AUSTRALASIA’S top young water skiers have marked Bridgewater in their diaries for March when the Loddon River hosts a major international event.
Bridgewater Water Ski Club has been given the nod to stage the 2025 Aussie Kiwi Challenge.
Teams of 26 skiers representing each country will compete on the river in what club member Lee Martin said was a coup for the club and recognition of the Loddon River’s skiing reputation
“There have been a lot of people who have skied here and gone on to represent Australia at international events,” Martin said. “And there will be another crop of skiers using the river at Bridgewater for training before being part of the Moomba Masters on the March long weekend.
“Some of those young skiers will then be back in Bridgewater the next weekend competition in the Oz-Kiwi challenge.”
Martin said the sport’s ruling bodies in Australia and New Zealand had approved the club’s bid to host the three-day tournament in 2025.
The event alternates between the countries with the top under 21 skiers last year taking to Whanganui’s Lake Wiritoa.
Bridgewater club members spent the Australia Day weekend fine tuning the Loddon River’s front and back courses when they hosted the annual Australian Masters tournament.
The overall men’s winner was Lochie Butlin with women’s honours going to Layne Moroney. Competition was in sections from under 10 to veterans.
The club last month ran the second round of the Malibu series celebrating skiers of all abilities in slalom, trick and jump events. 
Next month’s Australasian ski challenge will be one of two major sporting events being hosted in the Loddon Shire this year.
Australian National Three-Day Orienteering Carnival will be staged around Inglewood at Easter and followed by further competitions the next weekend.
- CHRIS EARL