With coverage of the recent barefoot water ski tournaments, it’s been brought to the Advocate’s attention that the sport has a proud history in Forbes.
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Forbes was home to barefoot water skiing championships in the 1980s and local John Mckenzie was one of the leaders.
In 1984, some 300 barefooters – many travelling from Sydney, Grafton or Canberra - competed in the Zone 6 Barefoot Water Skiing Championships at Bundaburrah Creek.
World champion Brett Wing was a special guest in Forbes – and Mr Mckenzie said he developed many of the tricks that are now popular.
Mr Mckenzie claimed the 1984 Zone 6 Championship, despite two broken fingers on his left hand, and remained undefeated when he retired in 1996 after an accident.
Mr Mckenzie said he was drawn to water and barefoot skiing several years earlier when he drove past Bundaburrah and saw several skiers out on the water.
Those initial barefoot water ski competitions were discontinued some time in the mid 1990’s.
In recent years, the Barefoot Water Ski Tournament was restarted in 2015 by Jim Cronin and other members of the Forbes and NSW Barefoot Water Ski clubs.
Mr Mckenzie said the tournament seems to be going strongly and is good for the town and local skiers.
This year saw 78 people participate in the coaching and training sessions in the lead up to the tournament itself, which attracted 67 competitors.
