RaceR’s EdgE

Edition #3 || octobEr 2015

New Format | More News | Still FREE!

Daniel SquareD

SupermanSupremeTed Hurley Winner+ enTHralling class

baTTlesHellrazor!

Farewell

Get to know the skiers behind superman

WE prEviEW thE iconic EvEnt

Stay updated aLL weekend

WWW.skiracing.com.au

Racer’s Edge | 3

NOTICE OF RULE CHANGEAttention SRA Competitors and Members.

As outlined in the notice, seen here: Notice of Amendment to SRA Rule Book 291015 the SRA Board ratified an amendment to the rules effective immediately.

Summary of changes • All skiers must ski in the wash at all times.• The social class rope length has been extended to a maximum 60 metres.• Boats are to be re-scrutineered after any major component change.• Please review the notice by clicking on the above hyperlink.

Ratified October 29, 2015

Regards,

Grant CumminChief Executive OfficerSki Racing Australia

notice of amendment to Ski Racing auStRaLia RuLe Book

in this issuE

diRectoRS deckOutstanding seasOn Opener

aRound the BuoySthe diamOnd race

featuRe: danieL SquaRedget tO knOw the skiers behind superman

5 minuteS with mickcOlin sidney pattersOn

chaniging Of the guard

faReweLL heLLRazoR

BRidge to BRidge pReview

ted huRLey wRap

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major racEs 2015/16

hawkeSBuRy 120 AUG 29-30

ted huRLey cLaSSic OCT 17-18

BeRRi 90 poStponed

BaRRie Beehag NOV 14

nSwwSf BRidge to BRidge 2 up NOV 7-8

SoutheRn 80 FEB

RoBinvaLe/euSton Race MAR 12-13

miLduRa 100 MAR 25-27

BRidge 1 up MAy 1Racer’s Edge | 5

Europe’s most spectacular water ski event was held ear-lier this year, and the 30th running of the Diamond Race

didn’t disappoint for the Aussies who made the trip, with three winners and two podium place getters from the event in Viersal, Belgium. It’s touted as one of the toughest races that travels through canals, competitors charging at 160km/h, around a five kilometre race track that produces close, enthralling racing for the crowds and fellow competitors alike. From the Aussies that made the trip, one skier who im-pressed was Luke Harrison who won the juniors category by just over eight minutes. His closest rival was Great Britain’s Hannah Bird, who duked it out with compatriot Samantha Clark for final places on the podium. Luke’s impressive 10 laps at an average of 79km/h was enough to indicate that he is well on his way to becoming a com-petitive force. While Harrison dominated, in the men’s F1 catego-ry Cody Rigg edged out Belgium’s Dave Vanstee-lant, upstaging the local at his home event to take the top step by a meager eight seconds. Australia’s Jake Tegart claimed third, adding to his list of impressive re-sults for the year so far. In the men’s F2 it was Jack Harrison who added his name to the winners list, covering 12 laps in a time of 57 min-utes, 52 seconds (57:52) to beat the USA’s Martie Wells (58:38) and Belgium’s Time Lisens (59.21) in another closely fought affair. Further afield congratulations goes to Chelsea Blight who placed third in the ladies F2 class, missing the second step by just one second, the top step by 20 seconds. In the ladies F3 event Cody Johnson missed the podium by less 33 seconds in a fighting effort.While the race was some time ago now, it is widely con-sidered to be akin to competing at the Olympics and win-ning the at the event is the ultimate goal. With the Austra-lian season now in full swing, expect to see another host of Aussies thinking about making their mark

Rigg & Tegart

Jack Harrison

Chelsea Blight

Racer’s Edge | 6Pics Courtesy Waterski Racing Europe

aRound the BuoySThrowback: DiamonD race

There is nowhere else to start this

month’s column than to congratulate the Mildura Ski Club for an excellent Ted Hurley event in Wentworth. In the lead up Geoff Thomson, Kim Baldwin and the team found themselves under im-mense pressure from a number of angles. The ability for a volun-

