Despite having to call off Saturday's races due to rough seas, the inaugural Fred Williams Invitational Ocean Ski Race was deemed an overwhelming success.
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Region V Australia treasurer Mary New, who helped coordinate the event, said she had heard nothing but positive feedback about the weekend.
"Everyone I've spoken to has said how great it was," she said.
"There were a few people who were amazed by what they saw."
With the first day of racing at Forster Main Beach called off due to unfavourable conditions, competitors shifted to Wallis Lake where they put on a number of demonstrations for the public.
Ms New said while it was disappointing to have to abandon a full day of racing, the safety of the competitors came first.
The competition got underway at Main Beach on Sunday, with around 45 competitors taking part in each of the two races.
Among those competing were a number of skiers who will be attending the World Waterski Racing Championships in Vichy, France later this year, and it was from this group the place-getters emerged.
Ryan Stanford enjoyed a perfect warm-up for France by taking out the Junior division on the back of the boat 'Wyvern', while Nelly McMillan and the boat 'Coldys' came second and Sam McKenzie and the boat 'Cosmos' finished third.
In the Seniors division, reigning F2 Men's World Waterski Champion Cameron Osborne added another win to his arsenal on the back of the 'Team 50' boat, while Dylan France and the boat 'Wyvern' finished second and Brock McMillan and the boat 'Hoonigan' finished third.
The inaugural event was held in conjunction with the annual Fred Williams Boaties and Skiers Reunion, and Ms New said Mr Williams - who was an icon of waterskiing in Australia - was rapt with what he saw.
"Fred was over the moon," she said.
"He couldn't stop thanking us."
Mr Williams was on hand to give out the awards at the presentation in Tuncurry afterwards, where winners received original Fred Williams' waterskis as trophies.
Ms New said all in all they couldn't have been happier with the first edition of the competition, and provided everything went to plan, they had every intention of coming back next year for an even bigger, better event.
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