The tournament is one of the ‘big three’ water skiing events nationally, alongside the recently completed Moomba event in Melbourne and the Australian Masters, which was held at Bridgewater in South Australia in January.
The event returns to the Max Kirwin Water Ski Park for the first time since 2022, and the five-day tournaments runs through to Monday.
The tournament will begin on Thursday with representatives from every state and territory, including Yarrawonga/Mulwala area skiers Tom and David Ryan and Nathan, Alana, Emily and Chelesa Hehir.
It will also feature a Saturday night ski spectacular under lights, complete with fireworks.
“We will have 210 of Australia’s best tournament water skiers including the open worlds team which just competed in Florida and the under-21 side which competed in Mexico last year,” championships committee member Ada Richards said.
“It will be great to back at Mulwala, which is one of the best ski facilities in the world, and probably Australia’s best ski jump.”
Canteen facilities and coffee vans will service the tournament with individual scores to be collated and a shield presented to the best-performing state.
Saturday night will feature a full bar and food vans, with the Yarrawonga/Mulwala-based ski show team to give an exhibition of what “waterskiing is all about.”
“It’s a real family night out, with a pretty cool atmosphere when it’s dark with the boats,” Ms Richards said.
“All three disciplines will be on display – tricks, flip-off and slalom – it’s pretty cool under lights.”
The show will conclude with fireworks at 9pm.
The tournament will feature the latest Malibu Response TXi (Open Edition) boats, while East Coast Generators have donated the light towers.
Sunday will be devoted mainly to finals action, with the bulk of the open-age events to be decided on that day.
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