teer organising committee to adjust their plans and be able to then deliver the event without a major issue is a testament to all involved. An important introduction into pre race briefings at the event was the separation of skier and observer meet-ings. The aim was to come together in groups and share information about the importance of each per-son’s role in the team. We asked competitors to have safety front of mind at all times and aim for an orange flag free race. We didn’t exactly get there – but I think competitors responded positively to the messag-es delivered, ensuring we enjoyed smooth running throughout the weekend. What is of utmost importance for us is that SRA sanc-tioned events can demonstrate a zero serious injury and fatality year. The Ted Hurley in Wentworth clearly demonstrated that with a focus from all competitors on safety and by responding to what is asked of them in briefings, we are able to work together to achieve this aim. With the SRA Annual General Meeting on the 27th of October there has been a couple of changes to the board make up. Andrew Donehue will represent South Australia and we welcome Russell Lewis as a wild card director. The sport owes a debt of gratitude to Paul Hoskins who stepped down following more

than a decade of service at board level. Noel Grif-fin has also stepped away from board duties after a long service to the sport, culminating in his final term as Chairman. Personally I have witnessed the drive and passion of Noel and the history and knowl-edge he has of the sport. He has chaired the board through a very challenging time. The retirement of the Hellrazor team during October marked the end of an era. The longevity in the sport, professionalism and numerous records will forever be etched into the history of the sport. Congratula-tions to Mark, Damien, Peter and Jason on a wonder-ful team career. Now we turn our attention to the Sydney Bridge to Bridge. The organising committee is working hard to comply with a high level of scrutiny from the water-way regulators. Rumblings through the sport that the event won’t go ahead are incorrect, as we have had no indication that that is the case. The race is on and I look forward to seeing you all there.

Grant Cummin - Ski Racing Australia CEO

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diRectoRS deckan Outstanding start & changing Of the guard

Throwback: DiamonD race

More than 100 boats, rain and shine graced the banks of the Darling and Murray Rivers on the

weekend of October 17-18 for the Ted Hurley Me-morial Classic in Wentworth, NSW, the first official Ski Racing Australia (SRA) river classic, won by Su-perman. After August’s Hawkesbury 120 was washed out, Australia’s top competitors had been forced to satiate their thirst for the river classics by racing at their respective state series events, with those days proving critical to the performances seen at the Ted Hurley. While the weekend belonged to Darren McGuire and his Superman crew of Brett Armstrong (ob-server), Daniel Graziano and Daniel Cotton (ski-ers), some of the finest battles came further afield in the unlimited and junior boy’s classes, both of which had the top competitors separated by mere seconds. In the Superclass tussle that would decide the overall positions, Superman were a cut above the rest as they romped to a victory margin of 1 minute, 47 seconds over nearest rival Merc Force. While always looking for the win, Merc Force skipper Don Gulley was unfazed by the margin, crediting his team of Grant Patterson (observer), Jake Tegart and Kris Knights (skiers) with a pleasing weekend of racing. “We go as hard as we can, we knew we were sort of the underdogs, if you like, which spurred us on but we’re really happy with the result,” Gulley said.“In the end we couldn’t knock them [Superman] off, but we certainly gave it a good dig that’s for sure.” While the two superclass boats had locked out the top two spots on the overall podium, it was the

battle between Pigs Arsenal and Burnin in the unlimited class that ignited the crowd on the River-banks as the two outfits traded

quickest sectors throughout the main event. As the race drew to a close, it was apparent that whoever held the upper hand upon arrival at Wentworth would not only win the class, but also claim the bottom step of the overall podium.Eventually it was the Burnin team of Travis Stone (driver), Bernard Simpson (observer), Cameron Mitchell and Jake Vanzetta (skiers) who were the team to beat, fending off Pigs Arsenal with a strong first leg, while holding their pace over a trying second leg. Stone was jubilant about the result, also telling that it was a battle for Mitchell who had picked up an injury earlier that day.“We’re just absolutely over the moon, third outright and first in unlimited, what more could you ask for? It’s great,” said Stone.

SupermanSuperman rompS to victoryenthralling class battles

Supreme

Burnin had an enthralling battle with Pigs Arse-nal in the unlimited class

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The youngest competitor on the day was Jasmin Payne skiing behind Murrumbidgee Madness driven by Ian Payne and observed by Sharon Breed. Congrats to the whole team, who exemplify the inclusive nature of the sport, and exactly why it is the ultimate lifestyle sport.

The sheer number of competitors that turned out for the Ted Hurley Memori-

al Classic. If that can be replicated throughout the rest of the season, we are in for a blockbuster!

