Club Profile
The Piarere Water Ski Club is located at the southern
end of Lake Karapiro in the Waikato, in an area known as Horahora Domain. The water
ski club has been an integral part of the lake for nearly 50 years, incorporated
in 1959 by a group of enthusiastic sportsmen and women.
The club has a strong and growing membership base, with members coming predominantly
from the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Membership currently stands at 120 families,
with a total member number of approximately 500 individuals, over 300 of whom are
under 20 years of age. A number of the club members are nationally ranked, with
membership in both water-skiing and barefooting national and international teams.
Club water-skiing highlights from current members include:
• Kyle Eade is a professional on the United States pro water skiing circuit (ranked
in the top 10 on the world in jump) and is also the New Zealand record holder for
the open men’s jump;
• Lance Green is the current overall New Zealand champion in combined three tournament
events (slalom, tricks and jump);
• Donald Oxley is an internationally ranked skier in combined three tournament events
(slalom, tricks and jump), New Zealand Boy’s champion (now because of age is an
open class skier), and recently won the junior Moomba tournament in Melbourne, a
world recognised event;
• Jamie Bourke (18 years old), Melanie Ward (16 years old) and Kathy Bourke (15
years old) are current members of the New Zealand Barefoot Waterski team, competing
in the open class events, but are also New Zealand champions for their age groups.
A number of other members are part of national training squads, have attained national
honors or are regular competitors at national champs, placing high in their respective
age categories. At present the club has six national champions in various age groups
and disciplines.
In the past the club has produced many national champions, particularly at junior
levels. It is extremely pleasing to note that many of these people are still current
and active members of the club.
The club is heavily involved in coaching junior skiers through many ski schools
held over the December to February period, and through a “coach the coach” programme
to develop our club coaches’ skills further to benefit our promising skiers. The
club has also formed relationships with Matamata and Putaruru High Schools to provide
intensive coaching for their students on a yearly basis. These take the form of
week long ski coaching sessions for students at the schools in water-skiing. Through
the summer period, the club also holds a club night each Wednesday evening for the
purpose of coaching skiers of all ability.
The club has been the scene of many regional and national competitions, and is regarded
as one of the best, if not the best all round water skiing venues in the country,
both from a competitor and spectator point of view. Competitions held over recent
years include:
• Waikato Regional Tournament Water Ski Association regional water skiing champs
(yearly),
• New Zealand Tournament Water Ski Association national water skiing champs (every
5 years and recently in April 2003),
• New Zealand Barefoot Association regional and national barefoot championships
(yearly),
• New Zealand Wakeboard Association regional and national wakeboard championships
(yearly), and
• Extreme Air wakeboard competitions (yearly).
A highlight for the club is the New Zealand Tournament Water Ski Association national
water skiing champs which were recently held at the site in April 2003. This is
an internationally ranked competition, with very large competitor numbers and world
ranked skiers competing. Another highlight is the Extreme Air wakeboard competitions
held each year in February, which attracts crowds of around 5,000 spectators to
the Piarere site to watch the wakeboarding competition.
Having top class facilities and equipment is vital to hosting such tournaments and
events. The club has two slalom courses to provide alternate venues if the weather
is unfavorable – both courses are of championship standard. The water skiing jump
is promoted and known as the best jump in New Zealand, and has seen many national
records broken using it.
To provide the high standard of facilities, the club is continually investing in
improvements to its water skiing slalom courses, jump, ski equipment, safety boats,
clubhouse facilities and grounds, boat ramps and jetties. Projects completed over
the last 12 months include new floating pontoons for skiers, tar sealing access-ways
and driveway, toilet & kitchen extensions, new ski safety gear, new storage
shed, improved BBQ and dining equipment, and new lino in wet areas.
Projects planned for the coming year include a complete repaint of the clubhouse,
re-roofing of the deck area, upgrade to water supply (including backup reservoir),
improvements to power supply, increased site security, additional waterskiing safety
equipment, weather reporting system (web accessible ) and a children’s playground
area. This is in addition to significant maintenance on the slalom courses (the
club has two and is fully replacing the top slalom course) and regular maintenance
on the jump.
The club has a clear strategy to maintain water-skiing as a popular sport for families,
as well as encourage and develop our promising junior and senior skiers to realise
their skills to their full potential.