The championships will be held in Gosford, NSW, in November but people can get an early glimpse of the action.
The first round of the selection trials was held earlier in August in Gosford, with close racing in all classes over the two races. Winners Cooper Robertson (Formula 1 Men), Lachlan Nix (Formula 1 Men), Cameron Nix (Formula 2 Men), Rachael Stapleton (Formula 1 Women), Maddison Boyer (Formula 1 Women), Emma Barnes (Formula 2 Women), Kohdi Cartledge (Junior Boys) and Lelani Cartledge (Junior Girls) will all be appearing in Mulwala.
Water Ski Racing is the ultimate water-based motor sport, where a boat and a team consisting of a driver, observer and a skier can achieve varied speeds and experience different water conditions throughout the race.
Women and men will compete in two categories, Formula 1 and Formula 2, while boys and girls between 14 and 17 will participate in the Juniors.
Each skier will be accompanied by their driver and observer inside the spectacular boats.
The boats can be worth upwards of $400,000 each and the Open category is expected to hit close to 177 km/h through the 5km course, with the skier on a single ski and ropes 90 to 100 metres behind.
No fewer than 10 current world champions skiers and crews will participate in the weekend’s Australian team selection races, etching their names into the history books, following the last time the world titles were held in France in 2019.
Of those participating, only one team remains intact from 2019.
Current world junior boys champion Carter Robinson will be piloted by his driver, Brent Wisemantel, and observer, Evan Wooldridge, and will compete in Formula 1 Men.
World junior champion Nellie McMillan will have her father, David, and new observer, Brett Armstrong, as her team, while her 2019 observer, Brayden Jameson, will compete in Formula 2 Men.
World Formula 2 champion skier Lachlan Nix will be competing in Formula 1 Men while his crew from 2019 — Alex Handley, driver, and Jason Cartlidge, observer — will compete in Formula 2 Men.
Ben Gulley, the current World Water Ski Racing men’s ski champion, will be acting as an observer.
The driver is eyes forward to control the throttle and get the team around the course in the quickest time possible, while the observer keeps an eye on the skier and other boats to ensure the skier’s safety and advise the driver on any change of course needed from behind.
The men’s category races will be over a 60-minute (plus one lap) time period, women’s 45 minutes (plus one lap) and juniors 30 minutes (plus one lap).
It will be the first time a world championship event has been held since the pandemic began.
Both Saturday and Sunday will feature a race for women in Open and F2; Juniors; and Men’s Open and F2, with racing starting at 9am both days.
As Team Australia begins its selection process, the United States last week announced its 50-strong team that will head to Gosford in November.
Entry to this weekend’s event is free, with outstanding viewing points from the banks of the lake.
Team Australia qualifiers schedule:
Saturday, August 26
9am: Women’s Open and Formula 2 (categories combined) — 45 minutes + one lap.
11am: Junior Boys and Girls (categories combined) — 30 minutes + one lap.
1pm: Men’s Open and Formula 2 (categories combined) — 60 minutes + one lap
2:45pm to 5pm: Support races (x 3).
Sunday, August 27
9am: Women’s Open and Formula 2 (categories combined) — 45 minutes + one lap.
11am: Junior Boys & Girls (categories combined) — 30 minutes + one lap.
1pm: Men’s Open and Formula 2 (categories combined) — 60 minutes + one lap
2:45pm to 5pm: Support races (x 2)