Despite so many entries, we still had a few boats unable to race in the 2UP

event, as they were unable to secure a skier. If you’re a skier looking for ride when we get to the next event, stay tuned and jump on an opportunity to race when it arises!

The Mildura Ski Club. These guys did an outstanding job to host the

Ted Hurley Memorial Classic, ensuring that com-petitors had a good time and putting together an outstanding team of volunteers in race control, on the course and in scrutineering. The benchmark for the season has well and truly been set; make a point to always thank the officials!

There’s nothing worse than seeing retire-ments from a race, but unfortunately it is

an inevitable factor of our sport. There weren’t too many hard luck stories at the Ted Hurley, but for those that were on the receiving end of mechani-cal gremlins we’re hoping that it’s smooth sailing from hereon in!

“We had a good run on the way to Apex Park, but unfortunately Cam picked up an injury and busted his ankle. He’s a tough competitor and we treated it and he managed to get up for the return leg.” Meanwhile the Junior Boy’s class was one that had everyone sitting up to take notice as Entice U Racing, Murrumbidgee Maddog and Topshot seemed inseparable for much of the race, the eventual result seeing the trio separated by less than a minute. Entice U Racing eventually took the win, and joined open women’s race winners Extreme Meltdown as highlights on race day, solid perfor-mances highlighting the depth of the field, and the quality of talent within the Australian water skiing community.

There’s a reason that ski racing is ‘The Ultimate Lifestyle Sport’, and it isn’t just the outstanding

locations the sport visits, nor the social setting off the river. This sport thrives on participation, and truly being all inclusive of all ages and abilities. It wasn’t a surprise then that the ultimate lifestyle sport, produced ultimate lifestyle competition to kick off the Ted Hurley Memorial Classic, with the social classes making the most of changeable overcast conditions.Overall victory eventually went to Geoff Browne and his Harvs team with Rohan Browne and Rob-bie Skennerton on the skies, while 1350 and No Patience F1 filled out the podium for the event. In among the best of the social skiers were the veterans, with Bendigo’s 99 Psycho Clowns the best of the experienced competitors, driver Jessi-ca Pearse and Observer Daniel McMahon team-ing with skiers Wayne Duggan and Mark Boyer to take the win ahead of Illusions Racing.

Social SucceSS

Peaks & Pits from

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Peak:

Peak:

Pit:

the ted hurleyMeMorial ClassiC

Racer’s Edge | 9

Meet the Daniel’s, Cotton and Graziano, two men that have forged a successful partnership skiing for Superman and their driver Darren McGuire and observer Brett Armstrong. They’re confident, yet

unassuming, meticulous in their preparation, and above all else thrive on competition, not winning. Just on 12 months ago Superman achieved a goal that both Cotton and Graziano had been hoping to tick off during their careers, winning the NSW Bridge to Bridge (B2B). It’s an iconic race and one that any proud New South Welshmen wants to conquer. For most the biggest battle is finishing the race, but for Superman, years of hard work culminated in a hard charge for victory. Earlier in the season the team had won the Grafton Bridge to Bridge in record time, but it didn’t quite have the panache that the B2B win brought with it. For Cotton, the win was made sweeter because they had gone toe to toe with the seemingly impenetrable Hellrazor, while for Graziano it meant he joined two of his siblings as victors at the race.“The Bridge to Bridge has always been a race I wanted to win. My brother Jamie won it in 2002, 2003

Confident, unassuming, metiCulous & hard Core Competitors... . ..meet daniel Cotton & daniel gr a ziano

Daniel SquareD

Racer’s Edge | 10

Racer’s Edge | 11

and 2004 skiing behind Stinga, while my sister Tracy won in 1998 behind Wild Turkey. She’s the only female to have won it,” Graziano said. “The first Bridge to Bridge I saw was in 1988 when my uncle was observing for one of the boats. It was such a huge event at the time, and it has always been the pinnacle of the sport for me. I have always wanted to win it.”

