EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF WATERSKI LOVERS CONVERGE ON THE MURRAY RIVER AT ECHUCA-MOAMA TO WATCH THE SOUTHERN 80.
Regarded as the most prestigious waterski race in the world, hundreds of competitors try their luck at the 80-kilometre course.
It’s held on the Sunday of the second weekend in February, with a qualifying time trial being held the day before.
“Just as Bathurst is synonymous with V8s, the Southern 80 is with waterskiing,” Moama Water Sports Club president Steve Shipp said.
“You could go anywhere in Australia, and mention Echuca-Moama, and they will know about the Southern 80,” he said.
“It really is the Melbourne Cup of skiing, it’s the most iconic race in the sport.”
The course, which runs along the Murray River from Torrumbarry to Echuca, features more than 120 turns, with skiers reaching speeds in excess of 190km/h.
“The record for the race is under 30 minutes, so that gives you an idea of how fast these boats and skiers are going,” Steve said.
The race is open to all ages, with a range of age and skill brackets, with competitors from Europe and North America travelling down under to compete.
“We have racers who are under 10 who reach speeds of 60 miles an hour, all the way to our experts who are the best in the world,” Steve said.
“We don’t like having boats pass each other, and so that’s the reason for why we started doing the qualifiers the day before so the fastest boats and skiers could go first.”
The Saturday before the race, all the competitors will race in a ‘blitz’ race, with the top 40 times having a shoot-out for pole position.
“The qualifying shoot-out has only recently been added to the weekend, but it allows all competitors to get the best chance to win,” Steve said.
“Each competitor starts one minute after the other, so this shoot-out means the top teams have enough of a gap to make sure they don’t have to pass unless there is a fall or error made ahead.”
The Southern 80 attracts visitors from all over the country, who line the riverbank to watch as the boats and skiers fly by.
Last year, the event generated about $13 million for the local economy, with more than 30,000 people attending the race.
“If you haven’t been before, you really are missing out,” Steve said.
“The atmosphere, the excitement, the competition — you don’t find this at many other places.
“It’s something that everyone should experience once in their life.
“It’s just an iconic event.”
The 2023 Southern 80 will be held from February 10 to 13.