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Organisers of the world's fastest waterski race will hold this year's event without any waterskis.
The Mildura 100 — which runs annually on the Murray River between Victoria and New South Wales — will be held for boats only this year, as waterski racing remains suspended across the country.
Four people died during waterski racing or training incidents between February and October last year, prompting the sport's self-imposed ban.
Normally the Mildura 100 attracts entries from more than 600 competitors.
However this year's event will be held as a 100 kilometre point-to-point boat race.
The field will be limited to competitors that have raced in the event in since 2023.
He said the event brought tourism dollars to the riverside community and supported the financial security of the club.
This year's race will likely be run on a similar course.
Mr Thompson said the participants would be experienced drivers.
"We also track boats via satellite now. There is a speed limit ... of 105 miles per hour [168km/h].
"All of us that put a race suit on and grab hold of a steering wheel or strap a ski on and grab hold of a 300 foot piece of rope know exactly what we are doing when we do it," Mr McGlynn said.
"The sport is a thrill, it is a rush and it is why we love it so much, racing our mates.
"But we all want to see our mates at the end of the day and celebrate the win, loss or draw."
Two investigations coincide with the ban on water skiing.
The first is an internal review by Ski Racing Australia that began in March last year following the death of a skier at the Robinvale Euston 80 near Mildura.
New South Wales Maritime is investigating the safety of the sport separately.
Mr McGlynn said he was hopeful the safety investigation would help make the sport safer.
He said he was glad to be hosting the event, even though it had to be modified.
"It certainly makes me proud that together as a club we can support the local power sports weekend the way we do and bring an irreplaceable atmosphere to the region over that weekend," Mr McGlynn said.
"We are all about finding the next best solution so with the help of the troops on the committee with me, we have done the digging, done the connecting and made the boat race happen."
The Mildura 100 — which runs annually on the Murray River between Victoria and New South Wales — will be held for boats only this year, as waterski racing remains suspended across the country.
Four people died during waterski racing or training incidents between February and October last year, prompting the sport's self-imposed ban.
Normally the Mildura 100 attracts entries from more than 600 competitors.
However this year's event will be held as a 100 kilometre point-to-point boat race.
The field will be limited to competitors that have raced in the event in since 2023.
Critical tourism dollars
Organizer and committee member Geoff Thompson said the club thought it was still important to host an event at the Easter weekend.He said the event brought tourism dollars to the riverside community and supported the financial security of the club.
This year's race will likely be run on a similar course.
The committee is finalizing details with its new regulator, the Australian Powerboat Association.
Mr Thompson said the participants would be experienced drivers.
"We also track boats via satellite now. There is a speed limit ... of 105 miles per hour [168km/h].
In order to compete in the race, competitors must remove ski poles, have two people in the boat and enter one of the new Australian Power Boat Association classes — S1 or S2.
'Ski racing is an extreme sport'
Mildura Ski club president Brandan McGlynn said it was the nature of an extreme sport to have big risks."All of us that put a race suit on and grab hold of a steering wheel or strap a ski on and grab hold of a 300 foot piece of rope know exactly what we are doing when we do it," Mr McGlynn said.
"The sport is a thrill, it is a rush and it is why we love it so much, racing our mates.
"But we all want to see our mates at the end of the day and celebrate the win, loss or draw."
Two investigations coincide with the ban on water skiing.
The first is an internal review by Ski Racing Australia that began in March last year following the death of a skier at the Robinvale Euston 80 near Mildura.
New South Wales Maritime is investigating the safety of the sport separately.
Mr McGlynn said he was hopeful the safety investigation would help make the sport safer.
He said he was glad to be hosting the event, even though it had to be modified.
"It certainly makes me proud that together as a club we can support the local power sports weekend the way we do and bring an irreplaceable atmosphere to the region over that weekend," Mr McGlynn said.
"We are all about finding the next best solution so with the help of the troops on the committee with me, we have done the digging, done the connecting and made the boat race happen."
MSN
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