Shepparton’s Layne Moroney claims third at under-21 World Waterski Championships and Junior Canadian Open

By Liam Nash

Nov 1, 2023

Green, gold and bronze: Shepparton’s Layne Moroney (right) collected third for Australia at the 2023 IWWF World Under-21 Waterski Championships in Mexico alongside teammate Joel O’Toole (left). Photo by Megan Fisher

Layne Moroney can look back on the year she’s had with bronze-tinted glasses thanks to a stellar performance on international waters.

Following the Australian team’s third placings at the 2023 IWWF World Under-21 Waterski Championships and Junior Canadian Open, the Shepparton waterskiing prodigy is getting back into the swing of things after some time off.

Because, as it turns out, there is rest for the wicked — the wickedly talented.

The 21-year-old kicked the feet up after returning from her overseas jaunt, but is now ramping up her training to four, sometimes five days a week at Mulwala Waterski Club.

Moroney will shift from competing in under-21 events to the open age bracket moving forward, meaning her exploits on foreign lakes were the perfect sign-off for her junior career.

Carving up: Layne Moroney on the waters in Mexico. Photo by SERGIO GARIBAY

She flew to the United States in mid-May for a training block before heading to the World Championships at Boca Laguna in Chapala, Mexico, the following month.

There, she competed in the jump, tricks and slalom categories, placing 15th overall in the under-21 women’s division, while helping an eight-strong Australia squad to a third placing.

It marked Australia’s first podium finish in a decade.

Moroney then flew north for the Junior Canadian Open in July, claiming silver in the tricks event and bronze overall at Edmonton’s Shalom Park.

“Going to a new country, I met a lot of people, I loved the whole event really — the skiing, the travel, every aspect,” she said.

“Skiing in Mexico was actually quite tricky.

“I wouldn’t know how to describe it, it was actually quite slippery water, but the site in Canada was fantastic to ski on.

Determined: Layne Moroney rounds the bend at the Junior Canadian Open.

“I actually skied an equal personal best which I was super happy with.

“It was cool just to do another international tournament while I’m still in that junior category.

“And again, just seeing another part of the world and getting chances to see some of the people I met in Mexico again was also good.”

After taking a rest period for mental and physical recovery, Moroney strapped her bindings and got back to business with fellow Australian teammate Joel O’Toole.

O’Toole hails from Newcastle, but has been lodging with the Moroney family as the pair ferries to Mulwala a handful of days a week for training.

That number will grow to six throughout summer as the new season approaches.

Get vert: Layne Moroney goes aerial during the jump event.

Moroney, juggling university, part-time work and waterskiing, has a busier schedule than most 21-year-olds, but wants to make an even bigger splash as she gets ready to go again.

“I just want to keep moving forward, taking every opportunity I get,” she said.

“I like skiing in open; I think it’s pretty cool, especially competing against all the best skiers in Australia.

“That’s why I pushed myself up into the open category before I had to. It always meant a lot to ski against some of the people I had idolised growing up.”

Lastly, Moroney wished to thank her family and other supporting pillars such as Jim Marx and Gary Zimmerman for assisting her in her journey to date.

“I’m just very thankful for my family and everything they’ve done for me and all the people who’ve helped me along the way.”