Racer’s Edge
Edition #4 || November2015
Spotlight ON: Fire Safety
The Family Sport The Nutley’s tell us about their family team!
S uperman
goes back 2 back
10 years of the Beehag History of the Southern
The official Ski Racing Australia publication
The ICONIC race February 13-14, 2016
www . skiracing . com . au
Missed an edition? Catch up HERE! August 2015 READ September 2015 READ October 2015 READ Racer’s Edge | 3
In this issue Directors Deck
Board changes & Safety The Barrie Beehag
Skier Safety
with jason walmsley
Bridge to Bridge Wrap Feature: The family sport The team roles
10 Years of the Beehag Spotlight on: Fire Systems 5 Minutes with MICK Emma Williams
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Major Races 2015/16 Hawkesbury 120 AUG 29-30 Ted Hurley Classic OCT 17-18 Berri 90 Postponed NSWWSF Bridge to Bridge 2 Up NOV 7-8 Barrie Beehag NOV 14 Southern 80 Robinvale/Euston Race Mildura 100 Bridge 1 Up
FEB 13-14 MAR 12-13 MAR 25-27 May 1 Racer’s Edge | 5
Directors Deck
Board changes, Safety & the Barrie Beehag
The Ski Racing Australia Board has a new executive with Paul Robertson as Chairman, Andrew Weekes as Vice Chair and Deb Grehan taking up the Financial portfolio. In line with a heavy focus on the progression of safety, for the first time in the sport a Director of Safety was appointed. Tony Rowe who currently sits on the Safety Committee has relinquished his technical duties to focus more on progressing the safety agenda. Andrew Donehue takes on the Technical Director duties. At the Bridge to Bridge we were able to demonstrate an excellent safety result. Leading into the event there was significant pressure for the organisers of the event from external stakeholders. Meryl Lee is tireless behind the scenes as is Jan Thurgar in doing everything they can to ensure the iconic event proceeds. The countless volunteers who attend race control, starting duties, breatho and the course boats are owed a debt of gratitude by all competitors as without them the event would struggle to gain regulatory approval.
The introduction of the skiing within the wake rule has had a wide range of responses. Every letter and email was received and sent onto the board for review. I apologise to those members whom I have not been able to get back to directly but please be rest assured all of your opinions have been heard. The rule will take some adjustment and over time we are hopeful that competitors embrace the change as an improvement in safety for the sport. Heading into the end of the calendar year we look forward to state titles, points scores and series days. The New Year kicks off with the Australian Championships during January in Bundaberg. Ski Racing Queensland are working hard on putting together an excellent racing experience and venue and I look forward to seeing you all there.
Grant Cummin - Ski Racing Australia CEO
The recent Barrie Beehag event enjoyed strong attendance. Again Ski Racing was able to conduct an incident free event and I congratulate the competitors and officials for this result. Julie and Betty undertook further testing of barcode reading of membership cards and by all reports the process worked well. We should see this more often at other races throughout the rest of the season.
