December 2016
The Don!
Don Gulley praises his talented crew after his first Sydney Bridge to Bridge win!
The official Ski Racing Australia publication
FEB 10-12
2017
In this issue
Directors Deck..................................6 World Championship Selection....7 Sydney B2B Review...........................8 FEATURE: The Don..........................12 5 Minutes with Mick........................15
Major Events 2016/17 AU G U S T
2 0 1 6
Hawkesbury 120, NSW.....................................August 27-28
O
2 0 1 6
c t o b e r
Grafton Bridge to Bridge, NSW...........................October 1-2 Murray Bridge 110, SA......................................CANCELLED
N
o v e m b e r
2 0 1 6
Bridge to Bridge 2UP, NSW............................November 26-27
J
2 0 1 7
a n u a r y
Australian Championships, NSW.......................January 11-15
F
e b r u a r y
2 0 1 7
Southern 80, VIC...........................................February 11-12
M
a r c h
2 0 1 7
Ted hurley Memorial Classic..................................March 4-5 Robinvale/Euston Ski Race, VIC...........................March 11-12
A
p r i l
2 0 1 7
Mildura 100, VIC................................................April 15-16 Barrie Beehag, VIC...................................................April 29
M
a y
2 0 1 7
Barry Carne Interstate Challenge, NSW..................May 13-14
Directors Deck Graffton success, AGM, Sydney Bridge to Bridge What a great month we have had since my last column with the Sydney Bridge to Bridge (aka The Bridge) on the Hawksbury, and the first round of the World Selection trials on Botany Bay, run and won.
events had outstanding weather conditions, which helped to bring spectators along. Some say our sport isn’t one suited for spectators, but the racing on Botany Bay really changed that. Throughout all the racing it was clearly visible who was making a run, who was dropping back and it really added an extra dimension to the spectacle.
Firstly, the Bridge lived up to its reputation as one of the most spectacular water ski events on a great waterway. It’s a privilege that we are able to be the sole users of this amazing piece of water from Dangar Island to Windsor. We can only do things thanks to the NSW Roads and Maritime Service, so thanks to them for facilitating our event in such a friendly and professional manner.
In ski racing, like any sport, the ‘Nationals’ has a ring to it that other events don’t quite have. For those four days there are a comprehensive series of races planned on Lake Jindabyne, and I am told there are plenty of nearby hospitality venues that provide great views of this picturesque competition arena.
Just a few weeks later, the worlds selection trials hit top gear around Botany Bay, and as a Port Phillip Bay (VIC) skier, I felt very at home. The way Ski Racing NSW ran the event was fantastic and I was most impressed at how the competitors participated in what really is a very intense event. I very quickly learnt how seriously our athletes take worlds, and it was great to observe the tactics deployed to get to the front of the race at just the right time. Both The Bridge and first worlds selection 6
Across the two days of racing in Botany there were 127 competitors, a good healthy number. I look forward to the next trial event on Lake Jindabyne on January 11. That will also be the perfect precursor to Nationals, running from Thursday January 12 to Sunday January 15.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Ski Racing Nationals competitors a safe and rewarding campaign and to “ski to the conditions”, which if the below shot of Lake Jindabyne is any indication, should be good! Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Wesley Lloyd, SRA CEO
Around the Buoys World Championship Selection Race’s Race’s one and two of the world championships selection races took place on Sydney’s Botany Bay from December 10-11, 2016. You can view the results below! Women’s selection 1 results - CLICK HERE Women’s selection 2 results - CLICK HERE Junior selection 1 results - CLICK HERE Junior selection 1 results - CLICK HERE Men’s selection 1 results - CLICK HERE Men’s selection 1 results - CLICK HERE
Selection race three to be held on Lake Jindabyne (below) January 11.
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Bridesmaid’s become the bride on the banks of the hawkesbury The 2016 edition of the world-renowned Bridge 2 Bridge Water Ski Classic had everything with a plethora of stories unfolding over the weekend, but the biggest yarn of all was a story of a bridesmaid. Second in the iconic 112km event three years in a row and a placegetter yet rarely a winner in the biggest of the classics, Merc Force and their determined owner and driver Don Gulley finally became the bride. The quartet of Gulley, Kevin Boylan, Jake Tegart and Kris Knights proved every bit the deserving champion taking line honours and the superclass title as the fastest boat to finish the big race. But before and after Merc Force did their thing, there was plenty of evidence this was an event that held a special place in the hearts of competitors and spectators alike. 8
THE WARM UP On a glorious Saturday to begin the weekend the Sackville to Windsor short course event got the morning session underway before the afternoon racing witnessed the social classes in the Top End Challenge and return.
was plenty of interest in a couple of women’s crews. Once again 3 Carat was in the thick of things and the team of skiers Ellen Jones and Shantelle King, behind driver Karen Pet and observer Danny Cropper, were undoubted favourites.
