| 1940s | | | | Harp. Britain's Ray Berriman chaired the organising |
| Several years before the war, an aquaplane race | | | | committee. |
| was run on an annual basis from the isthmus at | | | | The event was the first to bring together official top |
| Avalon to Hermosa Beach, California. It was a race | | | | teams from around the world, and although |
| and a test of endurance for both man and boat and | | | | Australia's Wayne Ritchie and Bronwyn Wing snapped |
| usually less than 20% of the field ever managed to | | | | up the golds, Britain's Kim Gooding took 2nd in the |
| finish. The remainder dropped out due to boat | | | | women's, Bill Rixon 2nd in the men's and Steven Coe |
| problems or because the aqua planer couldn't hold on | | | | 3rd. The British team clearly established Britain as a |
| any longer. The last race prior to the war, on June 20 | | | | force to be reckoned with on the world water ski |
| 1941, was won by Bob Brown, towed by Don Berry, | | | | racing stage. |
| in a time of 1 hr 51 min. | | | | 1980s |
| In 1947, the Long Beach Boat and Ski Club was | | | | As Rixon neared the end of his unprecedented racing |
| formed and almost immediately took over | | | | career, it was time for some new names to climb |
| sponsorship of the race, renaming it the "Grand | | | | onto the stage and enjoy the limelight. Liz Hobbs and |
| National Water Ski Race". In 1949 the contest | | | | Steve Moore were the two big names in the early |
| became a round trip run, starting at Hermosa Beach | | | | 80's and both went onto become world champions |
| pier, the skiers raced to the isthmus, circled a | | | | and to be awarded the MBE. In fact Liz won the title |
| turn-boat and returned non-stop to the pier. A skier | | | | of world champion in 1981 and 1984, and she won |
| was disqualified if at any time they touched the boat | | | | the European championship title at least four times. |
| or anyone in the boat. Ed Stanley of Orange was the | | | | But life in the 80s wasn't so sweet for Liz, despite |
| winner of this first round trip race with a time of I hr | | | | her incredible success, because at Penarth in 1984, |
| 41 min. | | | | she fell and broke her neck. She also broke her |
| Of course, this event is well known these days as | | | | sternum in three places, six ribs, one of which |
| Catalina, and just for the record, Chuck Steams first | | | | punctured a lung. On top of that, Liz's heart stopped. |
| won the event at the age of 16 and he went on to | | | | Amazingly, Liz was back on a ski the following year |
| win it a staggering eleven times over the next few | | | | and back on her winning streak in 1986. Later in the |
| decades. | | | | 80s she was nominated for the sports personality of |
| 1950s | | | | the year award and she won the sports writers of |
| Now it was time for the Aussies to establish a piece | | | | the year award. After climbing onto the public stage |
| of history in ski racing and in the 1950's, the | | | | with the help of a publicist a few years earlier, Liz |
| Bridge-to-Bridge Water Ski Race was launched. The | | | | went on to host her own TV series with Yorkshire |
| 68-mile course on the NSW Hawkesbury River is now | | | | Television called "Hobbs Choice", and since then, has |
| one of the most prestigious races in the world. | | | | become one of the most publicly known waterskiers |
| 1960s | | | | in the world. |
| In 1966, Britain made a move to get involved in the | | | | Steve Moore began racing in 1980. He was the guy |
| sport of water ski racing and a meeting took place | | | | that fell, but got up, then fell again but always got up. |
| at the Mandeville Hotel in London, where 30 clubs | | | | Eventually he stopped falling and was an incredible |
| were represented and a Racing sub-committee of | | | | machine on the water. By 1983 he had attempted a |
| the BWSF was formed. The legendary Chuck Steams | | | | speed record at Windermere behind Alf Bullen's F1 |
| of California happened to be in London at the time | | | | catamaran, but fell at 115mph. |
| and he provided a copy of the Californian racing | | | | Moore won no less than five European titles, five |
| rulebook, which formed the foundation for British | | | | British titles and the 1988 world championships in |
| racing rules. | | | | Sydney, Australia. He also won the World Cup in |
| Alan Taylor recalls; "we knew that racing had taken | | | | 1986. This consisted of the Catalina, Giro del Lario and |
| place in Belgium three or four years earlier, on the | | | | Botany Bay Classic in Australia. He won all three and |
