Worlds

2027 World Championships – Saskatoon, Canada

The seventeenth World Championships are to be hosted in Saskatoon, Canada from 26th July to 1st August.

2025 World Championships – Mulwala, Australia

The sixteenth World Championships were held in Australia at the Max Kirwin Ski Park, Mulwala, NSW, from 24 – 30 November, 2025. The competition attracted 31 skiers with USA placing first, Australia second, and Canada third.

2023 World Championships – Elk Grove, California, USA

The fifteenth World Championships were held at Elk Grove, California, USA in September with 46 skiers from 12 countries with USA placing first, Canada second, Great Britain third and Australia fourth despite fielding a very small team. Australian skiers Samantha Jane-Longmore and Scott Wintle set new world records in the jump event.

 

2021 World Championships

Cancelled due to Covid 19.

 

2019 World Championships – Skarnes, Norway

The fourteenth World Championships were held in Skarnes, Norway with 43 skiers from 11 Countries. USA placed first, Australia second, and Great Britain third.

 

 

2017 World Championships – Myuna Bay, Australia

The thirteenth World Championships were held in Myuna Bay, Australia. Seven of the ten countries in attendance won medals. This was the first time Australia won the team medal which was very satisfying as the host country. Disabled Water Ski Australia hosted the 2017 World Disabled Water Skiing Championships at the Sport and Recreation Centre at Myuna Bay. This successful event commenced Monday 24th April and finished on Monday 1st May. Most teams also took advantage of the training on offer at the championships site from 17 April.

During the above period, the nine visiting countries plus the Australian team, familiarised themselves with the ski site and also did some sightseeing in and around Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Sydney. Friendships were also formed amongst the skiers, support crew, families and officials. After a hard-fought battle until the end, the Australian team won the team gold medal for the first time ever, and in their home country. The USA came second and Italy third. One of the many highlights was the setting of two new world records, both in jump. One by Scott Wintle from Australia and the other by a Canadian.

The 44 athletes from ten countries, their support crews, visiting families and officials came from USA, Italy, France, Canada, Sweden, South Korea, Brazil, Norway, Ireland and other states of Australia and were housed at the Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre. There were 111 people housed at the centre and about 65 people stayed within easy driving range from nearbye Toronto and Wangi Wangi.

Others stayed at Myuna Bay, or close by, for at least 5 nights, though most stayed for a period of 14 days with some of them continuing their stay in Australia after the event, to visit tourist destinations and do some sightseeing. This also included the Lake Macquarie area. The Mayor, Kay Fraser, represented Lake Macquarie Council at our welcome night where she spoke and welcomed everyone to this event.

During the competition there would have been approximately 200 people at the water ski site each day. The naming rights sponsors were the Bolding Jim Grew Barbara Fund and the Lake Macquarie Council. Without this generous sponsorship, plus many others (both in funds and in kind), this event would not have been as successful. We sincerely thank you for your generous support for the 2017 World Disabled Water Ski Championships.

 

2015 World Championships – Elk Grove, California, USA

The twelfth 12th World Championships were held in Elk Grove, California, USA from 20 – 27 September with 49 skiers from eleven countries. The United States won its on-going record fourth team title in a row with Australia second, one spot up from 2013 (second time on the podium since 2007) and Italy placed third for its fourth team podium in a row. There were three world records set by Claire Ellis, and eight of the eleven countries in attendance won medals.

Approximately 80 skiers with disabilities such as paraplegia, quadriplegia, arm or leg amputations and vision impairments from up to 18 countries will participate in this exciting tournament.

The Australian team was selected in early 2015 to allow for detailed planning and individual fund raising. The skiers are elite athletes, some skiing close to the level of their able-bodied peers. These skiers put in many hours of intense training aiming at being the best in the world in their division. These skiers will compete in the same events as able-bodied skiers i.e. slalom, jump and trick.

 

2013 World Championships – Milan, Italy

The eleventh World Championships, the 20th anniversary event, was held in Milan, Italy in late August with 45 skiers from twelve countries. The United States won its third team title in a row with Italy second for the third time straight, and Australia third, back on the team podium for the first time since 2007. The United States was the first country to ever win three consecutive team titles. There were five world records set by three different skiers from two confederations. Nine of the twelve countries in attendance won medals.

