Waterskiers took over the Gosford waterfront over the weekend of August 12-13, activating the area with colour and pageantry rarely seen on the Central Coast shoreline.
The occasion was the Australian selection trials for the upcoming World Water Skiing Championships to be held over the same course on Brisbane Water in November this year.
One of the world championship organisers, Stewart Smith, told CCN he was pleased by the smooth way the Australian qualification rounds went on Brisbane Water.
“It was fantastic; we love coming to the Central Coast and this waterway that we are operating on right now has made all the competitors very happy,” Smith said.
“(The water] has been smooth, it’s been rough and it’s been testing and it will test the world’s best in November.”
Smith said he expected larger crowds come the World Championships in November and is currently working with Central Coast Council on planning and facilities management.
The event was held over a 5km oblong course in the middle of Brisbane Water with the northern turning point about 200m off the newly re-opened Gosford public wharf.
Council re-opened the wharf just in time for the event after it had been closed for a major cleanup and safety upgrade over the past eight months.
An estimated crowd of 5,000 attended the qualifying rounds over the weekend, pleasing pleased local restaurants, clubs and pubs.
Local tourism operators are confident the World Water Skiing Championships will profile the Central Coast to a broad audience by showing off the region’s waterways.
The 2023 IWWF World Waterski Racing Championships will be held in Gosford from November 9-19.
David Abrahams