History of Over 35 World Championships and
Australian Participation
2024, Sesena, Spain
Twenty skiers and eighteen supporters travelled to Botaski, Sesena, Spain for the O35 World Water Ski Championships. This was the largest team of skiers ever to represent Australia at an Over 35 Worlds.
The standard of skiing was amazing with Australian skiers qualifying for 17 finals, team silver medalists, two gold medals, two silver medals, one bronze medal and 17 Australian/Oceania and state records broken.
The support from the 38 Australians was incredible with every skier being supported in every event over the 5 days of competition. The strength of the Australian Team spirit was evident when Mark Louder broke his fin on the first jump of the preliminary round and the Australians sprinted 200m to the dock and got him back on the water with 18 seconds to spare!
The Australian uniform was once again a stand out with the polo top, shorts and sports bags being very distinctive. Unfortunately there was a problem with sizing with the jackets and this will need to be sorted out with Starsub as soon as all the jackets have been returned.
There were many highlights but Mark Louder, Team Captain, winning gold in O65M jump and Overall, Scott Reeves winning silver in O35M Jump, Mel Collins winning silver in O55W slalom and Pete Smith winning bronze in O65M jump have to be up there.
Once again the Australian team spirit was strong and vocal and the envy of all the other teams. It was a privilege to be the manager of this team and the support that I received from all 38 people made my job so much easier
Mark Louder – Captain, Sue Crisp – Manager, Rose Mackzkowiack, Freddie Douglas, Shane Hennig, Rob Wing, Mark Hooper, Glen Martin, Scott Reeves, Chris Cockburn, Nikki Cockburn, Mel Collins, Darren Shorten, Katie Pickford, Jamie Craig, Pete Smith, Ken Ito, Lisa Cavanagh, Gray Cavanagh and Graham Ashcroft.
Driver – John Weeks, Judge – Belinda Derrick
2022, Baurech, France
Ski Nautique Club de Bordeaux, Baurech, France, 12th – 18th September, 2022.
Nine skiers and five supporters travelled to France to represent Australia at the O35 World Championships. Mark Louder, Sue Crisp, Cherie Buck, Rose Maczkowiack, Brad Williams, Rob Wing, Mark Hooper, Fred Douglas, and Shayne Hennig.
Mark Louder was team captain and once again his knowledge and experience were invaluable.
There were originally 15 skiers selected for the Worlds but unfortunately six had to withdraw for various reasons.
The site skied well and although the lake was wide, two lines of tyres acted as buffers creating three ski areas with slalom and jump on one side and trick on the other side.
We were fortunate to be able to train with Will L’hommelet at his site close to Baurech. This was especially important as some skiers had had limited winter skiing.
With the 2020 Worlds having been cancelled and everyone now travelling these Worlds were the largest ever with 273 skiers and the tournament had to be extended to six days.
As with all tournaments there were highs and lows and for four team members, Rob, Shayne, Brad, and Mark Hooper this was their first Worlds experience. This was Australia’s best O35 Worlds ever in regards to qualifying for five finals.
Four skiers qualified for five finals.
Rose Maczkowiack – 12th in O55W Slalom
Cherie Buck – 7th in O55W Tricks
Mark Louder – 2nd in O65M Jump
Sue Crisp – 4th in O55W Slalom and
2nd in O55W Tricks
The highlight of the tournament was Mark Louder achieving a silver medal in Jump with a new Australian record of 33.7m. He was injured leading up to the Worlds and unfortunately had to withdraw from slalom and tricks so it was very exciting to see him standing on the podium.
Sue Crisp was second seed leading into the slalom final but unfortunately was not able to replicate the first-round form. However, she realised a lifelong dream of standing on the podium achieving a silver medal in tricks.
In the overall team’s event, we came 10th which was disappointing but with only one jumper and three trick skiers it is very hard to get a competitive team score. The Aussie team once again showed their sportsmanship, enthusiasm, and pride in wearing the green and gold when representing Australia.
Driver – John Weeks, Judge – Belinda Derrick
2020, COVID
2018, Santiago, Chilie
Mark Louder – Captain, Sue Crisp – Manager, Rose Mackzkowiack, Cherie Buck, Ken Ito, Freddie Douglas, Paul Moloney and Jason Ackland.
2016, Sesena, Spain
Mark Louder -Capt, Sue Crisp- Manager, Peter Schouton, Gary Underwood, Andrew Beazley, Rose Mackzkowiack, Cherie Buck, Neil O’Toole, Greg Dalgarno, Jason Ackland, Jamie Mitchell and Pete Cornale.
Driver – Glen Martin
2014, Orlando, USA
Mark Louder -Capt, Mel Collins, Shorty, Sue Crisp, Alan Dagg, Pete Cornale, Barry Mason, Maggie Storey, Damon Nottle, Gary Underwood, Mark Bayliss, Greg Little, Greg Keeley, Nigel Sparrow and Peter Schouten.
Team Manager – Brett Andrews
2012, Chapala, Mexico
It was an honour and a privilege to be a member of the Australian Over 35 World Water Ski Team. The Championships were held at Boca Laguna, Chapala in Mexico. The man made site was amazing with perfect weather conditions. It was still, first thing in the morning for trick, then during late morning there was a slight head wind for jump which then dropped away for slalom in the afternoon. The temperature was a pleasant 26 degrees each day and these perfect conditions made for some incredible skiing.
There were 11 skiers, Mark Louder Captain, Graham Ashcroft and Neil O’Toole, (NSW) Mel Collins, Darryl “Shorty” Shorten, Pete Cornale (Qld) Greg Delgarno, Marty Ayles (SA) Gary Underwood (WA – currently residing in Paris) and Lee Martin and Sue Crisp (Vic) Glen Martin was Chief boat driver, Josh Louder was a great Team Manager, Tim Martin did a fantastic job trick videoing and safety boat driving. Amanda, Karmen and Lucas Cornale and Lisa Camac were also there to support the team.
With a team of 11 skiers there are inevitably disappointments, especially in slalom but there were also many highlights. Lee scored 2@16m and I ran into 14m in both the preliminary and final rounds. Graham broke the O45 Australian Jump record with 42.4m in the preliminary round and finished 7th in the Final. Mark broke the O55 men’s jump record with 39.9m and won Australia’s first ever medal at an Over 35 World Championships. We were so proud when our captain stood on the podium to receive his bronze medal.
The Australian team came 5th overall, the best result that Australia has achieved in the Over 35 Worlds.
The spirit of the Australian Team was second to none. We supported every Australian skier on and off the water and were not only the most visible team in our green and gold uniforms but also the most vocal.
The friendliness of all the skiers from the nineteen competing countries was fantastic and to watch, rub shoulders with and talk to such legends as Andy Mapple, Kris La Point, Jennifer Leachman, Scott Ellis and Mike McCormick was amazing. We have all come away enriched by the experience and with many new friends.
Below: Mel Collins, Mark Louder – Captain, , Shorty, Greg Delgarno, Sue Crisp, Lee Martin, Marty Ayles, Graham Ashcroft, Neil O’Toole, Manager – Josh Louder and Driver – Glen Martin (his first Worlds selection).
2010, Italy
Mark Louder
Josh Louder – Manager
World Veteran Trophy
1983, Sicily
Richard Crisp, Frank Bonney, Graham Budd, Bob Neville and Tony Cunningham.
World Senior Trophy
2008 Sesena, Spain
Alan Dagg, Lisa Cavanagh, Jean Luc Marinai and Gary Underwood (Manager).