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Skier Safety
with Jason Walmsley Jason Walmsley (Zig) is a member of SRA’s safety committee and here shares some information regarding safety that all skiers should consider. Skier safety is an undeniably hot topic right now, as it should be. While SRA is moving towards introducing a number of safety measures and requirements that will make our sport safer, individual competitors need not wait for these recommendations from the sport’s governing body before making changes to their own equipment and preparation. There are a number of checks and changes you can make today that will impact your safety leading into your next race or training run. The simple truth is, if your equipment fails, it can cause a fall. And a fall for a skier is the worst possible outcome in a race. At the Wentworth race a few weeks back, one of our higher profile skiers suffered equipment failure and fell. While pulling up to re-grip at high speed the front bar simply pulled out of his harness, causing him to fall backwards into a crash. Thankfully he walked away with only bruising, but it could have been so much worse. This incident has highlighted just how important it is to thoroughly check our gear before and after each race. This skier was not a newcomer to the sport, he was talented, experienced and well respected, yet he now admits that the poor condition of his harness was an oversight and he should not have been using it. When I stretch my rope out prior to a race I am actually trying to break my rope or harness by applying as much tension as I can. If it passes this test in the car park, I am confident it will not let me down on the water. This testing is not only for Superclass or Unlimited skiers, your rope and harness condition is important no matter what class you’re in. Check it thoroughly for any snags or weak spots EVERY time you race. Go to http://www.zigsmarine.com.au/rope-selection/ for more information regarding rope selection and how to care for your rope between races. As individual competitors, we all need to be more accountable for our own safety equipment and actions. We should not rely 100% on the rule makers or scrutineers to ensure our safety, we should take it upon ourselves to source information about our safety that makes sense to us. It is our personal responsibility to be prepared in body, mind, equipment and inter-crew communication going into each race. If at any time prior to a race you feel that you may not have addressed any one of these areas with proper preparation, be mindful of this during your race and ski to your personal limit on that day. While discussions surrounding skier safety equipment including helmets, neck braces, head restraints and arm restraints etc. will continue the best way to keep yourself safe is to limit falls through proper risk management. If you would like to contact me about any information in this article, do so by emailing zigsmarine@gmail.com and I will reply as soon as I can. Look after yourselves, Zig
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S uperman goes back 2 back
At
the
S ydney B ridge
Brett Armstrong and skiers Daniel Cotton and Daniel Graziano have taken out the internationally acclaimed Sydney Bridge to Bridge water ski classic on the Hawkesbury River. Each year the event asks for a herculean effort from competitors as they race 112 kilometres down the Hawkesbury, beginning at Dangar Island near the Central Coast, racing under the Mooney Mooney Bridge before being funnelled into the mouth of the Hawkesbury for the contest to the finish line at Governor Phillip Park, Windsor. While the race record held by former super team Hellrazor remained untouched this year due to rougher than expected conditions on the water, Superman didn’t waste time distancing themselves from the pack, as they broke the shackles at the first timing split, just a quarter of the way through the race, to skip away from eventual second place getter Merc Force. As Merc Force battled to stay in touch with Superman they were also in a fight to defend third place from Stinga, a team that some had tipped to spring a surprise win, despite the relatively new combination of Jack Houston and Raymond Ball on the skis. However the show belonged to Superman, with Cotton highlighting the teamwork employed to stick to the strategy and win the race 1 minute 39 seconds clear of their nearest challenger.
to
B ridge
“The start of the Bridge to Bridge is always hectic, you have boats side by side racing through bumpy and changing conditions. The water gets smoother as you get into the river and you try to start pushing from that point, it’s pretty crazy. “We weren’t too rushed, we were patient and let our competitors sit there for a while, but once we had more favourable conditions and it was time to go, we went. “It feels pretty good to win a second time, different to the first, but it’s nice to win the bridge to bridge any old day.” For teammate Graziano, the win brings an air of sentimentality as he draws one victory closer to older brother Jamie who has three Bridge to Bridge titles to his name, while sister Tracey also has one and remains the only woman to have won the race that has been run since 1961. “Last year was a great win because it’s your first one and you’ve always wanted it, but this year is no less of a win, it’s my favourite race of the calendar,” Graziano said. “As we rounded the last corner I thought about the fact that I’m now one win away from equalling my brother who won three straight from 2002-2004, but it’s not why I race, if I could win 10 I would, I just try to give my best. Racer’s Edge | 8
“It’s a sentimental race for my family, we grew up skiing on the Hawkesbury and last year I took the trophy home and saw my brother and sister’s name on it, and it’s such a nice thing to see.” With the line honours a forgone conclusion by half race distance, attention soon turned to the Unlimited Class with the ‘Hawkesbury Hotshots’ winner The Mistress turning their pole position start into victory, fending off a challenge from Agitator to claim the win by 23 seconds, Strike Force finishing a further minute back in that class. All up 73 boats crossed the finish line, with overall and class winners also being awarded. The result for many was secondary to the satisfaction of finishing, the feel good story of the day belonging to Monkey Boyz with driver Nathan Merchant and observer Jason Walsh guiding home 8-year-old Jaali Walsh and 10-year-old Riley Merchant. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Superman (Driver: D McGuire; Observer: B Armstrong; Skier: D Cotton; Skier: D Graziano), 39:14.18 Merc Force, 40:53.60 Stinga F1, 41:26.14 SE7ENF1, 42:07.87 The Mistress, 43:33.21 Agitator, 43:55.27 Strike Force, 44:54.79 Top Gun, 44:55.06 Underbelly, 45:26.70 Tru Blue, 46:33.42
Rear: Brett Armstrong, Darren McGuire Front: Daniel Cotton, Daniel Graziano Racer’s Edge | 9
The Family Sport We caught up with the Nutley family at the Sydney Bridge to Bridge where 9-year-old Kane & 14-year-old Conor skied together, with Jamie & Brian Nutley in the boat
It’s no secret to those in the ski racing community that the sport is perfect for families, it’s ability to bring together different generations as part of one team part of its enduring appeal. More often than not, at events across the country, a team can be found made up of several family members, all further connected by their love of the sport. At this year’s Sydney Bridge to Bridge one such family was the Nutley’s from Parkes, NSW. Contesting this year’s event as part of team Prime Suspect were three generations of Nutley’s, including driver Brian, his son Jamie as observer and cousins Kane and Conor on the skis, competing in the 60mph Social Class.