 

2011 World Championships – West Chester, Ohio, USA

The tenth World Championships took place in West Chester, Ohio, USA in late August with 38 skiers from 13 countries. The United States won its second team title in a row; and Italy and France repeated their podium finishes of two years ago in France. There were four world records set and one tied by four different skiers from all three confederations. For the first time ever, medals were awarded in only three categories: seated, standing and vision impaired. Below is a report by Ian Hickmott after his first worlds.

On the 17 August, 2011, the start of the World Disabled Water Ski Championship trip for the Australian team (Darryl Hoyle, Belinda Sidman, Jamie McDonald and myself, Ian Hickmott) began. We were gratefully accompanied by team manager, Noel Dix, chief boat driver Kevin Wiseman and Glen Sidman as the team’s general assistant.

Our first group meeting point was Sydney International Airport, where we flew direct to LA, followed by another relatively quick flight to Cincinnati. Noel, who then took over the team’s next port of transportation as driver to the hotel, needed only a quick reminder (from an on-coming semi-trailer) what lane he was meant to be driving in. I think I can speak for the team, when I say “our hearts almost jumped out of our bodies”.

We first stayed in the same hotel in Cincinnati as the American team, where we would also train together on a private lake for 3 days prior to the competition. Unfortunately on the second day it was discovered I had taken all the skin off my lower back. This left me bedridden for the remainder of the training period, in hope that it would heal well enough to allow me to compete. The remainder of the team was really happy with the training location and facilities.

We then moved to another hotel in West Chester where we met up with the other teams from around the world. All up there were 39 competitors. We were also joined by some really windy and stormy weather due to a hurricane moving up the east coast.

Before competition started there was another three days of familiarizations, where each competitor was grouped into their division, depending on their abilities. The competition was going to be hard as all 3 mp divisions had to compete against each other for the first time at the worlds.

Trick and slalom were held on the first day. Darryl made both finals, while Belinda made it into the slalom final. Day two showed the jump heats, with Darryl, Jamie & myself all making finals. Belinda performed great and brought home a bronze medal for slalom on day three. The trick finals were also held on this day.

Darryl had a great effort and broke his record in jump on the fourth day by one meter, reaching a new 26.3 metre mark. I jumped my personal best of 15.9 meters and placed 6th.

Jamie had serious complications with his elbow. The Victorian Institute of Sport Physiotherapists worked on it for months, culminating in injections directly into tendon. Jamie trained lightly at Bushy Browns Adventure Ski Park in QLD for a week prior to leaving. He injured his hand in off-site training with US team while practicing for the jump event. His board was broken but repaired with help from Glen Sidman & also the Team USA. Jamie went on to break his own World Jump Record by 1.2m now 17.4m (adjusted score 5.8). (not 5.8m) Jamie won 4 medals in the Standing Division – Slalom: Silver, Tricks: Gold, Jump: Gold, Overall: Gold.

The closing ceremony dinner and presentation was also held on the evening of the fourth day. Darryl placed 2nd out of sit skiers division and placed 2nd overall. It was a great night with all the skiers celebrating a good event, having the opportunity to say goodbye and talking about preparations and regrouping in 2013 for the next Worlds in Italy.

I would personally like to say a big thank you to Noel for preparing and organising the Australian team – it wouldn’t have happened without him! Thanks also to Kevin and Glen as they were a massive help to all of us and a quick mention and thanks to Nick Purcell who also helped out in the boat.

 

2009 World Championships – Vichy, France

The ninth World Championships were held in Vichy, France in early September with 47 competitors from a record 18 countries, the newest country being Austria. There were four world records set, one of them having stood for 20 years (in category A jump). The United States broke its four/four team titles tie with Great Britain to garner the prestigious team title, ahead of Italy and France, both on the podium for the first time ever.

 

2007 World Championships – Townsville, Australia

The eighth World Championships took place in Townsville, Australia in May with 52 athletes from 15 countries, the number of countries tying an AA record for attendance. Eight world records were set and Great Britain won the team title again, ahead of Australia, second for the first time ever, and the USA. The USA and Great Britain have now each won four world titles. Below is a report from Bushy Brown.

