OVER 200,000 SPECTATORS SET TO WATCH AUSTRALIA

With just two week to go, Waterski and Wakeboard athletes from 21 countries will soon arrive at the spectacular Yarra River site in downtown Melbourne.  For those who have never experienced the sensation, this is certainly one of the world’s greatest spectator events. Surrounded by towering pristine skyscrapers, manicured parklands and Sports Stadia, it is a perfect competition stage. 

 

This year, by coincidence, 30 USA athletes and 30 Australian athletes will take part, plus highly ranked competitors from 19 other nations. The events will include Wakeboard plus Waterski Slalom, Tricks and Jump. 

 

In Wakeboard, Australia is likely to take gold with the enormous talents of World Champion Harley Clifford. However, in the Women’s event, the USA will have the athlete who has dominated the World Cup Series, Raimi Merritt.  Past World Cup winner Bec Gange (AUS) will also be further inspired by the extraordinary number of home spectators. This could go either way.

 

In Waterski Slalom, USA has two World Record stars in Nate Smith and Chris Parrish lined up – and these might be unbeatable. The Women’s event will feature strong contender Karen Truelove (USA), past World Champion Emma Sheers (AUS) and Canada’s past World Champion, Whitney McClintock. Again, USA might have the edge here. In Men’s Tricks, It will be tough for either Australia or USA to take that Moomba gold medal as World Record Holder Aliaksei Zharnasek (BLR) may well be unbeatable. However, in Women’s Tricks, USA will certainly have a huge advantage with the enormous talent of young Erika Lang, three-time World Record Holder. Finally in Jump, USA will have the unbeatable Freddy Krueger in action with eight World Records to his credit so far. On the other hand, Australia’s own Women’s World Jump Champion, Jacinta Carroll, will be inspired by the huge audience and will more than likely take that gold medal.

 

What a prospect! With over 60 million participants in the sport worldwide and with the 2015 Mandurah World Cup Stop taking place over in Western Australia the following weekend, Australia will certainly capture the attention of the fans in March. Will the USA or Australia take home most of the honors at this first major international of the year? That has yet to be seen and as ever, there will be surprises along the way.

 

Nautique will again provide the boats and support services for the Moomba Masters. For Waterski it will be the Nautique 200 model and for Wakeboard the G23 Model. Organised by the Victorian Water Ski Association, the chief Judge this year will be Jeff Smith (USA).

 

While most major international Waterski or Wakeboard competitions have a Sunday Finals, the 2015 Moomba Masters Final will be held, as usual, on Monday March 9th over the Labor Day holiday weekend.

 

Official Moomba Masters Website:

 

Live Moomba Masters Results:

http://www.iwwfed-ea.org/classic/15AUS326

 

International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation

 

Victorian Waterski Association