazing transformation of the ‘world class’ Max Kirwin Ski Park takes place.
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The Australian team for the ‘exhilarating’ event will feature an incredible 22 local Mulwala Water Ski Club members, highlighting the depth and talent in local skiing.
Mulwala Water Ski Club Ski Co-ordinator, Australian Show Ski Team Director Pete O’Neill said spectators will have the opportunity to witness some of the best waterskiing in the world throughout the championships which will be held on March 21 and 22.
“Just think of the best skiing you have ever seen on Instagram or YouTube, but this time designed to be in one choregraphed show...it’s funny, entertaining and exhilarating,” Pete said.
“Some of the skiing the Australian team will be doing scares me,” the multiple world barefoot champ conceded.
“The USA are bringing an amazing team backed by an incredible depth of talent, funding and are handpicked from over 150 ski teams throughout the country. Belgium will bring their usual talented funny show and Canada will have a high intensity show that will be sure to thrill.”
Pete said the USA team are the ones to beat but he has high hopes a home ground advantage will help them defeat the Americans who they came agonising close to defeating in Canada back in 2018.
“We may never get this opportunity again, so we hope the ‘one-percenters’ of having it in our own ski park and country will help.
“The local ski team organising committee has done an amazing job, helping at working bees etc and will also be assisting at the event.
“A lot of things happen over the one weekend it’s a massive job to put such an event on. But we want people to go away saying we can’t wait to be back again in Mulwala.”
Mulwala Water Ski Club CEO Peter Duncan said the world championships is set to put the club and the local area further on the map, stamping its reputation as a world class club and facility.
“The club is in full swing to deliver a top world class event and will continue to show the world why it’s in a class of its own.
“We have invested over $500,000 out at the park which includes a $300,000 NSW state government grant,” he said.
“Thanks to the help of many volunteers, generous donations of equipment, labour and materials we will be on budget and on time.
“The amount of work that has been done out at the park is just phenomenal. It’s world standard and will be a springboard to win many events for years to come.”
A new judge’s tower and viewing deck, meeting rooms, toilets, kitchen, shade areas, landscaping, grandstands, new gate entry, two new docks along with newly sealed roads have been added to the already world class facility.
The popular ski club will proudly add to its impressive tally of hosting major events again over Easter when it will host the Australian Three Event National Titles which follows the club also hosting Victorian State Titles several weeks prior.
But it doesn’t stop there as proposed future events include the World Games in Water Skiing which includes many disciplines such as; show skiing, three-event, barefooting, wake boarding, ski racing and a proposed world seniors’ event.
Mulwala Water Ski Club President Len Langford said the board and management are committed to carrying out important upgrades to the Max Kirwan Ski Park to make sure the ability to attract events continues.
“Upgrades to the park will allow us to have a better chance of getting national and international events which will continue to be a major economic boost to the local community and the region,” Mr Langford.
