2017 MasterCraft Australian Wakeboard Nationals
The best wakeboarders competing at the Gold Coast Marine Stadium behind MasterCraft's top towboatsThe scene is set. The riders are poised. And the MasterCraft towboats are idling, ballast tanks full, as Marine Stadium on the Gold Coast prepares to host the 2017 Australian Wakeboard National Championships from March 2-5.
A sure-fire spectacle of air and tricks, the Australian Nationals have attracted some of best wakeboarders in the world to Marine Stadium, also known as Bum’s Bay, the natural amphitheatre along from SeaWorld on The Spit otherwise home to liveaboards and vagrants.
But this weekend, some 97 competitors in more than a dozen different categories from 9yo boys and disabled riders up to a 50yo in the veteran’s category will be displaying their skills.
There’s free public viewing from the beaches on all side of the bay and with forecast 29-30C temperatures it’s going to be a hot Australian Nationals.
With all the moored boats and ‘liveaboards’ moved on by the Gold Coast Waterways Authority, and Marine Stadium closed to all other forms of boating for the first time in about 10 years, there's not holding back with the exhibition riding.
The event headquarters will be set up in Muriel Henchman Park, just past the boat ramps, and it's open to the public with stalls selling food, drink and merchandise. Fun demos on the water were scheduled for Thursday and Friday afternoon, along with post-event entertainment.
MASTERCRAFT MODELS
MasterCraft will have three boats on display and two official towboats in the water, plus local owners are expected to cruise in. The boats include the X23, X30 and NXT Global, with the XT23 and XStar in the water as the official towboats.
"The best riders in Australia get to ride behind the best boats. Our boats produce the right wake shape for riders to get good pop and lift," says Ronnie Arenson from MasterCraft Australia.
THE RIDER LINE-UP
Of course, Australia has no shortage of wakeboarding talent and our world ranked Number One riders Harley Clifford and Amber Winghave have put Australian wakeboarding on the international stage. These two should make a showing at the event, though injury might see them confined to the side lines.
Top riders Dean
Smith, Cobe France, Cory Teunissen, Tony Iacconi, Elliot Digney, Sam
Brown and Mackenzie McCarthy are among those who will be competing with other top Aussie
wakeboarders of all ages.
Running from 9am-4pm daily, competition will be hot in both the men’s and women’s age and open classes, with wakeboarders doing battle for an Australian Championship. Thursday and Friday (February 2 and 3, 2017) will see all competitors battling in the heats, with finals on Saturday and Sunday.
WAKEBOARD AUSTRALIA
Event organisers Wakeboard Australia say there’s no better way to enjoy the Gold Coast than watching the 2017 Australian National Wakeboard Championships with MasterCraft Boats towing the world's best riders.
Watch them shred and soar over the crystal clear water with the best display of extreme water sport you will ever experience. Bring your kids to meet their wakeboarding heroes and finish your days with the nightlife of the best holiday destination in Australia.
Notice of Marine Stadium Closure: The Marine Stadium at Southport Spit will be closed from 8.00am Wednesday March 1 2017 and will re-open at 6.00pm Sunday March 5 2017.
You can find the Australian Wakeboard Nationals at the Gold Coast Marine Stadium, just past Sea World, on the Spit at Southport. Spectator entry is free. Details
Wakeboard Australia.
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