The highlight of the morning’s racing was the 3 Carat team of driver Karen Pet, Brandon Cropper (observer) and skiers Danny Cropper and Jamie Oliver clocking the fastest time any boat in the session - 10mins 17.204 – in winning the competitive veterans class.
They did not disappoint either, winning in 48:41.09, including a 60 second penalty, to finish ahead of Superbad with Brian Farrell driving and Greg Carle observing Austrian sisters Kathrin and Sabine Ortlieb (49:31.73).
While as is the norm, much of the focus was on the superclass boats but there
Towards the back of the pack, Triple 666 F2, with Jason Walsh behind the wheel
The Austrian duo made a hit and run visit Another event to catch the eye was the In to race the Bridge 2 Bridge at the invitaStrife connection of skiers Alex Welch and tion of Farrell and they had never raced Michael Boylan, who were towed by driv- alongside each other in a classic style race. Despite that, they acquitted themer Terry Welch and spotted by observer selves well and vowed to return. Kevin Boylan. They posted a sizzling 13:21.238 – the seventh best of the sesNot quite contending with the top few sion – to claim the under 16 boy’s race. women’s crews but making as big an impact as any boat and team on the day The afternoon action saw nine classes was the Think Pink crew. race from Windsor to Sackville, where they stopped the clock and were reseedThe all woman team raced in honour of ed before the return leg to Windsor. friend Linda Keys who had passed away, determined to raise awareness for cancer Stealth Racing were the first boat away for the session and they were never trou- sufferers and some funds for research. bled in either leg, clocking a combined The team of Julie Tegart (skier), Wendy 2-leg time of 24min 00.27secs to win Feros (driver), Michelle Burns (observer) the unlimited social class. The team of Mathew Ducie driving and Wayne Mawer and Shontelle Armstrong (skier) finished observing experienced skiers Codie Rigg sixth in the weekend warrior class in a time of 1:17:56.43 and received perhaps and Mick Kelly, finished 4min 45 ahead the biggest cheer of the day when they of second placed Shooter. The Stealth Racing team averaged 84.15mph across crossed the finish line in Windsor. the two legs. Another to catch the eye was Temper, who set an unofficial race record for the THE BIG ONE under 19 boy’s class of 40:50.76. The team of Andrew Davis (driver), Mark WalAn early start greeted teams at the start lington (observer) and skiers Cameron line at Dangar Island straddling the river Osborne and Jack Harrison were also the mouth to the mighty Hawkesbury. third fastest two-skier crew of the day.
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serving, and the duo of Ray Ball and Ben Gulley on the skis, were within 15 seconds of Merc Force for more than two thirds of the race and were a gallant second in 39:09.94. Top Gun was third in the class in 45:11.87.
and Dianne Walsh observing, the tiny pair of Jaali and Kianna Walsh finished in a very respectable 1hr 49mins 34 seconds in the 10 & under boy’s and girl’s event. It was a remarkable effort for the primary school kids who both warmed up for the big race during Saturday morning’s session. But while all finishers earnt a huge congratulations, the weekend undoubtedly belonged to Gulley and his Merc Force team.
No one could take the win away from the Merc Force skiers and crew who had for so long deserved a major victory but Knights said he was a little concerned early on in the event when they couldn’t see Superman. “I was a little bit concerned at the start when I looked around and couldn’t see anyone,” Knights said. “I thought ‘no, this is too easy’ but then Stinga came up on us and it was game on after that. It seemed a little bit too easy to start off with. “It’s really good to finally throw that bridesmaids dress away and to finally win it is just so great.”
They began the day in the shadows of two-time defending champion Superman but things turned sour for the pre-race fa- All three members of the crew paid tribvourite at the start when the big boat blew ute to their mechanic Trent Souwer and of course to their driver. a transmission, immediately ending their hopes of a three-peat. And didn’t Merc Force capitalise, taking control of the race almost immediately, before powering away to claim a famous victory in 38mins 46.88 seconds at an average speed of 102.1mph. Stinga F1, with multiple Bridge to Bridge winner Greg Houston behind the wheel, Justin Pick ob10
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The Don! A win at the 2016 Sydney Bridge to Bridge for team Merc Force gives veteran Don Gulley his first major race win!
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Wiley ski racing veteran Don Gulley is a bridesmaid no more On a day of high drama and thrilling action at the internationally renowned Sydney Bridge to Bridge (Sydney Bridge) in late November, Gulley and his Merc Force team, which includes observer Kevin Boylan and skiers Jake Tegart and Kris Knights, streaked to victory on the Hawkesbury River, breaking a string of second place finishes.
