Southern 80 returns to traditional timeslot

The 2023 Southern 80 will revert to its usual timeslot, with Moama Water Sport Club president Steve Shipp confirming the race will run from February 10-12.

It marks an immediate return to the summertime version of the world’s biggest water ski race after the most recent iteration was held in May following its postponement earlier in the year.

That was in part due to a lack of emergency services staff available during February this year, when many were called on to help combat the COVID-19 outbreak at the time.

While feedback on the event was largely positive, Shipp did admit that crowds may have been lower than previous years due to inclement May weather.

But that looks set to change with the next Southern 80 to take place in the warmer weather in less than nine months’ time.

“Normally we would get about 40,000 people, and there wasn’t a lot of people out on the riverbank due to the weather,” Mr Shipp said.

“We were probably down half of what we normally get, but we had a great weekend and all the reports we got was that it was fantastic.”

Shipp also confirmed that despite ambulances attending two incidents over the weekend, competing crews looked to have escaped any major injuries in the high-octane, 80km race.

“We had an ambulance on the Saturday and on the Sunday, but (the competitors) are all good, no major issues,” Shipp said.

“Safety was great and everyone banded together.”

Sapphire F1 was crowned this year’s outright winner of the Southern 80.