MOOMBA MASTERS 2007
As Chairman of the fabulous Moomba Masters for 2007, I am proud to announce the successful conclusion of this in its 47th year.
A year was lost due to the Commonwealth Games in 2006 when the State Government took over the Yarra River Moomba site.
This situation made it difficult to locate new sponsors the loss of a year had its effect upon the decision makers who supply the funds.
We did manage however to overcome the problem and funding was located.
The event itself is one of passion for those involved and with this element of physical implementation the Moomba Masters was bound to succeed.
We had 2 very good tournament directors in Grant Barnett and Neil Ritchie both previous Australian Tournament Team Members and Moomba competitors.
There enthusiasm was easily recognized as they went about the job of organizing the competitors and running the competition.
They new exactly what the competitors required and were able to carry out there role with distinction.
On the Friday jump elimination events two of our skiers in Danyelle Bennett a knee and Felippe Miranda a shoulder were injured and flew home to Chile and USA the following day.
We hope there injuries heal quickly.
The rest of the competition over Saturday, Sunday and Monday were injury free and the results are on the website for all to see.
We had great competition from the 50 competitors from 15 countries who participated.
The events held were Junior Moomba 7th March to 8th March 2007, eliminations Moomba Masters Friday 9th March, 10th, and 11th March 2007, and finals on Monday 12th March 2007, concluding with an amazing jump shoot out between Jaret Llewellyn 65 metres and Freddie Krueger 66 metres, that thrilled the large crowd of onlookers. Added to the Masters was the Night Jump which runs for 5 nights on a head to head basis and a themed Ski Show each night of world standard concluding with a river rafted fireworks display.
We also promoted the first Wakeboard competition at Moomba and we are already into discussions on how to do better for next year.
All in all it was the most intensified Water Ski and Wakeboard event in the world to be repeated in 2008.
The event was televised for 6 hours and will be edited down to an exciting one hour spectacular which will be shown nationally on Fox Sport 23rd March 2007 at 5:00pm, and then repeated three times before July 2007.
Also at our expense we will send the footage to ProActive in London who will send it out to 400 million homes throughout the world and WCSN, USA will also have the opportunity to show it to large audiences.
In summary the Victorian Water Ski Association responded to the challenge of Moomba’s re-emergence with great energies and imput from President Darren Robertson, Fran Hynes, and the Committee of loyal helpers, with Ron Fergusson and Pam Beasley heading up the very efficient judges and technical duties.
MAX KIRWAN OAM
CHAIRMAN
INTERNATIONAL MOOMBA MASTERS
VICE PRESIDENT IWSF AA REGION