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For Brian, his first ever race on Wyangala Dam sparked a passion for the sport that has spanned 18 years and counting.
Conor Nutley (left), Kane Nutley (Right)
“The whole family got involved in the sport at the same time, after many years of social skiing we eventually progressed to ski racing and had our first race on Wyangala Dam all those years ago,” Brian said. “What attracted us to the sport was it’s competitive nature, and more importantly it provided us with the opportunity to compete as a family. It can be an extremely family orientated sport if you want it to be.” “Ultimately it gets us all together on the weekends and we’ve made plenty of lasting friendships over the years.”
For the Nutley’s it doesn’t end with four. Brian’s wife Kerrie is also heavily involved and has played an active role behind the scenes in timing and administration over the years,
Only four may be in the boat, but it’s a true family effort all-around
even taking her all the way to the World Titles as a timing coordinator. Then there is 8-year-old Jack, the youngest member of the team whose work on the ski’s is progressing nicely, while his mother Lisa, an ex skier, is also involved, these days as an observer. For 14-year-old Conor, ski racing has become a way of life, and despite the occasional family squabble he wouldn’t have it any other way. “We’ve always skied as a family and granddad has been a big part of that as our driver the whole time,” Conor said.
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the team roles DRIVER: Brian Nutley OBSERVER/DRIVER: Jamie Nutley OBSERVER: Lisa Nutley SKIER: Connor Nutley SKIER: Kane Nutley SKIER: Jack Nutley SKI RACING ADMINISTRATOR/DRIVER: Kerrie Nutley CURRENT BOATS: Suspect & Prime Suspect
“It can be challenging at times skiing with family, like anyone we have our ups and downs and sometimes argue about the best way to do things, but we always work it out. The day before the Bridge to Bridge, Kane and I even argued about who would get to ski behind the new boat first!
“Grandma also helps out with Ski Racing NSW, she does a lot for them – but the best part for us is that we have a good place to sit and watch the other races when she is around and working in race control.” While for cousin Kane, the Sydney race provided the perfect opportunity to improve as a racer and enjoy the perks of skiing behind what was a brand new boat! “I started skiing when I was seven years old, I’m nine now and I think I have improved a lot in the past two years,” Kane said. “I skied in two races at the Sydney Bridge to Bridge, I had a really fun day and everything was great! I liked the race on my own and we had new gear too, so it was fun with a new boat, new ski and new rope.” Next on the agenda for this ski mad family will be the Nationals Championships in Bundaberg, where this great sport of ours will continue to deliver joy to many more families like them.
“All in all it’s fun skiing with my little cousin, I’ve been skiing for a while now so have the hang of it. I didn’t do much training before the Bridge to Bridge, but Kane has been working really hard so it was good to see how he has improved. He’s good for his age!