| Scheldt at a place called Rupelmonde. The following | | | | in the same year, and became the first British skier |
| year, a few people from Whitstable Club went to | | | | to win Catalina outright. |
| Belgium and had a look at this race and we invited a | | | | Snapping at Moore's heels in the late 80s was a |
| Belgian team to compete in the first official | | | | young lad from London who skied in his first race in |
| cross-channel race". | | | | 1977. His name was Darren Kirkland and at the tender |
| On May, 29 1967, the Whitstable and Varne Club | | | | age of 18, Kirkland first represented Britain at the |
| water ski clubs organised the first cross-channel | | | | world championships in Spain, in 1985 and is about to |
| water ski race and no less than 56 teams, including | | | | enter his 8th world championship event in 2001. |
| one from Belgium, took part in the 42 mile run from | | | | With the Coes, Rixon, Cliff Featherstone, Paul |
| Greatstone, Kent, to a trawler marker-boat, | | | | Llewellyn, Gary Brooks, Tony Cox and others fighting |
| anchored three miles off Cap Griz Nez and back. | | | | for victory throughout the decade, the 80s played |
| Boats were allowed to take up to three or four | | | | host to some incredible races across Britain. Nicky |
| people to ski in relays. The skis were ordinary | | | | Carpenter and Lisa Coupland were also successful |
| standard slalom skis for speeds of around 30 mph, as | | | | names in the 80s. |
| well as pairs, and the ski line had to be between 75 | | | | 1990s |
| ft and 100 ft in length. Teams were also allowed to | | | | As the prosperous 80s faded away, the economic |
| relay with more than one skier per team. | | | | decline saw numbers in racing drop. In Europe, |
| News soon leaked that skier 47 registered, as Mr. | | | | Australia and the USA, a similar pattern occurred, but |
| A.A.Johnson was non other than the Earl of | | | | this didn't prevent the sport from becoming even |
| Snowdon, patron of the BWSF, attempting to keep | | | | more competitive in terms of the commitment given |
| his identity from the Press. The result was dramatic | | | | to win some of the limelight. |
| news coverage of the event. | | | | Kirkland went on to win his fair share of it and has |
| More than 20 of the 56 entrants failed to finish the | | | | virtually dominated British racing since the 90s. |
| race due to a gale, which whipped up 6 ft high | | | | Showing the persistence he's renowned for, Kirkland |
| waves. The winners were members of the | | | | had racked up ten overall British titles, five European |
| Chasewater Power Boat Club, and they completed | | | | titles and became a well-respected skier throughout |
| the course in 3 hr 15 min. The Snowdon team came | | | | the world. On top of that, Kirkland won Catalina in |
| in fourth at 4 hr 10 min and another skier in the race | | | | 1994, the gruelling Diamond race in Belgium, an |
| was a 14-year-old Bill Rixon. Taking 3rd place overall, | | | | enviable six times and Italy's Giro del Lario, twice. |
| this was just the beginning for someone who was to | | | | But the jewel in the crown has eluded him for the |
| become one of the legends in British water ski racing. | | | | last 16 years. The world title has been so near and |
| In 1968 the BWSF Racing Committee organised the | | | | yet so far, from the man who came so close to |
| first British Championship series, run at Chasewater, | | | | winning it on more than one occasion. In 1995, Italy's |
| Greatsone, Hunstanton, Hartlepool, Penarth and the | | | | Stefano Gregorio took the honours in Belgium, just as |
| River Medway. John Boardman of the Varne club | | | | Kirkland thought he had the title wrapped up. In 1997 |
| became the first series champion. | | | | he took 3rd in Australia and in 1999 he took 2nd in |
| In 1969, the British Championship series was | | | | Spain. This year he will try once again, to win the one |
| increased to eight races and was won by Brendan | | | | achievement he wants so much. |
| Bowles of Penarth club. It was in this year that | | | | In January 1997, Kirkland was awarded the BWSF |
| European Water Ski Racing Championships were | | | | General Lascelles Trophy in recognition of his |
| established and races were held in Holland, Belgium | | | | tremendous achievements in the sport of water |
| and Britain. Bill Rixon became the first European | | | | skiing. And at the 1999 world championships, gold |
| Water Ski Racing Champion. | | | | medallist Stephen Robertson of Australia paid public |
| 1970s | | | | tribute to Kirkland after receiving his crown. |
| Rixon began making his mark on European racing in | | | | The early 90s saw Rachel Casson put on an |