“BRILLIANT” is how IWWF Disabled council described the worlds in Townsville. Most competitors at the 2007 World Disabled Titles in Townsville commented that it was at the most beautiful site and it was the most organised event they have ever attended. 14 Countries and 52 competitors attended the event. Australia for the first time ever in the history of disabled world titles, placed second on the podium in the teams point score. This is a huge achievement to finally get ahead of the United States who have long been the leaders in the sport.

The team was strong and made up by almost 50% Queenslanders who attributed greatly to the team scores. They were: 2 Gold medals in jump were won by Ian Denman and Darryl Hoyle, who also smashed the world record. Scott Wintle also took out the Gold medal in the Trick event. Queensland Water Ski and Wakeboard Federation ‘Congratulate’ all these skiers!

An interesting point on how competitive these worlds were is that of the 14 countries present, 13 of them gained medals. The Australian team was well managed by Noel Dix who we all know as the CEO of AWWF and coached very professionally by Drew Miller. The event would have been one of the largest in Australia for the 06-07 season with the total budget being over $300,000.

As we all know the opening ceremony was sponsored by QWWF, and went off brilliantly! The ceremony comprised of the presentation of the teams and officials, a reading by an Australian poet, a native traditional welcome and a dance, a bush band and exhibitions of native wildlife by the Billabong Sanctuary, all in the Auditorium and beside the fantastic pool at the Riverside. A huge thank you was given to QWWF for its contribution.

A video of the event is compiled by WIN TV in Townsville and is available commercially. The Townsville site and the Townsville Waterski club are to be commended and certainly recommended for future events.

 

2005 World Championships – Belgium

The seventh World Championships were held in Schoten, Belgium in September with 60 athletes from 17 countries, the latter a record with two new countries participating, Brazil and South Africa. There were ten world records, and the team title was won by Great Britain, ahead of the USA and Australia.

 

2003 World Championships – Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Florida USA

The sixth World Championships, and the sport’s tenth anniversary, took place in Florida, USA. There were 68 athletes from 15 countries. Eight world records were set and one tied. The USA won the team title ahead of Great Britain and Italy.

 

2001 World Championships – Melton, Australia

The fifth World Championships were held at Melton, west of Melbourne, Australia. There were 57 athletes from 15 countries, the best attendance to date both in athlete and country numbers in the AA Region. Eight world records were set. Great Britain won the team title ahead of the USA and Australia.

 

1999 World Championships – London, England

The fourth World Championships were held outside London, at the site of the first World Trophy. There were 75 athletes from 15 countries. Eleven world records were set. The USA won the team title ahead of Great Britain and Australia.

 

1997 World Championships – Florida, USA

The third World Championships were held in Florida in the USA with 66 athletes from a record 16 countries. Sixteen world records were set and one equalled. Great Britain won the team title ahead of the USA and Australia.

 

1995 World Championships – Mulwala, Australia

The second World Championships were held in Mulwala, Australia with 56 athletes from 12 countries. Nineteen world records were set. The USA won the team title ahead of Great Britain and Australia.

1993 World Championships – Roquebrune, France

The first-ever World Championships, a world record capability event, were held in Roquebrune, France with at least three officials from each Confederation as per the new rules. There were a record 84 participants from 15 countries. The USA won the team title ahead of Great Britain and Australia.

 

1991 World Trophy – Michigan, USA

The third and final World Trophy, a world record capability event, took place in Michigan, in the USA with at least two officials from each Confederation.  There were 65 participants from 12 countries. Great Britain won the team title ahead of the USA and Australia.

 

1989 World Trophy – Perth, Australia

The second World Trophy, a national record capability event, took place outside Perth, Australia with officials from the Asia-Australasian Confederation and one each from the Pan Am and EAME Confederations.  There were 55 participants from 9 countries.  Great Britain won the team title ahead of the USA and Australia.

1987 World Trophy – London, England

The first World Trophy, a non-record event, took place outside London in England with officials from the European, African, Middle Eastern (EAME) Confederation and one from the Pan Am Confederation. There were 40 participants from seven countries. Great Britain won the team title ahead of the USA and Australia.