For both men, the path to joining the elite ranks of the sport was apparent from a young age. As an infant Graziano was walking by the time he was 10 months old, and at just two and a half he started skiing, such was life of a Hawkesbury local with a family involved in the sport. Cotton was a late bloomer compared to Grazia-no and first tried out the sport at just four years of age, some 34 years ago now. For him water skiing was a sport that not only his parents had been involved with, but also his grandfather. Admittedly as younger kids the sport was all about having fun and playing with mates, but as both men grew older they learned to race faster and soon found themselves beginning to take the sport seriously. For Cotton it was around this time that he was taken out of age groups and thrown in the deep end of the unlimited class so he could ski along-side his dad behind the family boat. While he admits the move was premature, it set a path that

would see him rise to the top of the sport by the turn of the century. “I didn’t have a normal career, we had our own boat and I teamed up with dad for a while. In hindsight I probably wasn’t ready for that when I started, but as I built my confidence and got quicker, dad jumped off the skis and into the drivers seat and drove for Jason Walmsely and

I,” Cotton said. “When dad stepped aside Ian Tricker began driving and in that time I ended up skiing with a number of other people too, including Jamie Gra-ziano. Daniel was just a teenager back then. “However by 2004 I felt I had done enough and was ready to leave the sport, so I did. Over the next four years I spent my time racing cars but was then talked back into a return for ski racing for the 2009 World Championships.” For anyone involved in this sport, there aren’t many higher personal accolades than represent-ing your country, and both men have had the honour of donning the green and gold. For Gra-ziano, it was again an item he wanted to tick off to match his siblings, while Cotton has been to three world titles (2009, 2011, 2015) and enjoyed each of the experiences, without having won one. Ironically it was this individual pursuit of repre-senting Australia that brought the two men

Superman are eying a return to the top at the B2B

Merc Force, the biggest threat this season according to both men

Racer’s Edge | 12

together as teammates with Superman. In 2009 when he was attempting to qualify for worlds, Cotton realised that if he wanted to seriously challenge for the F2 world championship then he would need some unlimited runs, and that’s when the opportunity with Darren McGuire arose. As it happened, so did the chance to ski along-side the younger Graziano. “Even though I had been out of the sport for a few years, Graz didn’t have the commitment from another skier that he needed, so it was a good stepping stone for me to get back into the sport,” recalled Cotton. “We slowly progressed as time went on, our observers improved and Darren came on strong in his driving abilities for superclass competitors. A good observer picks up the little things and gives you confidence, while the guy driving the boat needs to be spot on and do things like slow down without needing to be told. That relaxes

a skier and keeps them content.” Graziano adds that the team came together through varied circumstances, and has outlast-ed many other combinations over the past few years. “I started with Darren in 2007, and only after one of his skiers didn’t turn up. So he asked me to sub in and was impressed enough to ask me to stay,” he said. “It wasn’t supposed to last this long, but we have improved as a team and the addition of Brett Armstrong as observer in 2012 helped us come on in leaps and bounds.” What you see is what you get with Cotton and Graziano. They’re not shy, but they like to keep a low profile and go about their business with-out fuss. While Cotton is adamant that Graz can talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles, both men are hard at work throughout the week when they’re not pursuing the sport they love. Moreover alongside McGuire and Armstrong the Superman team have had an outstanding start to 2015 to win the Ted Hurley Memorial Classic, and while victories are pleasing, Graziano re-marks that the racing is more than just the end result.“The Ted Hurley goes down as one of my favour-ite races on the calendar, I love the two-way 1UP racing on day one. It’s good for the teams and it’s good for the skiers,” he said. “Our team is at a point that we’re all on the same page and know what to expect from each other. Importantly we’re all good mates and going away to races is more than just competing. It’s the whole sport, enjoying the dynamic of the race, the team and our families.”

1. Most memorable achievement as a team?Cotton: Bridge to Bridge, 2014 Graziano: Bridge to Bridge, 2014

2. Most memorable achievement as an indi-vidual

Cotton: Not easy to pinpoint. Racing the family boat in the 90’s was great, winning the South-ern 80 and breaking records is up there tooGraziano: Making the Australian team

3. Toughest competitors? Cotton: Merc Force are always there or there-abouts Graziano: Merc Force now, but Team Hell was so hard to beat for so long. They had few flaws.

4. What’s the plan for the B2B? Cotton: Do what we did last year, but try and control the pace from the start and go for the race recordGraziano: I’m just focused on preparing for the race, it’s my home race and I have spent a lot of time on the Hawkesbury.

