Get onboard the Southern 80 skirace

Considered Australia’s most prestigious skirace, the famous Club Marine Southern 80 is set to fire up again on the Murray River near Echuca on February 11, 12 and 13, 2011.

Organisers say the river is still high, although there has been a reduction in the upstream flow which should make for better conditions come February.

The Southern 80 has been running since the ‘60s and each year attracts the cream of Australia’s high performance skiboats. Super Class competitors are allowed engines of unrestricted capacities and can attain speeds of 200kmh. Five-time winner of the Super Class, Mark Cranny, will contest the 2011 event in a Force hull propelled by a twin-turbo’d, fuel-injected Chev "tall deck" V8 developing around 1500hp. Last year Mark set a course record with a time over the 80km of 30 minutes and 38 seconds (what it feels like to ski behind a boat doing 200kmh is another matter altogether).

The event’s promoter, the Moama Watersports Club Limited, says the 2011 field will again be a biggie. There’s a class for just about everyone in this event too — this is one of its main attractions — so no-one misses out. It’s also an opportunity for local businesses to spruik their wares, or tempt spectators with tasty takeaway and local colour.

"Breakfast With The Stars" will take place at the Kerribee Sound Shell station in Moama on Friday, February 11. Scrutineering runs the same day from 12 noon to 5pm.