The iconic event, which will be held from February 9 to 11, is raced over an 80km route from Torrumbarry to Echuca, and sees the boats and their accompanying skiers wind through the twists and turns of the Murray at up to 200km per hour.
Moama Water Sports Club president Steve Shipp said the race, which he likened to “Bathurst on water”, was an exciting spectacle for all who attended.
“I think it’s the buzz, the fact that you’re up close next to the boats, and it’s the speeds that you see and stuff like that,” he said.
“But then on the other hand, it’s a great family sport. Families come and do it and watch it, and you get generations that continue doing it. It’s definitely an iconic sport.”
With an action-packed program across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which culminates in the Southern 80 itself, there are also two other prestigious titles up for grabs on the Saturday, the Baker’s Blitz and President’s Dash.
“The Baker’s Blitz is the superclass boats, so that’s all the class one entries, they’re the fast ones,” he said.
“They’re allowed to do their maximum speed which nowadays, because it is all governed, is 120 miles/h, or 200 km/h.
“So they’re the fast ones, and then there’s the President’s Dash which makes up the reminder of the top 40.
“The President’s Dash is all of the other boats, the Unlimited boats down to Outboards, and the fastest of those teams go for the prestige of winning the President’s Dash.”
Alongside the Catalina Ski Race in America, as well as the Diamond Race in Belgium, the Southern 80 is one of the top waterski races worldwide, although a unique aspect makes it stand out from the rest, according to Steve.
“The Southern 80 is at the top with all of them, and it’s because of the length of the race, and you could have the best skier on the back, he won’t win it because you need the best driver,” he said.
“You need the best team, and so the Southern 80 is about the team that wins, you can’t just have the best boat and all that and a couple of skiers, if the bloke can’t drive, you won’t win the event.”
With thrills to be had and competitors of every age and skill level competing, Steve said the Southern 80 should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list.
“It’s an event that’s very worthwhile coming to see,” he said.
“It’s an event where we have the biggest and best, or you can just have fun being competitive in a different class.”