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Unquestionably it will go down as the biggest win to date for the quartet as a team, and personally the biggest for Gulley since he first joined the ski racing fold. Gulley registered his inaugural River Classic victory in 2009, taking out the Robinvale/Euston race that year. While many find the first win the hardest to come by, for Gulley the wait for the second was perhaps a tougher test of his patience. Seven long years and a fistful of second places later, the Merc Force skipper claimed win number two at the 2016 edition of the Robinvale/Euston race in March, the very same location as his first.
“We knew straight away that Superman were out of it. Even if they got going again, it would be a tough ask to catch us, there’s not much in it these days.” Rewind to September 2015, before Hellrazor officially retired and when Superman looked to be on song for a near unbeatable season, Merc Force were rated as a contenders, but only if everything fell their way.
Now as 2016 draws to a close the tables have turned. No longer are Gulley and his team competitors on their best day, now they’re a winning threat on any given day. Fortunately for him, the Sydney Bridge In fact, Gulley’s reference to the closetitle came only a short eight months after ness of racing is representative of just the second Robinvale crown. Coincidenhow tight the competition has become tally both of Merc Force’s wins in the 2016 over the past 12 months, especially in calendar year have come at the expense Superclass. of others’ misfortune; such is the nature of ski racing competition. In fact the quality of the contest has improved so markedly that in the second In Robinvale pre-race favourites Saphalf of the 2015/16 River Classics season phire suffered from mechanical gremlins, there were three different winners from leaving Merc Force free to lay down slick three different races. Merc Force claimed times that others, including the highly Robinvale while The Mistress lifted one of rated 99 Psycho Clowns and perennial the sport’s most coveted trophies at the winners Superman couldn’t match. Southern 80, Sapphire took the spoils at the season ending Mildura 100. Come November, defending Sydney Bridge winners Superman were eliminatSo far in the 2016/17 season Superman ed on the start line with a blown transmis- hit back to claim the opening two classion, their misfortune leaving the door ajar sics, but the victory to Merc Force was for Merc Force to win their first Sydney a timely reminder of just how high the Bridge. Realising their strongest competi- stakes are in the sport’s fastest class. Of tor was in trouble, Gulley reflected that he course to compete among the best reknew his team would be hard to beat from quires a significant commitment of both that point. finances and time, something that Gulley doesn’t shy away from discussing. “To win it takes a bit of everything, you don’t want any bad luck and we didn’t “It’s [ski racing] a really big commitment, have any,” Gulley said. there’s no debating that,” Gulley deadpans. “Obviously Superman didn’t get away at the start and that opened the door for us, “Sure, we have to be committed and we then we did what we had to do to stay have to be absolutely motivated and we in front of Stinga. We had a plan and we have to hang the expense. Really, you executed it. need to forget about what it costs. 15
“At the end of the day, the credit has to go to the guys out the back on the skis. They are the ones that win the race. They do the hard work; we [driver and observer] do the easy bit really.”
“I probably can’t repeat what Don said when we all climbed in the boat at the end, but he was happy. We finally got one and we’ve persisted this long. But there were no tears, I was a bit sore for that.”
Although Gulley was quick to deflect the praise onto his skiing talent, the opportunity provided to work with Gulley and Merc Force wasn’t lost on skier Jake Tegart, who added the 2016 Sydney Bridge title to his 2015 Catalina triumph.
Conscious not to belittle the achievement of winning the Robinvale/Euston race in March, such is the difficulty in winning any River Classic, Tegart continued that it was special to win the biggest race in Sydney on a river that has helped shape him into the athlete that he is today.
“It feels really good to be with Don for his first big win,” Tegart said. “I have been with Don for five years, and when I signed up with him it was to try and get to the front. We’ve been through ups and downs, won a smaller race [Robinvale 2016], we’ve done world titles, 1UPs, 2Ups, everything. “This one is the icing on the cake so far!” 16
“I’ve grown up around here, on the Hawkesbury River and I watched everyone else do this race for years. Finally I got the opportunity to ski,” he said. “To win the Bridge to Bridge is the pinnacle of the sport, it is our version of the Bathurst 1000! Ever since I have been with Don, I’ve been trying to get this one. It’s nice to be the bride, and not the bridesmaid for once.”
For Gulley, Tegart and the entire team, the Sydney Bridge victory will take time to sink in, and no doubt hold a special place in their heart long after their time in the sport ceases. But for now, the team and Gulley’s sole focus is riding the wave of success as they look towards the second jewel in the crown of the River Classics season, the Southern 80. “After a big win in our career the next step is the Southern 80, we’ll be there,” smiled Gulley. Perhaps win number four will arrive in record time.