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Spotlight ON: Fire Safety Fire safety is one of the most important aspects in the sport of Ski Racing, and as such should be taken seriously by all those that compete. Two such members pioneering fire safety in the community are that of Stephen Greentree and his son Scott, who have been running the system in all of their boats including Agitator for the past five years. When it comes to fire safety you can never afford to be under prepared, and this was never more evident than at this year’s NSW Series day at Wiseman’s Ferry where Agitator caught fire, prompting Stephen to deploy their fire system. “If I didn’t have the system in place the boat would have been sunk, so it’s pretty important,” Stephen said. “It kept the fire under control until the safety boat arrived who also did a great job. “It’s the only incident I have had, and it’s certainly the only incident I want but it just illustrates that you can never be too careful. We try and do everything we can when it comes to fire safety.” Keeping his boat afloat was a Lifeline fire suppression system, with Lifeline one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of on board fire suppression systems to the motorsport industry.
Set up by son Scott, the mechanical system utilises a ZERO 2000 extinguisher that uses a lightweight, environmentally friendly, foam based extinguishant blended to cope with the rigorous demands of motorsport. An integral part of the ZERO 2000 system is the specifically designed atomiser nozzle, which divides the foam into minute particles, smothering the fire with a fine mist that forms an invisible seal over the target area, cooling and thus preventing re-ignition. “We run a cable pull, mechanical system as opposed to the electrical system because it’s not going to break when you need it most,” Scott said. “Our 4 litre extinguisher is connected to an internal aluminium line running down either side of the boat that doesn’t melt, which is connected to four nozzles (two on either side) pointed at the extractors, turbos and fuel pump, with two more at the back designed to cover the entire engine. “Moving forward we may look at running a bigger extinguisher as well as a new extinguishing agent that has recently been designed. “Ultimately it’s important to keep trying to improve when it comes to fire safety.”
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1
The Lifeline Zero 2000 System has been specifically designed to cope with the rigerous demands of motorsport, with the pull handle conveniently located next to the steering wheel.
2
It can be fitted either as an electronic or cable system. Scott installed his as a cable system because in his words - “The cable won’t break, which is especially important if you are on fire.”
3
Scott is currently running a 4 litre extinguisher, with plans for either two or a bigger one in the future. Lifeline describes it as a lightweight, environmentally friendly, foam based extinguishant.
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4
There are a total of six nozzles in the boat, two on either side pointed at the extractors, turbos and fuel pump. Two more nozzles then face the entire engine from the back.
5
The specifically designed nozzle divides the foam into minute particles, smothering the fire with a fine mist that forms an invisible seal over the target area, cooling and thus preventing re-ignition.
6
Ultimately, it is the job of the system to protect the safety of the crew and the boat, and it has the record to prove it.
*Details in this article are provided as general information only. Competitors should take into account their own needs regarding fire protection and design a system appropriate for their specific setup and capacity requirements Racer’s Edge | 15
10 years of the Beehag Blazen reigns supreme
The 10th Annual Barrie Beehag Ski Race hit the water on Saturday November 14 at Deep Creek Marina for the journey to Torrumbarry Weir and back. Hundreds of people lined the banks to watch the 117 boats take off in what was a family friendly, picnic atmosphere complimented by half time entertainment courtesy of the Victorian Barefoot Association. 112 boats completed the journey, which saw many teams with smiles on their faces at the end of the day, content just to have finished knowing that they gave it their all. Coveted line honours were taken out by team Blazen, with Tim Pickford driving, Chris Gelle observing and skiers Lloyd Woolman (Echuca) and Ben Gulley leading the field to Torrumbarry in a time of 11:09.31. Despite pressure from the The Mistress and the highly fancied Superman team, as well as Unlimited boat 99 Psycho Clowns they handled the heat to then led the field back to Deep Creek in a time of 11:15.34 giving them an overall time of 22:25.65. An impressive 28 entries lined up in the Unlimited class, accounting for a quarter of the entire field in what was by far the biggest class of the day. Living up to the pre-race hype the Jessica Pearse driven 99 Psycho Clowns were far too strong for the chasing pack, recording a time of 22:49:29 that was good enough for second overall and just 23.64 seconds behind Blazen. Elm Street and Strike Force finished second and third respectively in the class.