FA S T 4 W i T h T h e D A n i e l ’ S

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Safety Committee Update as of 09/10/15

The tragic events at the non SRA sanctioned Grafton race has further highlighted the important workthat the Ski Racing Australia (SRA) safety committee has been engaged to do for the sport.

The Safety Committee has a matrix with fifteen safety initiatives under review. These are areas thatare a priority for the Safety Committee and include driver and skier speed progression, speedlimitation, skier and driver safety equipment and new technologies amongst other things. Each itemrequires careful consideration and testing before findings can be provided to members. As outlinedin the safety committee update to members on the 30th of July - testing of skiers helmets clips andbreaking strains is underway with findings and recommendations now due in the coming weeks.

Over the coming months we expect that announcements will be made regarding the mandating ofbackboards at events, the possibility of requiring higher levels of first aid training, new licencing andtraining requirements for drivers and others. The members of the panel are working with vigour towork through safety initiatives and make recommendations to SRA in an effort to improve the safetyof the sport.

The development of skier safety equipment is a key area of focus for SRA and the Safety Committee.SRA has recently met with two universities to discuss undertaking a study on the forces and impactsplaced on skiers in a fall – with a view to develop new and tested safety equipment for the skiers. Itis clear that any research and development that flows from this will take time and a significantinvestment. This initial engagement does however present a significant step in the right directionfor our sport.

We again take this opportunity to advise of the Safety Committee members. They are: Terry Welch,Tony Rowe, Jason Walmsley, Rod Senior, Gerry Gulley, Peter Procter and Daniel McMahon.

Your Safety Committee has specific areas of safety initiatives allocated to them based on theirparticular expertise in the sport. We encourage any and all SRA members who have ideas regardingsafety initiatives in our sport to contact any of the Safety Committee members or email the SRAoffice for your input to be passed on.

The SRA state delegates are also keen to hear members’ feedback directly. All members arewelcome to contact their state delegate and provide input regarding the direction of safety in thesport.

Safety committee update

unique location. The conditions will vary and are often rougher at the start of the race, there isn’t much smooth water between Dangar Island and the Bridges,” Lee said. “What I’ve always liked about this event and the sport is that it’s about family and it’s extremely im-portant that we maintain that aspect. Family is the one thing that has kept me in the sport and over the years you make a lot of friends. “When I first became involved this was a race very much about social skiers, the people that would come along once a year and have a go. We don’t see so much of that now due to increasing costs with safety, and so the tone of the race has changed, but family is still important.” After claiming victory in 2014 it will be Superman who is going for overall honours again. But as we saw at the recent Ted Hurley Memorial Classic, the day isn’t just about who can win overall, there are countless interclass battles that give competitors satisfaction and a sense of achievement. For Lee, it is the passion of competitors that helps fuel the race in its current guise. “Winning means different things to different people, there are those that prize class wins and those that like to win overall. The biggest factor for the B2B is that the race caters for everyone,” she said. “On the first day we will have a veterans class, junior social, disabled, and under 10’s boy’s and girl’s, as well as a time trial for unlimited inboard, while on the

As far as icons of the sport go, the Sydney Bridge to Bridge (B2B) is a standout on the calendar,

and in 2015 it will be no different as Australia’s top competitors descend on the Hawkesbury River for a crack at claiming the title. The B2B is a race built off the back of a golden era where social skiers would contest the race as their only event for the year, internationals would travel to Australia to be a part of it and race management would sort out seeding for hundreds of boats. Although the entries don’t reach into the multiple hundred at present, the allure of winning a B2B title remains, and for many it is one of the monument races in the season alongside others such as the Southern 80. With an esteemed history, it’s no surprise that those that become involved in racing or organising the event keep coming back for more, and one such person that epitomizes what the race is about is Meryl Lee. At 87, Meryl has done a lot to ensure the event continues to be a crowd favourite. Meryl first attended the event in 1965 when her husband was skiing, and although she never jumped in the water behind the boat, she did observe for some years, then in the early 1970’s joined the committee. While she never skied her-self, Meryl provides insight into the event that is unparalleled by others, in what should make her one of the most sought out people come race day. “This is a special race and the Hawkesbury is a

Racer’s Edge | 14

we pReview the iconic Sydney event with the heLp of SecRetaRy geneRaL iwwf Racing counciL, meRyL Lee

Dates: November 7-8Saturday Format: Sackville - Windsor9:00am: Veterans, Under 16 Boys Social, Under 16 Girls Social, Under 13 Boys Social, Under 13 Girls Social,Under 10 Boys 1 Up – skis optional, Under 10 Girls 1 Up – skis optional, Disabled.11:00am: Hawkesbury Hotshots, Unlimited Inboard Shootout.1:00pm: Unlimited Social, MOC Social, SMOC Social, Women’s Social, 70 MPH Social, 60MPH Social,Parents & Partners Social.

