1940
Some years before the war, a race of aquaplaning on an annual basis for the Isthmus of Avalon in Hermosa Beach, California was in operation. It 'was a race and an endurance test for man and the boat and usually less than 20% of the field always managed to stop. The remaining difference with boot problems or because the water-planing could no longer hold. The last race before the war, 20 June 1941, drawn by Bob Brown, Don Berry, ₩ in a time of 1 h 51min.
Waterskis
In 1947, the Long Beach Boat and Ski Club founded and almost immediately took over the sponsorship of the race, and rename the "Grand National Water Ski Race." He was executed in 1949 the competition was a round trip, from Hermosa Beach Pier, the skier was driving on the isthmus, circled, a boat and went in shifts non-stop at the pier. A skier was disqualified when he touched every time someone in the boat or boat. Orange and Stanley was the first winner of this race and return with a timeI am now 41 min.
Of course, this event is known these days as Catalina, and just for the record, Chuck Stearns, first won the event at the age of 16 years and continued an amazing win eleven times during the following decades.
1950
Now it's time for Australians to establish a piece of history in ski racing and in 1950, Bridge Water Bridge Ski Race has started. The 68-mile course on the NSW Hawkesbury River is one of the most prestigious racesaround the world.
1960
In 1966, Britain was involved in a movement of water-sports racing and a meeting was held at the Mandeville Hotel in London, where 30 clubs were represented, and a subcommittee was formed BWSF race. The legendary Chuck vapors California was in London at the time, and enclosed a copy of the rules of the race in California, which has formed the basis for UK racing rules.
Alan Taylor recalls, "we knew that race wastook place in Belgium, three or four years before, on the Scheldt in a place called Rupelmonde. The following year some people left Belgium Club Whitstable and had a look at this race and we loaded drive a Belgian team in the first official cross-channel race. "
On 29 May 1967, organized the club varna Whitstable and water skiing club's first cross-channel water ski races and no fewer than 56 teams participated including one from Belgium, about 42 km run Great StoneKent, a ship anchored vessel marker three miles from Cap Gris Nez and back.
Boats were allowed up to three or four people to ski relay. The skis were normal slalom ski for the standard rate of about 30 mph, as well as couples, and the ski line was between 75 feet and 100 feet in length. Relays were also allows more than one skier per team.
News recently leaked that the 47 skiers, was recorded as none other than Mr. AAJohnson Earl of Snowdon, the patron saint ofThe BWSF trying to keep his identity from the press. The result was dramatic coverage of the event.
Over 20 of the 56 participants were able to run due to a storm that whipped cream at the end up to 6 m high waves. The winners were members of the Club Water Power Boat Chase, and completed the course in 3 hours 15 min Snowdon was the team was fourth at 4 hours and 10 minutes and another skier in the race a 14-year-old Bill Rixon. Less than 3 overall, this was just the beginning forsomeone who had become a legend of the British Water Ski Racing.
In 1968 BWSF Racing Committee organized the first series of the British Championship, run at Chasewater, Greatsone, Hunstanton, Hartlepool, Penarth and the River Medway. John Boardman varna the club has been champion of the first series.
In 1969 the English championship series was extended to eight games and Brendan Bowles Penarth club has won. It was in this year that the European Union Water Ski RacingChampionships were founded and the races were held in the Netherlands, Belgium and Great Britain. Bill Rixon was the first European Champion Water Ski Racing.
1970
Rixon has started its mark on European racing in the '70s, with a total of no less than six gold medals at the European Championship a number of English. Bill said, "it is possible, there is not even two European titles, he says." In 1974 / 5 has spent much time in Italy for skiing is, and has paid a couple ofrefused to visit South Africa and also hit the racing scene in California.
Other names like David Hutchinson, Guy Gooding, David Martin, Robin Mainwaring, Cliff Featherstone, Alan Hargreaves, Tony Cox, Gary Harris and Colin Brooks were scattered throughout the '70s, when the British ski racing F1 was stronger than ever .
Two other names were brothers Steven and Andy Coe. Steven has won the British championship in 1978 and 1979, and Andy followed in 1980 with Tom Lumley observationThe profits for all three of these titles. Great Britain tops the women included Liz Hobbs, Sue de Donker and Kim Gooding.
Liz had started skiing when she was 9, and 15, had sailed in his first race on the Medway in 1975. The following year he went to every race entered and won the first of seven to win the British title. In the same year he broke the UK women and European speed record after a cigarette boat called "I like too much."
In the '70s, a couple of British skiers,including the Coes had visited Australia and discovered a new type of skiing called "wrap". Terry Bennett of Sydney was the name behind the technology package and discovered by chance, when you try to simply load on your back after suffering an accident. So, along with Fred Williams racing skis, and a wealth of experience, Aussie, British skiers this led us the way we all ski now - wrapped.
Along with Ray Berriman and Alan Taylor, others like Arthur Dawe,Peter Felix, Ted Rawlings, Wally and John Neale Hoiles British were the first organizers of the race. John Hoiles has in fact continued to be European and World Championships IWSF President, and has contributed much to this sport.
A turning point in water ski competitions in the world came Sept. 9, 1979, when the first world championships were held sponsored by Sperry Univac, harp competitions in Whitstable, Allhallows and Welsh. Ray Berriman Britain chaired the organizing committee.
