By DEAN LAWSON

National-level barefoot water-skiing will be back in action on the Wimmera River at Dimboola this weekend.

Dimboola Boat and Water Ski Club has organised a Victoria-versus-South Australia Barefoot Challenge tournament in an effort to satisfy an event-hungry region.

Club president Darren Bone said the event would operate under strict COVID-safe conditions with a limit of 500 patrons allowed to enter Dimboola Recreation Reserve.

“It is in no way the same as the Peter Taylor Barefoot Water Ski Tournament and Night Jump, which we have postponed until late February next year. And it doesn’t culminate in any night jump exhibition – but it is something for Dimboola and district,” he said.

“Everyone is hungry for something to happen. We’ve been starved of sporting events and while it’s taken a power of work to organise and involved liaison with a variety of authorities, we’re keen.

“It is free of charge and will be a very relaxed and slow-paced event. We will have fencing and  strict QR-code entry arrangements for people at the main gate for contact-tracing purposes and stress that everyone must adhere to health protocols.”

The ski club has organised the event with help from Dimboola Rowing Club and Hindmarsh Shire Council.

It will run throughout Saturday and finish on Sunday, similar to a usual barefoot tournament, and feature trick, wave slalom and jump competition categories.

Leading Victorian and South Australian barefoot skiers, who also rank among some of the best in Australia, will be competing.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced officials to cancel last year’s Peter Taylor tournament and night jump, which has a reputation as one of the biggest of its kind in Australia.

The event generates an estimated $280,000 for the Dimboola economy each year.

Mr Bone stressed this weekend’s event was more about maintaining connections and momentum with all involved than presenting a large-scale community event.

“We have a strict spectator limit and people can move along the river bank,” he said. 

“We will be erecting fences tomorrow and Friday and are insistent that all observe COVID-19 protocols. We aren’t anticipating a large crowd – the forecast is for 39 degrees – but it will be on for anyone keen to have a look.

“This is not a super-big event with super-big numbers – it’s about getting something going, generating something. It is as much about maintaining a relationship with Barefoot Australia and our wonderful sponsors and competitors as it is about providing something in Dimboola.

“It is literally about putting a tentative toe in the water in a gradual return to organised sporting attractions.”

Mr Bone said a 2022 February date for the Peter Taylor spectacular was speculative and obviously dependent on circumstances surrounding the pandemic.

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