Not sure where to go? Check out some of our favourite watering holes that make picking up your wakeboard or water ski’s more enjoyable than ever!

Gippsland Lakes

Out in Melbourne’s south-east lies a water sports enthusiast’s heaven – Gippsland Lakes. Home to Australia’s largest network of inland waterways, the lakes in this picturesque region are perfect for water-skiers, wakeboarders, boaters and even kayakers.

While you’re there, keep your eyes open for dolphins, seals, and myriad water birds.

Lake Eildon

Head out to Bonnie Doon and you’ll be greeted by one of Victoria’s best and most popular water sports spots – Lake Eildon. Coming in at six times the size of Sydney’s prized harbour, it’s frequented by boating enthusiasts, kayakers, water-skiers, wakeboarders, swimmers and fishers.

Despite the lake’s popularity, there’s always plenty of room for your boat to pick up some speed, and the small township offers accommodation, and a number of bakeries and restaurants to grab a bite in.

Lakes Entrance

Considered the gateway to Gippsland Lakes, this seaside resort and fishing port is approximately 380 kilometres east of Melbourne. Despite being a great place to chuck on your water skis and take your boat out on the water, the area is also known for an array of other attractions. These include the Buchan Caves, camel rides on the beach, cruises to see seal coves, and dolphins in the wild, and much more.

Need some last minute gear for you or the kids before you head out to enjoy the long weekend? Stop in at Mac’s Waterski World and we’ll get you sorted in no time.

The post The Perfect ‘Water’ Getaway for the Easter Long Weekend appeared first on Mac’s Waterski.

One thing’s for sure; water-lovers gravitate to the region all year round. However, despite year-round popularity, it’s The Southern 80 Water Ski Race that truly showcases and celebrates the essence of the Murray River.

The Early Days of The Southern 80 Water Ski Race

Way back in 1964, Echuca hosted its first water ski marathon event. In its heyday, the marathon was an exhausting long distance race, but in 1965 it was split into two races; the Murray Ski Marathon, and the shorter 100-mile race.

However, the Moama Water Sports Club wasn’t formed until 1974, so the race didn’t officially become the Southern 80 Ski Trial until 1975. In the event’s first ‘official’ year of competition, 47 teams entered to compete in the annual event.

As time went on, the race got more competitive. In 1981, 103 teams took part in the race, and the finishing times started to get harder and harder to beat.

The Race Today

The race is held each year on the Murray River between Torrumbarry and Echuca on the second weekend in February. Attracting up to 400 boating enthusiasts from across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US. The event also brings in roughly 100,000 spectators who marvel not only at the beautiful, natural surrounds, but also the skill and endurance that’s showcased in the world’s most popular water ski race.

Growing from a simple race into a world-class festival/sporting event, the race has really helped put Echuca on the map.

This year’s event will be held on February 9, 10 and 11, with gates opening at 11.30am. 

Want to get involved in the event or have a go at hitting the water yourself during the busy summer period? Grab your water ski gear from Mac’s Waterski World today!

The post Are You Ready for the 2018 Southern 80? appeared first on Mac’s Waterski.

So, for you and your family to get full enjoyment out of the holiday season, here are our top tips to introduce young kids to water sport activities this summer.

Train Them Up

Start by going through the motions on dry land. If you are looking to introduce your child to wakeboarding or water skiing, it will help them a lot to practice the movements and positions on dry land first.

The first position you should teach kids, or adults, learning to water ski is the cannonball position. Go through these steps to show them how it’s done:

• Get your kids to put their skies on while on the shore.
• While holding the water ski handle, get them to bend their knees enough to be just sitting on the skis.
• Let them know to always keep their knees together, and arms extended outwards.
• Gently pull on the other end of the rope so they can practice going from the cannonball position up into a chair position.

For wakeboarding, start by teaching the catcher position:

• Get them to sit on the ground with their feet spread shoulder-width, knees to their chest, and arms extended outwards.
• Have them hold the water ski handle, then gently pull the other end of the rope so that they come into a squatting position, like a catcher in baseball.

Be Safe

When you have kids near water, always make sure you are following safety protocols:

• Make sure everyone is wearing a life jacket at all times. Check that all the children have life jackets that are fitted closely, and check their straps to make sure they are buckled up before going out on the water.
• Explain which areas of the boat are safe to sit on and which aren’t. For example, letting kids know to stay behind the railing and avoiding the bow of the boat.
• Remember to teach everyone hand signals so they can communicate while you’re on the water. For a guide of commonly used watersports hand signals, have a look

Start Out Small

A good activity for kids who are new to water sports is a tube; tubes are inflatable donuts that are towed off the back of a boat. Tubes come in a range of sizes and shapes; you may even want to purchase one that seats more than one person at a time to give your kids some security out on the water.

Tubes are easy for kids to stay stable on, and have handles to securely grip. Once they are comfortable being out on the water in a tube, moving them up to a wakeboard or water skis won’t be too much of a leap.

