The 22nd IWWF World Water Ski Racing Championship is well and truly up for grabs across the board after an energetic Race Day Two on the New South Wales Central Coast with every category still to play for.
Australia dominated Race Day Two with no bigger change coming than in the Open Men’s division. Aussie veteran, Daniel Graziano staged a late race challenge behind Superman to charge down race one winner, Carter Robertson behind Team 50 F1 to assume the lead with 10 minutes to go and then stretch the lead to 17 seconds at the end of the race.
The result saw the lead of the Championship swing the way of Graziano to the tune of 10.46 points.
A third placed finish for Lachlan Nix saw him edge into third on the ladder, while Belgian boat Diamond Bulls came home with a fourth placed finish towing Steven van Gaeveren.
In the Open Women, Maddison Boyer continued her sensational form behind Showdown to claim two wins from two starts. Nevertheless, her lead sits at just 21.22 points over reigning Junior Girls Champion, Nellie McMillan – having her first major run behind Strike with her World Champion father, David behind the wheel.
McMillan overcame losing her holeshot and spare rope from the boat to steel herself in the latter stages of the race to claim silver, showing some blistering speed after sitting in third position for much of the race.
The Coldys F1 machine of Rachael Stapleton completed an all Australian podium.
Continuing the two in a row succession was Emma Barnes and HiJact in Women’s F2. They took a six second win over American, Sophia Rivera’s Snappy 377 – who has now claimed a third and second position consecutively.
Australian, Molly Palser claimed another podium spot in third behind Speed Lab. Heading into Race Day Three, Barnes lead is at 48.02 points.
Another carrying her domination through Race Day Two was Gro Up F2’s Leilani Cartledge who won by nearly three seconds over fellow Australian, Kianna Walsh, with Charlotte Neal finished third. Barnes’ lead is now 128.28 points.
The two winners of Men’s F2 thus far are separated by a mere nine points at the half way point.
Today, Brendan Tidswell and The Dragon got the win by less than a second over Agent 86 and its skier, Australian Wildcard, Jake Clancy – and race one winner, Aiden Cuff completed the podium with Revenge F2.
Junior Boys has been turned on its head after tumultuous results in comparison to Race Day One.
After American, Ryder Tovatt behind Snappy 377 took Saturday’s win by 0.1s from Australian Kohdi Cartledge with Speed Lab, today, Tovatt managed just 10th position and Cartledge fourth.
Zak Armstrong behind Epic was the winner with David McMillan scoring two podiums for the day taking victory by 0.13 of a second from Trim Lab’s Jaali Walsh – the latter assuming the Championship lead by 10.36 points over Cartledge.
After a crash Saturday, American Gage Goldsmith brought Snappy 177 home in third position to get his Championship alive. Wildcard, Patrick Valencour’s consistency has seen him sit in third on the pointscore, just 69 points off the Title lead with two races to go.
Tuesday is a recovery day for crews and competitors before hitting the water again on Wednesday.
Live coverage can be accessed around the world live and free through www.facebook.com/wwsrc2023, www.skiracing.com.au and http://iwwf.sport.
𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡
1. Daniel Graziano (AUS) – Superman
2. Carter Robertson (AUS) – Team 150 F1
3. Lachlan Nix (AUS) – Sapphire
𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡
1. Maddison Boyer (AUS) – Showdown
2. Nellie McMillan (AUS) – Strike F1
3. Rachael Stapleton (AUS) – Coldys F1
𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗙𝟮
1. Brendan Tidswell (AUS) – The Dragon
2. Jake Clancy (AUS/WC) – Agent 86
3. Aiden Cuff (AUS) – Revenge F2
𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗙𝟮
1. Emma Barnes (AUS) – HiJact
2. Sophia Rivera (USA) – Snappy 377
3. Molly Palser (AUS) – Speed Lab
𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗦
1. Zak Armstrong (AUS) – Epic
2. Jaali Walsh (AUS) – Trim Lab
3. Gage Goldsmith (USA) – Gage Goldsmith
𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦
1. Leilani Cartledge (AUS) – Gro Up F2
2. Kianna Walsh (AUS) – Kidstuff
3. Charlotte Neal (AUS) – Flaamin F2