| the 70s with no less than six overall European | | | | outstanding performance at the 1991 world |
| Championship gold medals amongst the numerous | | | | championships in Darwin, Australia. So close to wining |
| British too. Bill said, "it's possible there are even | | | | one of the rounds, Rachel fell at over 100mph and |
| another two European titles not accounted for". In | | | | suffered horrendous injuries. Determined to succeed |
| 1974/5 he spent a lot of time in Italy skiing for | | | | on the world stage, Rachel became Britain's top |
| Mostes, and he paid a few disapproved visits to | | | | women's skier, but was dogged by the Darwin injury |
| South Africa and also hit the racing scene in California. | | | | over the years. Gilly Clements was also a strong |
| Other names such as David Hutchinson, Guy Gooding, | | | | contender in the 80s and 90s, representing Britain on |
| David Martin, Robin Mainwaring, Cliff Featherstone, | | | | numerous occasions. |
| Alan Hargreaves, Tony Cox, Gary Brooks and Colin | | | | 2000s |
| Harris were scattered throughout the 70s when | | | | Over the years Britain has been very strong in |
| British F1 ski racing was as strong as ever. | | | | Europe, winning countless titles in all categories, |
| Two other names were brothers Steven and Andy | | | | including the much-coveted team trophy at least four |
| Coe. Steven won the British Championships in 1978 | | | | times. Fabulous performances by many but notably in |
| and 1979 and Andy followed suit in 1980 with Tom | | | | the women's category by Liz Hobbs, Nicky |
| Lumley observing for all those three title wins. Britain's | | | | Carpenter, Lisa Coupland, Rachel Casson, Gilli |
| top women included Liz Hobbs, Sue de Donker and | | | | Clements. More recently Kim Lumley has engraved |
| Kim Gooding. | | | | her name on the British championship trophy three |
| Liz had started skiing when she was 9, and by 15, | | | | times already. Paula Newland, originally from Penarth |
| she was had skied in her first race on the Medway in | | | | club, has also been up there and secured a 6th in the |
| 1975. The following year, she went on to win every | | | | 1999 world championships in Spain. |
| race she entered & won the first of seven | | | | Darren Kirkland still dominates the men's category in |
| British titles. In the same year, she broke the | | | | Britain but the likes Karl Brooks and Danny Evans are |
| women's British and European speed records behind a | | | | slowly closing in on the 34 year old. How long will he |
| Cigarette powerboat called, "I like it too". | | | | retain his spot at the top of British racing? - only time |
| During the 70's, a few British skiers, including the | | | | will tell. |
| Coes, had visited Australia and discovered a new | | | | On the official side of things, Britain's Ray Berriman, |
| way of skiing called, 'wrapping'. Terry Bennett of | | | | who was instrumental in the very first world |
| Sydney was the name behind wrapping and he | | | | championships in Britain back in 1979, is Chief Judge |
| discovered the technique purely by accident, when | | | | at the 2001 world championships in Las Vegas this |
| trying to easy the strain on his back, after suffering | | | | year. |
| an accident. So along with Fred Williams race skis, and | | | | It's been impossible to mention all those who have |
| a wealth of Aussie experience, these British skiers | | | | played a part in Britain's history of water ski racing |
| introduced us to the way we all now ski - wrapped. | | | | here. There are so many names unmentioned. But |
| Along with Ray Berriman and Alan Taylor, others | | | | this article has hopefully given you a high level view |
| such as Arthur Dawe, Peter Felix, Ted Rawlings, | | | | of water ski racing and it's past. |
| Wally Neale and John Hoiles were early organizers of | | | | All in all, Britain continues to play a major role in the |
| British racing. John Hoiles actually went on to be | | | | world ski racing. It will undoubtedly continue to do so |
| European and World President of the IWSF, and | | | | over the coming years. |
| contributed a great deal to the sport. | | | | Written in 2001 by Robbie Llewellyn |
| A turning point in world water ski racing came on | | | | With thanks to: Aubrey Sheena, Alan Taylor, Darren |
| September 9, 1979, when the first world racing | | | | Kirkland, Steve Moore (MBE), Mike Waterman, Martin |
| championships sponsored by Sperry Univac were | | | | Brooks, Tom Lumley, Liz Hobbs (MBE) and the |
| held, with races at Whitstable, Allhallows and Welsh | | | | Guinness Book of Waterskiing. |