Sunday Format: Dangar Island to Governor Phillip Park, Windsor

9:00am: Group 1 Classes to be advised11:30am: Group 2 Classes to be advised

second day will be the main event. “For most people, simply finishing the B2B is an achievement.”Like each race of the year, it isn’t just the dedication of the competitors that takes centrepiece; it is also that of the volunteers and officials who spend countless months, weeks and hours preparing everything to a tee to ensure the day runs smoothly. Past years that had entries of up to 300 to 400 boats and the associated logistical nightmare may be just a memory nowadays, but there is still considerable time spent organizing the race and complying with the conditions of what’s expected. “There are going to be 53 surveillance boats on the course, and that is the most in the world,” Lee said. “The race hinges on the volunteers who assist in that regard and Jan Thurger has worked around the clock to make sure that happens. Jan will be the race director right up until the start and will ensure that all the volunteers are coordinated. Logistically this is one of the toughest races. “Over time technology advances have helped us, RaceSafe has distinct advantages, but it can’t replace the surveillance boats who react to the information provided by the system. At least we no longer draw the seeding out of a hat and type up all the entries in what was always a marathon night!”As the competitors arrive in Sydney for the race many will hope for success, whatever that may be, and will no doubt want to continue to improve in the coming years. For Lee, she is slowly beginning to step away from the sport, but will be a familiar face for a little while longer. “I’m retiring and I need to make way for succession. By July 2017 I expect to be out of the sport. I have committed myself until the next world championships in 2017 so I can fulfill my duties as the Secretary General of the International WaterSki & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Racing Council,” she said. The Hawkesbury Bridge to Bridge commences on Saturday November 7 with social classes running between Sackville and Windsor, with the B2B Water Ski Classic taking place on Sunday November 8 be-tween Dangar Island and Governor Phillip Park, Windsor.

Racer’s Edge | 15

bridgE to bridgE EvEnt kEy dEtails

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Jason Walmsley’s father who launched Cranny’s racing career, selling him his first boat. Although Jason wasn’t skiing for the team at the time, they would later come together. For Cranny his foray into the sport was about doing something he had always wanted to, compete in the big races. “We had always social skied and had been spectators of the sport in Mildura, especially the Southern 80, and then in 1999 the timing was right to buy a boat off Bob Walmsley, that start-ed the association with his family, even if Zig-gy (Jason) was competing for someone else,” Cranny said. “The name ‘Team Hell’ wasn’t actually one that we named ourselves, it was actually Julie

Since 1999 Mark Cranny has been a mainstay on the ski racing scene and in that time he

created one of, if not the most dominant team on the Australian scene - Team Hell. In recent weeks, all that has changed with Cranny calling time on his involvement and retiring the team. For many, Team Hell created as much excite-ment as they did frustration. They were a tough team to beat and one that made few mistakes, even on their bad days. Any weekend another competitor could keep up with and maybe even challenge Cranny and his men was a good one, regardless of the circumstances.Like anything in this sport, things have a funny way of coming full circle and it was team skier

HellrazorFarewell

“The more your race, The more savvy you become” - mark cranny

Racer’s Edge | 17

Golledge who gave us that name. Our first boat was Hellrazor and then we had Hellbent and I think it went from there. There was nothing sa-tanic about our names, we just liked it.” As Cranny made his way though the sport his own skill behind the wheel improved. It wasn’t just the Australian river classics that he tamed during his tenure, like many others Cranny had the chance to represent Australia at a world level, something he believed helped Team Hell go to the next level. “The more you race, the more savvy you be-come,” he said. “For me, doing worlds campaigns makes you a better technician, driver and makes you think about what you do. From my point of view you’re always thinking about strategy. “I think the hardest race we ever won was the world title in Belgium in 2009. There were so many venues and we couldn’t speak the lan-guage. We were up against it shipping our boat over there and we had to be extremely organ-ised. “In contrast the river races back home are al-ways different. It isn’t all about speed. You need to plan and be aware; it’s more than just belting down the river. You become attuned to the crew and preparation is key.”It’s that very crew that Cranny speaks about that made Team Hell the dominant force that it was. Cranny, observer Damian Matthews and skiers Peter Procter and Jason Walmsley have been friends from before they were together. Like many, they became teammates with a little bit of

