LAKE Boga Water Ski Club wrapped up the state season with six skiers competing at the final Victorian Waterski Titles in Latrobe last weekend.
Lake Boga Water Ski delegate Brett Atkin said the weather conditions were perfect at the Latrobe Vally Water Ski Club for the three competitions – slalom, trick and jump skiing.
Lainey Styles hit a personal best in slalom and earned her first national rating, qualifying her for the Victorian side.
Styles reached three buoys at 55km/h on an 18.25m rope, earning her second place in the under-17 girls competition.
Georgia Bray took first place in all three under-14 girls competitions, reaching two buoys at 52km/h on a 14.25m rope in slalom, 2560 points in trick and 21.4m in jump,
Her brother Lee Bray placed first in slalom reaching two buoys at 58km/h on a 12m rope, and first in trick with 2380 points in the over 21 men’s competition.
Mitch Bray took first in trick with 2950 points, and second in slalom reaching five buoys at 58km/h on a 14.25 rope, and second and a personal best in jump at 31.9m, in the under-17 boys competition.
Styles will join Georgia Lee and Mitch at the 2025 Waterski Australian Nationals competition in Port Macquarie over Easter representing Victoria.
Harry Atkin took out first in under-12 boys slalom and trick, reaching a personal best of 3.5 buoys at 43km/h on a 18.25m rope, 320 points.
Charlie Atkin represented Lake Boga in the under-10 boys competition and took home second in slalom and trick, reaching two buoys at 28km/h on a 18.25m rope and 40 points.
The slalom competition has skiers weaving through runs of six sets of buoys, increasing the difficulty each run until they fault.
The standard length of the rope is 18.25m and difficulty increases as it shortens.
Mr Atkin said there has been an influx of young water skiers in Lake Boga competing in tournaments.
“There were probably 12 Lake Boga skiers who competed at various tournaments throughout Victoria over the summer, and the new interested is likely being driven by Kelly Atkinson and Toby Gilmour,” he said.
“Kelly has been a great water skier over the years and her enthusiasm has washed off on a few of the adult club members which has passed onto the kids coming through.
“Kelly and Toby got the ski club back up and running and we provided a few coaching weekends over the summer at Lake Boga in all different water sports, whether that’s skiing, barefooting, wakeboarding, slalom and more at come and try days.
“That’s definitely built the confidence of the young folks to start entering competitions, and I think we’ll continue the good representation that we’ve seen in the last five years.
“This is Lainey’s first time as a state representative and moving forward into next summer there could be for or five more Lake Boga skiers qualifying.”