TheSeven time champ dedicates Sydney Bridge to team mechanic While Don Gulley, Jake Tegart and Kris Knights basked in the glory of winning their very first Sydney Bridge to Bridge, observer Kevin Boylan chalked up his seventh win at the event. Naturally humble, Boylan was adamant that the victory was all about the team, before paying tribute to mechanic Trent Souwer, who he described as the glue keeping Merc Force together. “It’s not really about my seven victories, it’s all about Merc Force today,” Boylan said. “To win with these guys is a whole new era for me. “But one person I want to thank on behalf of our team is our fifth member, our mechanic Trent Souwer. He’s everything you need in your team, and without him the team does not function. “Trent gets to the races, maintains the boat, cleans it and makes sure everything is spot on.Logo Thisbywin is dedicated without him there is no team.” CREDITS: Melanie Keys; Imagestobyhim, Julie because Tegart. 17
Think Pink Rallies to B2B finish! They came, they saw and they conquered. While the winners of the Sydney Bridge to Bridge stole the limelight on race day, it was a team of four women who claimed the feel-good story of the day.
ed to do it again this year,” he said. “She trained hard, did everything I told her to. She improved, listened well and it was really good to see them go well. “I’m really proud.”
Julie Tegart, Wendy Feros, Michelle Burns and Shontelle Armstrong united in the You can still donate to the fundraising months prior to Sydney’s biggest water effort – CLICK HERE. ski event and decided that they would race the event as team Think Pink and raise funds and awareness in the fight against women’s cancers. While the team set goals of finishing the race, and raising as much money as they could, no one would have predicted the final outcome. Finishing sixth in Ski Racing Australia’s all new ‘Weekend Warrior’ class, the team not only completed one of the most gruelling races on the calendar, they also raised more than $11,500.00! Taking time out from his victory celebrations with Merc Force, skier Jake Tegart spoke of the amazing effort his mother Julie put in. “I’m really proud of her, she last did this race in the 1980’s with my dad and decid-
5 Minutes With Mick!
Name: Karla Mead Age: 12 Lives: Malanda, Far North Queensland Years skiing: 8 Years racing: 4 Current team/s: Burnin, Raicey, Mojo Favourite team: Hellrazor, I know they have retired but they are still my favourite team! Favourite skier(s): Ben Gulley and Wayne Mawer Favourite race: Hawkesbury 120 MK: Hi Karla, so let’s start with your location - you’re a long way from the majority of the racing in Australia - how do you manage to fit in enough racing?
Meet Mick kelly A world champion observer, former winner of the Southern 80, top racer, menter to newcomers - at time outspoken (but always with good intentions) - mick’s always up for for a chat! In each edition of Racer’s Edge, Mick puts one of our members under the spotlight for an in-depth chat. They’re not always famous, nor prolific winners, but each person is committed and loves the sport...that’s what turns Mick on. Sit down, have a breather and spend 5 Minutes, With Mick! 6
KM: I manage to fit in enough racing in a season because before every season I make up a race plan and stick to that. MK: Is the travel a killer? KM: Not at the moment, because I have the luxury of flying and not driving. MK: Mum obviously is super supportive, how good is it to have her on board? KM: I am very lucky to have such a supportive Mum because she organises everything for me and I love her. But it is my responsibility to pack my ski gear and other bags. MK: You’ve improved out of sight in the last year, is it just hard work, or are you getting some decent help? KM: Since I have started skiing in the NSW se19
my skiing has improved in a way because there is more competitors my age to ski And my mum and dad! against and with. I also get some advice from some very experienced people and I But I also think that I have helped myself listen to what they tell me. as I have listened, tried and make sure I have fun. MK: Where do you want to go with your racing? MK: Sound wise beyond your years Karla! Good luck in the future, I’m sure we’ll KM: I would like to end up representing be seeing you up there soon enough. Australia at the World Championships and also to race for a season overseas. MK: What would you say your strengths are in skiing? KM: My strengths in skiing would be fitness and my willingness to learn new things. MK: Who would be your ultimate two up partner?
K C I M
KM: It would be great to ski with Nellie McMillan as we are the same age. MK: Being young certainly helps, but you’re obviously pretty fit as well. What do you do for training? KM: The training I do consists of CrossFit, rowing and on water training. MK: What else do you get up to in your spare time? Do you have any spare time? KM: Yes I do have some spare time, and as I am only 12 my Mum and Dad make sure that I am still a kid as it is really important. I fill up the spare time that I have by playing other sports, cooking, watching movies with my friends and I also do the normal everyday things that a kid does. MK: Who has helped you get to where you are today? Any shout outs? KM: Ducie, Robbo, John Raicevich, Wayne Mawer, Ben Gulley, Terri Rigg and Zig. 20
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Racer’s Edge December 2016