BRISBANE teenager Cornala Lucas has set a new ski course record on the Loddon River at Bridgewater.
The 19-year-old negotiated four buoys behind a 10.25 metre rope on Sunday morning in the slalom event to complete a clean sweep of under 21 events at the Aussie-Kiwi Challenge-Oceania Junior Championship.
His final runs in the slalom started with matching the 10.75 metre rope record before the international crowd cheered the young star to set a new benchmark on his last run of the course.
Lucas had been in Bridgewater since last Tuesday training for the championships contested by Australia and New Zealand’s top 48 young skiers over four days. “It was a bit bumpy but I did like the feel of the water,” Lucas said after his record-setting run and wading to the bank to cheers from team members.
“To do four buoys behind a 10.25 metre rope has been the goal for the season and I thought there was a chance this weekend.”
Lucas also took out the tricks and jump event for his age group and was a clear winner of the under 21 aggregate.
Australia dominated events in all age groups to take this year’s honours in the challenge that alternates across the Tasman.
Australian team manager Amanda Fletcher said conditions on the Loddon at Bridgewater had been ideal for good skiing “and that has worked out in the results and personal bests achieved by team members”.
“For a lot of the Australian team members, this was the first time they had competed on the Bridgewater course.
Some have used the weekend as a lead up to their state and national titles in coming weeks and also the Oceania championships in New Zealand.”
Securing the four-day challenge was a coup for Bridgewater Ski Club with members assisting with organisation.
Teams paraded behind national flags at an opening dinner at the Bridgewater Hotel last Wednesday to herald the start of the biennial competition that saw a lift in local visitor numbers.