The eventwas the first official race teams from all over the world, and while in Australia Bronwyn Ritchie and Wayne grabbed the gold leaf, the British took Kim Gooding in the women's movement, according to Bill Rixon third place of men and Steven Coe 2. The British team clear set Britain will be counted as a force, with the stadium racing skis.
1980
Rixon When approaching the end of his unparalleled career as a pilot, it was time for some new names on the riseStadium and enjoy the spotlight. Liz Hobbs and Steve Moore were the two big names in the early '80s, and both went to world champion and awarded the MBE. In fact, Liz won the title of world champion in 1981 and 1984, and won the European title four times.
But life in the '80s was not so sweet for Liz, despite her incredible success, because in Penarth, in 1984, fell and broke her neck. He also broke his sternum in three places and six ribs, one ofperforation of the lung. Moreover, this was the heart of Liz.
Surprisingly, Liz is back on skis a year later and returned to their winning streak in 1986. Later in the 80 years she was nominated for the Sports Personality of the Year and won the sports journalist of the year award. After the first climb on the public scene with the help of a publicist for several years, Liz was in their own TV series with Yorkshire Television called "Hobbs Choice" host, and has since become apublic water skiers around the world.
Steve Moore started racing in 1980. It was the boy who fell but got up, came back, but still standing. Finally stopped falling and it was an amazing machine on the water. In 1983 he attempted a speed record on Windermere is behind F1 Catamaran Alf bulls, but dropped to 115 mph.
Moore has won five European titles, five English titles and the 1988 World Championships in Sydney, Australia. He also won the World CupThese consisted of 1986 Catalina, Giro del Lario and Botany Bay Classic in Australia. He won all three and still in the same year and became the first British driver to win almost Catalina.
Click on the heels of Moore's late '80s was a guy who has traveled to London in his first race in 1977. His name was Darren Kirkland and at the tender age of 18 years, Kirkland listed first in England at the World Championships in Spain in 1985 and is in his eighth World Cup-type event2,001 °
The Coes, Rixon, Cliff Featherstone, fight Paul Llewellyn, Gary Brooks, Tony Cox and others for victory throughout the decade, the 80s played host to some incredible races in Great Britain. Nicky Carpenter and Lisa Coupland names have also been successful in the '80s.
1990
Disappeared in the prosperous '80s, saw the economic decline in the number dropped from the race. In Europe, Australia and the United States, there was a similar pattern, but that did not stop the sport has alwaysmade even more competitive in terms of commitment to win some of the scene.
Kirkland went on to win his share of it and has dominated the race since the UK almost 90 years. There are notable for the persistence Kirkland had a total of ten British title, broke five European titles and was a respected skiers around the world. In addition, Catalina Kirkland who won in 1994, the diamond races in Belgium, Italy, and an enviable six TourLario, twice.
But the pride has never had in the past 16 years. The world title was so close yet so far from the one who came so close to winning it in more than one occasion. In 1995, the Italian honor Stephen Gregory in Belgium, as Kirkland thought he had wrapped up the title. In 1997 he took 3 rd place in Australia in 1999 and took second in Spain. This year will once again, the success he wants to win so much.
In January 1997Kirkland was awarded the General BWSF Lascelles Trophy in recognition of his enormous success in the sport of water skiing. And at the World Championships in 1999, paying gold medal Stephen Robertson public tribute to Australia in Kirkland, after receiving her crown.
In the early 90's saw Rachel Casson has presented an outstanding performance in the 1991 World Championships in Darwin, Australia. The closest to eat one of the tours, Rachel was at over 100 mph and suffered terrible injuries.Determined to succeed on the world stage, Rachel has been the top female skiers of Great Britain, but has been dogged by injuries over the years in Darwin. Gilly Clements was also strong in the '80s and '90s, what England on numerous occasions.
2000
Over the years, Britain is very strong in Europe and has won numerous titles in all categories including coveted trophy in teams of at least four times. Superb performance by many, but especially in the female category byLiz Hobbs, Nicky Carpenter, Lisa Coupland, Rachel Casson, Clements, Gilli. More recently, Kim Lumley has his name engraved on the trophy three times in the British championship. Paula Newland, the original clubs of Penarth, was also there and secured sixth place in the World Championship of 1999 in Spain.
Darren Kirkland still dominated the men in the United Kingdom, but as Charles Evans and Danny Brooks slowly closes in 34 years. How long will retain its positionTop British racing? - Show only the time.
From the official point of view of things, is the United Kingdom Ray Berriman, the first major championship of the world was in Britain in 1979, presiding judge of the 2001 World Championships in Las Vegas this year.
It was impossible to mention all those who have played a role in the history of British water-ski racing here. There are many names mentioned. But we hope this article is that a high level view of the ski race boatand ended.
All in all, the UK remains an important role to play in the world, ski races. And 'no doubt continue to do in the coming years.
Written in 2001 by Robbie Llewellyn
With thanks to Aubrey Sheena, Alan Taylor, Darren Kirkland, Steve Moore (MBE), Mike Waterman, Martin Brooks, Tom Lumley, Liz Hobbs (MBE) and the Guinness Book of Water.
History of Water Ski Racing in Britain