A red hot Blazen proved to strong for the competition Racer’s Edge | 16
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Blazen (Driver: T Pickford; Observer: C Gelle; Skier: L Woolman; Skier: B Gulley), 22:25.65 99 Psycho Clowns, 22:49.29 The Mistress, 23:25.93 Elm Street, 23:48.57 Strike Force, 24:16.77 Ultra Trouble Maker, 24:27.83 Moonshot Racing, 24:37.00 Pigs Arsenal, 24:37.85 Carlton Dry Racing, 24:47:79 Blown Cash, 24:48.83
the Southern 80
A brief history
The Southern 80 has evolved over many years, and boasts a storied history that has seen it to become the world-class event it is today. The race began in 1964 in Echuca, who hosted a marathon event held over an incredible 522 miles. The following year the race was divided into two events; the Murray Ski Marathon over 500 miles as well as a shorter 100mile race. That year the race even attracted two air boats which could power through shallow water at up to 60mph and travel on flat land for short distances. In 1974 the Moama Water Sports Club was formed. By 1975 the event was named the Southern 80 Ski Trial, was held in February for the first time and 47 teams were entered. The event was well established by 1981 when 103 teams took part, including a team consisting of six-
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5 Minutes with MICK! The Pocket Rocket NAME: Emma Williams AGE: 16
TEAM: Mad Hatter
Involvement: Skier Mick Kelly: How did you get into racing?
Emma Williams: Dad learned to ski when he was 4 years old, he grew up water skiing with his parents and racing club days behind his family boat back in New Zealand. Bradley and I also learned to ski at a very young age and have grown up around boats. We started racing at our local tweed ski club series days in tadpoles for fun then it led to me having a passion for the sport and my competitiveness started to grow from there. MK: What keeps you in racing?
EW: The enjoyment of having my family apart of the team, they are always there supporting me and meeting new people who share the same interests in racing MK: Em, I’ve been fortunate enough to watch you race for a while, and your continued improvement and success has been very impressive. What drives you to continue to better yourself? Or does it come naturally?
Meet Mick Kelly. A world champion observer, former winner of the Southern 80, top racer, mentor to newcomers - at times outspoken (but always with the best intentions) Mick’s up for a chat! In each edition of The Racers Edge Mick puts one of our members in the spotlight. You don’t have to be famous, nor a winner. But you do have to be committed and love our sport...that’s what turns Mick on. Sit down, have a breather and spend 5 minutes with MICK
EW: I’ve always enjoyed water skiing and racing and having the drive to succeed in the sport. From the beginning my brother was my role model, I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps and hopefully get the opportunity to compete against him in the future. MK:You’ve developed as a racer in Queensland, which is limited in numbers, how has this affected your development? EW: It’s difficult to improve with the limited competition in my classes although each series days I try to better my lap times from the previous race.
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MK: Who has helped you along the way? (Not that you’ve needed much help)
EW: Luckily the Queensland series do have some of Australia’s best ski racers such as yourself, Kylee Jones and Ben Gulley, you all continue to help give me advice or answer any questions I have. MK: Racing has again recently reminded us how dangerous a sport it can be - how do you feel about the inherent risk of our sport? EW: I, as a competitor, know the risks I face before zipping up my wetsuit but I still race because of the love and passion I have for this sport. MK: How does your family feel?
EW: They are very supportive and happy with me water ski racing as they believe it is a good family sport. The majority of Ski Racing Queensland’s competitors are families racing together. MK: Your brother Brad, girly haircut aside, is a very impressive skier, how has he influenced you and assisted in your development? EW: Brad has a natural ability to water skiing, he has observed for me when I have trained and raced and has always helped guide me to improve my stance and ability. MK: Racing Goals?
EW: One of my goals has always been to compete at the Australian Titles and to see where I am positioned against other girls in my age group. MK: Despite being competitive, super fast and ready to race, you always have a smile on your face- does the enjoyment you get from racing mean more to you than winning? EW: Race weekends to me are more than just competing on the water, it is also about catching up with good friends and if I win that’s a bonus. MK: What would you change about racing if you had the option?
EW: Less expense could mean more people would join water ski racing and we’d have more opportunity to travel to races. MK: What does the future hold for Em?
EW: I In the very near future we are lucky enough to have the Australian Titles at Bundaberg and I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ski behind Jessica Pearse in 99 Psycho Clowns. Beyond that my other goal is to complete year 12 and my certificates.
M I CK Racer’s Edge | 19
www . skiracing . com . au
Racer’s Edge Edition #4 || November 2015