chance, and found a winning combination. “Pete was a talented junior at a loose end, and one year we needed a replacement skier and he was it. We later asked him to come on board and Pete grabbed it,” Cranny said. “Jason I had known from buying his dad’s boat, and he had been retired for a long time. He had enjoyed previous success, but after returning to win a world title in 2007 we decided to get together. “As a team every river classic was great to win, especially the Mildura 100, the Southern 80 and Sydney Bridge to Bridge. They are all totally different races but were equally high up on the agenda for our team. I have a place at Echuca, and Damian is from Mildura, so we loved those races. Jason and Pete are Sydney boys, so they liked those races, but at the end of the day they all needed a different strategy and all meant a lot to win.” The decision to retire wasn’t made lightly by Cranny, but it’s a decision that will be unwav-ering. There were few things that he hasn’t achieved, and even fewer things he would have liked to do, but one would be having a steer of Noel Griffin’s boat.

To be one of the best skiers in the business you need to be quick and have good skills,

marrying those assets with consistency, to ensure that time at the top is more than just a fleeting moment, a trait well practiced by Peter Procter. While the rumour mill had it that Procter called time on his career with the retirement of Team Hell, the reality is that he isn’t ready to walk away just yet, but will use this season to sit back and assess what he will do next. Among the many highlights that included wins at the Bridge to Bridge, record breaking runs at the Southern 80 and a world title, Procter said that while winning is good, it’s the passion of the sport that makes it so enjoyable.

“Winning is obviously what we race for, it’s the satisfying part and signifies that the hard workthroughout the season has paid off,” Procter said. “Everyone who does this sport absolutely loves it. No one is just filling in their weekends; it’s a love for the sport that sees everyone spending their time and effort on it. It doesn’t matter what class you’re in, that’s the feeling all the way through the field.“For me, it’s the thrill of the speed that I love and will miss very much this season. It all becomes relative to your ability and what you’re comfort-able with. But it’s an incredible feeling.”Key among Procter’s success has been his

Racer’s Edge | 18

“At the age of 58 you know when enough is enough. I didn’t want to make a mistake driving or let the boys down in any way, so we decided to finish up while we were still on top,” he said. “We had a lot of tough competitors including Noel Griffin and Greg Houston. There were different battles in different eras for us. For our team, the greatest strength was unity. Not one person stood out and we were all on the same page wanting to win, even on the bad days.“I’ve always been most comfortable using my own gear, but if there was one person’s boat I would have liked to try, it would be Noel’s. I was always interested in his motor and was curious to see what it was capable of. He lent it to me once, but it was a rough day so I never put it through its paces. I would have liked to drive it on a river.”

Stepping Back, nOt BOwing Out -Peter Procter

association with the dominant Team Hell, led by Mark Cranny with Damian Matthews observing and Jason Walmsley as the other skier. The team took all before them and the results are a testimo-ny to the team effort, Procter emphasising the importance of teamwork and the leadership of Mark Cranny in bringing it all together. “A big part of our success was that we never went in competing as an individual. Even on the bad days we would stick by each other and be there to support. It is one of my biggest honours to be a part of that team,” he said. “Mark is more than a driver, he’s a great friend and mentor, an incredibly driven and focused man, a very good leader and captain. He makes the hard decisions and has always brought a long-term approach to the sport; it was never about quick success.”For most the sudden and perhaps unexpected retirement of Team Hell on the eve of the new sea-son came as a shock, but Procter under-stands where the de-cision came from, and now has his eyes set on plans for the future. “Deep down, I think the decision to retire was the right one for us. Everyone has their own reasons to race and to stop, and if your motivation to continue to im-prove isn’t there, it’s a good time to stop,” he said. “I’m only 30, and I love the sport so I’m sure I will ski at some point in some capacity. For now I am

sitting the rest of this season out and have no immediate plans for the future. “I am still a part of the sport out of the water and sit on the SRA safety com-mittee. I have never sat on a committee before, and this is one I really wanted to be involved in. Skier safety hasn’t been a focus for some time and it is something I want to support.”Though Peter may not be in the thick of the action this season, he won’t be too far away and will have his hands busy helping to raise his young family. Per-haps one day it will be the next genera-tion of Procter stealing the limelight.

