As much as the truly spectacular and world-class site of Lake Grappa blew away the minds of the skiers and officials at the SA Waterski Championships which took place in the Northern Cape, so did the weather blow away chances of any personal best of SA records for the event, which was held from 24 – 26 April 2010 in very windy conditions.

Arriving at the site was akin to seeing Las Vegas for the first time. Travelling either from Cape Town via Springbok and Pofadder (8 hours) or east to Johannesburg along the N14 (9 hours),  one travels past vast tracts of land – shrub, vineyards, citrus and not much else – for hundreds of kilometers. Then, in a beautiful valley between the Augrabies Falls and Kakamas, you come across Visser family’s 680 x 70 metre private ski course on their 2,000 Ha. farm – which was dug with their own equipment and people in 14 months. Completed in 2008, the ski site now includes guest cottages, camping sites, a huge clubhouse and is now one of the finest in the world, and it is there that the 2012 European and African championships (Under 21) will take place.

With an entry of 46 skiers representing both South Africa and Namibia, hopes were high for many records to tumble. GJ Visser, who had just earned the top skier award at the All Africa championships in Namibia, was hoping to improve on his already impressive 4 buoys on 11.25 metres which he achieved at the 2009 EAME (Europe, Africa and Middle East – but the Middle East defected to the east so it is now EM). Gabriella Viljoen, fresh from taking second at the Moomba Championships in Australia, was hoping to improve on her astonishing half  buoy on 11.25 before she left for a string of competitions in the United States later in May, while Lizette Bekker (Senior Ladies 2) and Jan Johnson (Senior Ladies 3) were hoping to break SA records they had broken earlier this season in ramp and slalom respectively.

 

SLALOM CLASSIC

In cold conditions and a stiff breeze, and after an extremely festive “P” party with popes, penguins, pirates, princesses, priests, prostitutes, painters, police, prisoners etc in attendance,  the  Lake Grappa Slalom Classic started off on Saturday 24th April with the youngest skier, Hans Visser, making his debut with a buoy on 34 kilometres an hour. Namibia’s Luke Schmidt showed great fighting spirit when he nearly fell on buoy 5 on 14m, recovered and after a crazy cut and turn, managed to complete the run and clear 13m, then making 3 on 12m to win the under 21 Mens’ slalom event ahead of GJ Visser (4,5 buoys on 13m) and Jared Fisher whose best run was 4.5 buoys on 14.25 metres.

Results were excellent in the Open Ladies division despite the weather, with Gabi Viljoen making 1 on 12m in her first run, taking first ahead of  a consistent Samantha Martin taking 2.5 and 1.5 respectively on 13m, with Zaren Knight getting 4 buoys on 14m and Tarryn Coetzee also getting into 14 metres.

The long knives were out in the Open Mens’ slalom category with Simon Fairbank winning the war with his vest run of 3.5 buoys on 12m ahead of Travis Wentzel’s best score of 3 on 12m while Cameron Rein took third place with his best score of  half a buoy on 13m.

The under 14 years boys category saw young Eamon van der Merwe, who has had a meteoric rise in performance this season and growth spurt to match, take two 1.5 buoy runs on 13m – way ahead of his closest rival only getting into 18.25 metres.

Jan Johnson, the current European Champion,  did two consistent runs attaining 2.25 and 2.5 buoys on 14m, and managed to injure her calf in the second run, but earned the top overall score for the day – which compares skiers with the top international rankings.

SA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Conditions looked like they would improve, and the SA Championships on 25 and 26 April started off with warmer weather and calmer water for the trick event, which kicked off the event.

Matthew Nieuwstad’s (Men under 21) trick run was one of two improved PB’s (the other was Louis Schutte) and nothing seems to be stopping this 20 year old from a great overall performance this season, which has seen several PB’s in ramp, slalom and now tricks when he scored 2640 – substantial improvement on his previous score of 2360. However it was not sufficient to beat the overall winner in this category, KZN’s Jared Fisher who scored 2680 points, with Luke Schmidt of  Namibia third on 2320 points for his best trick run.

Other excellent performances in the trick event came from Samantha Martin (3120 points) in the Open ladies event, Simon Fairbank (2810 points) in the Open Men and Lizette Bekker who scored 2010 in the Senior Ladies 2 event.

Sadly the wind came up again for the slalom event, this time blowing from the north. Despite the weather, commendable performances came from Dieter Kebbel from Namibia (Boys under 12) with his one buoy at 52k/ph, Under 14 girls’ Elizna Schutte 5 on 52k/ph, and the stunning Eamon van der Merwe’s 4 on 13m in the under 14 category.

Skiing in the under 17 girls slalom (won by Silvia Schmidt – 2 on 55k/ph), Namibia’s Heidi Kebbel had a hard fall going into the wind, and had to be taken out by stretcher. The efficient and cautious doctor said she had a suspected fracture, but X-rays at Upington gave her the all-clear, and she returned in a neck brace.

Dismal results due to the inclement weather saw no PB’s when Tyron Strober win the Under 17 boys division with a half  buoy on 14m, Luke Schmidt won the Under 21 men’s event with 2 buoys on 12m ahead of GJ Visser’s 4 on 12m (he usually does 4 on 11m) and Gabi Viljoen narrowly beat Samantha Martin by a mere buoy when she achieved 3 buoys on 13m. Zaren Knight put on a great performance considering that she did not ski for a few months with 2 buoys on 14m.

The skiers will now rest their weary bones until the start of the new season – with the exception of those training and competing internationally. A big vote of thanks go to the many officials that give of their time and passion to the sport – such as Louis Polome and his wife Cathy, Sally Gaze, Sue Heuer, Don Shead, Samantha Martin, Gary Knight and the many brilliant drivers that support the sport, the the brilliant commentary by Jasper Schmidt.

Ends

Issued on behalf of the SA Tournament Waterski Federation. For further information please contact Jan Johnson (Marketing & Pubilicty) on 082 881 8888 or email kmlproperty@gmail.com