Australian Masters Water Ski Championships return for 2021

Published on 14 January 2021

Bridgewater on Loddon will host some of Australia’s best athletes in water skiing this January when it holds the 2021 EasyTow Malibu Australian Masters Water Ski Championships.

Held over three days from 23 to 25 January, the event will see more than 50 skiers travel from all over Australia for this premier event which is hosted by the Bridgewater Water Ski Club.

Bridgewater Water Ski Club Secretary Craig Stephen said spectators could expect to see strength, skill and ability on show during the weekend, resulting in lots of water spray and action. 

“Obviously COVID-19 has had an influence on the running of the event and therefore reduced the numbers attending, but we are hoping that with smarter programming we will have two world champions here for the event,” he added.

Of the participants expected to take part over the weekend there will be competitors in all age groups, ranging from under 11 years of age through to the over 65s and disabled divisions.

The competitors are among the country's best performers in water skiing, slalom, trick and jump.

Prize money and event medals will be on offer along with the prestigious Glenn Thurlow Trophy for Most Outstanding Skier.

The slalom and jump are held on the length of river in front of the Bridgewater Public Caravan Park, while the tricks competition is run upstream opposite the boat ramp.

“It’s an attraction that the patrons of the Bridgewater Public Caravan Park come back for year after year and we are aiming to make it a bigger event through the 2020s,” Craig said.

Craig added that the Australian Masters Water Ski Championships had been going for more than 50 years.

“It started in Deniliquin as a junior development program and a last chance qualifier to enter the Moomba Masters,” he said.

“We have run it here at the Bridgewater Water Ski Club now since 2004.

“We have been blessed with the support of the Malibu Boats Easytow trailers, the Bridgewater Bakehouse and the Shire,” Craig added.

Formed in 1960, the Bridgewater Water Ski Club is one of the oldest water ski clubs in Australia. It runs the prestigious event to enable national calibre skiers to qualify for the Moomba Masters, held in Melbourne in March.

The world-ranked competition is also a major lead up event for the selection for the Junior Worlds Waterski Championships.

Located two hours north of Melbourne and 35 minutes north-west of Bendigo, Bridgewater is a key destination for visitors looking to enjoy the river or explore the region. The town boasts an award-winning bakery, world class wineries and a classic Australian pub with an appealing beer garden offering views of the river.