“Mark is more than a driver, he’s a great friend and mentor, an incredibly driven and focused man, a very good leader and captain” - Peter Procter

Racer’s Edge | 19

Walmsley and Procter

NAME: Colin Sidney PattersonAGE: 54TEAM: SlabInvolvement: Driver, observer

and successfully run club through all those dramas?CP: By never saying it can’t be done. We, like a lot of clubs, have a small but dedicated group of persons that go out of their way to make things happen, and luckily we do it well.The welcoming part I think is the easiest (treat and respect people how you liked to be treated)MK: While all that was going on, you managed to pedal a fairly successful SMOC team around, first-ly, let’s talk about the nameCP: The name Slab was pretty easy labsport, drank a lot slabs getting it race fit, l think the name suited the crew.MK: Now, how did you, an old tiler from Bundaberg manage to make that thing go so hard?

Mick Kelly: So Patto, you’ve been the president of Sandy Hook Ski Club in Bundaberg for quite a while, and have recently given up the post. It’s been a tumultuous run up there in the last five years – tell us about some of the problems you’ve faced?Colin Peterson: The two floods probably stand out, the latest one was the one that was the biggest challenge with tremendous damage, but in the end everything has turned out pretty good.Some of the biggest issues come with local council decisions that take a lot of time to work through, and trying and get the right decision for the clubs future.The most pleasing thing that we spent a lot of time on was getting SRA ski racing back to Bundaberg (I LOVE BEING TOLD IT WONT HAPPEN)MK: Every person I know that has raced at Bundy can never wait to get back, how have you managed to build such a welcoming

Racer’s Edge | 20

Meet Mick Kelly.

A world champion observer, former win-ner of the Southern 80, top racer, men-tor 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 spot-light. 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

cOlin sidney pattersOn

5 minuteS with mick!

MICK

CP: No secret, turn the key, push the thing on the floor down hard and enjoy the ride, l can say l pissed a few people down south off, but one day they can buy me a beer and all will be forgotten.MK: As soon as the nationals in Bundy were announced, some southerners came out claiming it was too far away (despite the fact Sydney is closer to Bundaberg than Cairns is), how did you feel about that? CP: No I wasn’t surprised but l don’t want to bag anybody we all have to travel, some crews just do it more than others And complain less….How are Sandy Hook and SRQ working to overcome this distance?CP: There are some offers out there for boat owners but nothing has been taken up yet, so every own must be drivingWhat are you expecting to see from the racers?CP: You know Mick ski racing intrigues me. The pace, and the commitment of the skiers at all levels and the boat owners, it’s a fascinating sportMK: Bundaberg has a great history with television; radio and newspaper coverage for races held up there – could we expect more of the same for the titles?CP: We once again will have all the media outlets covering the titles, this just doesn’t happen, we have a great rapport with all the outlets .The biggest thing is don’t be shy if your approached. Ask Shantelle King - she is my media guru.MK: I’ve been there, and even I don’t think I can do the place justice – but explain the Burnett River for those unaccustomed? CP: The river can be fast, then it can be very challenging .To be honest l have never spoken to any-body that has said a bad word. (Maybe Paddy Slark, but he tried a couple times to take on the Slab in SMOC!!)MK: What else is there to do in Bundaberg or locally if you’re not racing? CP: Sit back and watch as the world goes by, Bundy Rum factory, nesting turtle tours, stinger free beaches (the jellyfish, not the Houston type), and perfect climate for balmy nights…really plenty to do or just relax.MK: Just how many cans of XXXX Gold do you think have been drunk on the verandah of the ski club?CP: I am glad that l never started to count and l can assure you once you have indulged in a few you will understand why it is a popular past time SO LET ME INVITE YOU TO A MAGIC SPOT FOR A BIT OF A SKI AND FEW COLD ONES ON THE WATERS EDGE OF THE BURNETT RIVER, I DARE YOU!

Racer’s Edge | 21

Edition #3 || October 2015

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