Sport
12 December, 2025
Skiers hit river for second round of Malibu series
BRIDGEWATER’S reputation as one of Australia’s premier waterskiing destinations will be highlighted this weekend when the ski club hosts a round of the prestigious Malibu series.
Forty skiers will take to the Loddon River on Saturday and Sunday, with participants aged from eight to 75 years old.
The event is designed as a “grassroots” competition, with skiers battling in six divisions ranked from novice through to expert.
Bridgewater Water Ski Club president Lee Bray said the unique format would see pre-teens skiing against their grandparents’ generation.
“In division two or three you’ll see someone in their 60s skiing against someone under 10 years old,” he said.
“It’s usually more daunting for the older ones, because they tend to feel the pressure while the youngsters take it in their stride.”
Skiers on the weekend will take part in all three disciplines of the sport – slalom, tricks and jumps – with competition starting at 8am on both days.
The Malibu series, which began in NSW a decade ago and expanded to Victoria last year, is the culmination of a big fortnight for the Bridgewater club.
Last week former US world champion and now elite-level coach Jimmy Siemers was taking skiers onto the Loddon for some expert training.
This week, two local coaches are holding a four-day clinic for Bridgewater juniors.
All the work is paying off, with five youngsters from the club about to travel to New Zealand as part of an Australian representative team.
The Aussie/Kiwi Challenge was held at Bridgewater last year, and this time will be held at Lake Hood in NZ.
It sees mixed gender teams from Australia and New Zealand competing at under-14, under-17 and under-21 levels for the Oceania Junior titles.
Round one of the Malibu series’ Victorian leg was staged at Lake Narracan in the Latrobe Valley last weekend, with future events scheduled in January.
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