Waterskiing success away from home
The 2018 Tournament Waterski Nationals was recently held in Piarere, just south of Cambridge in the North Island.
A large team from Canterbury traveled up to compete in 1-3 events (Slalom, Tricks and Jump) with 6 of those competitors from Rangiora.
The week long tournament started well for Canterbury with Southbrook School pupil Zak Bainbridge taking the first Gold medal in subjunior Slalom (Under 10’s).
Zak followed that up two days later with another Gold in Tricks, setting himself up to take out the Gold medal for the best overall skier in his division.
Next up was last year’s Under 10’s overall national champion and current Slalom NZ record holder Sam Bainbridge, skiing up a division this year in the Junior Boys Division (11-14yrs).
Sam competed in all 3 events and came home a creditable 5th in overall standings amongst a very strong field of 15 skiers.
Next off the dock was Rangiora High school student and neighbour to the Bainbridge boys, Diaz Mckay who followed up a fantastic season with winning a bronze medal in her specialist event Slalom in the Junior Girls Division.
A very close final saw the top 4 Junior Girls only separated by one bouy. Diaz placed 5th in the Junior Girls Tricks final.
Mark Bainbridge (Zak and Sam’s father) and Steve Wayne each won Gold medals in Slalom in their respective age groups, some of the biggest divisions of the tournament.
To cap off an amazing week of skiing by North Canterbury skiers Morgan Diehl won Gold in Men’s Slalom then Gold again in Open Men’s Slalom to become NZ’s No.1 Slalom skier for the 4th year in a row.
All these skiers, ski and train at the purpose built waterski site in the subdivision of Northbrook Waters in Rangiora.
Counting this years success Northbrook is now home to 11 past and present National Slalom Waterski Champions as well as 3 current Slalom NZ record holders which must make it one of most successful sporting streets in New Zealand.
Canterbury as a region won the Teams Trophy Shield again for overall total points.