NEW 2012 World Waterski Record! 145 Skiers Behind One Boat!
On Friday 27th January 2012 the Eagle pulled 154 skiers from the deep and 145 made the full nautical mile distance - SMASHING the old record of 114 skiers behind one boat. When you visit Strahan, ask for the RED boat; make sure you ride on the RED boat so you can see all about our record and talk to the crew - and talk directly to the family that actually owns Eagle!
View the offical 2012 pics by Mark Seaton.
Watching the 2012 #2 run go so smoothly, (you can see the clear reflections in the pics above), with the skiers gliding along, you might think it was easy! However, we can promise you that the reason our record breaking run looks so good is all the planning and effort everyone put in. Such good preparation allowed the skiers to focus on form, and the beautiful weather was the icing on the cake!
See the first run here >> The first run for 2012, at dawn on Australia Day 26th Jan was very tough because the water was very rough, (see the montage above of the big guys near the wake).
The rolling waves were bigger the further we skied, breaking over the skis to make continuous water spray in the face. Some of those waves reached nearly waist high on the younger skiers. Without the special new prop, (that added over 40% more grunt than in 2010), to get us all out of the water in around 30 seconds (instead of 80 seconds in 2010) even less then 108 would have made it the full nautical mile.
Read the Team Stories for a first-hand account.
"Even the strongest skiers were gritting their teeth and clenching handles to make it - the majority of skiers were suffering pumped out thighs, forearms and biceps, aching lower backs and cramped hands. Mantras like "just grip it!", "nearly there!" and "arms straight, knees bent!" would have been going through most skiers heads non-stop. I know I couldn't even spare a glance at the rest of the line - total focus on watching my space in front of the boom, shaking off water every 2 seconds so I could see."
2012 News
Everyone! Check out the media coverage all over the world! More added as its found. If you know one not llisted, please email Kelly. Comments from people watching the movies is posted there as well.
First run today saw nearly all the skiers make the start and 108 over the finish line, with rough water making it tough.
7.15am Jan 27th 2012 saw 154 skiers entering the water while dawn broke over the mountains behind Strahan. A huge effort from the organisers and volunteers had the ropes connected to the Eagle so fast that we were ready to ski an hour earlier then the day before. The Eagle had been anchored in the bay overnight, perfectly in position and with the boom in place, which allowed the speedy rope connection.
More news - click here...
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