Mac’s Waterski World has everything you’ll need to get your kids ready for their first watersports adventure. Click here to see our large range of tubes. We also have a huge range of life vests for kids; including vests for children as young as one. You can view our complete range here.

The post Introducing Your Kids To Water Sports appeared first on Mac’s Waterski.

We share our top 5 ideas for gifts that will make an epic stocking filler or a pretty grouse present for under the tree.

Wet Suits

Even on a warm day, it’s still beneficial to wear a wet suit when you’re out water skiing. This is because they’re designed to protect your core temperature. Cold water and even the chill from airspeed can cause your core temperature to drop. As your core temperature drops, so will your stamina, and you’ll start to run out of energy quicker. They’ll also provide rash protection and decrease the pressure of the water as it hits your skin.

So, a wet suit for Christmas is the perfect gift for any water skier that loves to hit the water and stay out for as long as possible. Plus, it’s a sun smart bathing suit option!

Check out our range online or in-store.

Slalom Skis

Slalom skiers only use one ski, instead of two, with the dominant foot placed in front of the other. These skis are good for people who have a little experience on the water and want to be able to build up some speed and take their turns better.

Spoil your loved one by making sure they’ve got the best slalom skis possible! Check out our range here.

Ski Accessories

For an affordable and practical gift for a water skier that knows what they need, ask us about our ski accessories / bindings today. Or, if your loved one needs replacement binding parts to restore their favourite skis, ask us how we can help them out.

We can’t get in every part ever made, but we can get an awful lot – just in time for a Christmas miracle!

Water Ski Eyewear

When you’re on the water, sunglasses can really come in handy. They will keep the water out of your eyes, stop the sun from blinding you, and keep your eyes from tearing up when the wind hits them.

Water Ski Charms / Jewellery

Do you know someone who loves water skiing but already has everything they could possibly need to hit the water in style? Why not get them some water ski-themed jewellery, with silver and nine-carat gold ski charms available from our online store?

For all your Christmas gift-spiration, check out our online store, or come out and visit the guys at our shop in Moorabbin.

The post 5 Christmas Gift Ideas for Aussie Water Skiers appeared first on Mac’s Waterski.

Types of Skis

The different types of water skis available can vary depending on your skill level and ability. To help point you in the right direction, we’ve given you a quick overview of each one to help you choose the gear that’s best suited to you.

Combo Skis

These skis are the ones that most beginners learn with, as they’re easy to manoeuvre and are more flexible than other skis, giving you more control at lower speeds. One of the two paired skis is set-up as a slalom style ski with dual bindings, so if you do want to learn slalom skiing in the future the option is there.

Slalom Skis

A slalom ski is one ski set with a double binding – ideal for sharp turns and gaining more speed. Different to the combo ski, beginner slalom skis feature a wider tail and flatter bottom, which makes it easy to stand up and ride straight. However, when it comes to tournament skis, they are more challenging to ride, and also have a tapered tail for extra control, allowing you to go faster and make sharper turns like a pro!

Trick Skis

Trick skis are designed to give you maximum control at the slower speeds. These skis are shorter and wider than some of the other varieties on the market, and are intended for use by the more experienced skiers out there. The absence of fins on these skis makes it much easier to turn and slide, but harder to control. However, with practice, you can learn to jump, spin and do tricks while in the air.

Essential Water Ski Equipment & Accessories

Before leaving the dock, you’ve first got to make sure that you’ve got some safety essentials to carry on the boat with you!

• Life Vests: Life vests range from basic and inexpensive to top of the line models that aim to provide you with the utmost protection. Choosing one that fits correctly is the most important thing here, which ensures your safety while you’re out on the water.
• Ropes: A great tow rope is a must for you to enjoy a safe and fun day out skiing.
• Wetsuits: These can help to lessen the impact of harsh blows to the water, while also keeping you warm!

Safety Tips

• Learn hand gestures – To ensure you and your friends are both keeping yourselves safe, as well as those around you, it’s helpful to learn some hand gestures to guide your movements in the water when skiing.
• Avoid crowded spots – Keeping a safe distance from other people in the area ensures that there’s enough space for water activities and safe passing.
• Know your surroundings – To keep safe on the water, make sure you know the depth of water where your activities are taking place, where the boundaries are situated and the location of potential hazards. Optimally, water depth should be at least five metres deep.
• Safety in numbers – Being out on the water with just two people can be dangerous as the driver may not be aware if something’s gone wrong with the skier. With two people in the boat at all times, there is better communication as the second person can let the driver know of any dangers, increasing safety.

But, before you hit the waves to make the most of these tips, be sure to check out the water ski range at Mac’s Waterski World, where you’ll find all the water ski gear and equipment you could possibly need. Visit us in store or online!

The post Hints and Tips: Water Skiing Essentials appeared first on Mac’s Waterski.