In November 2024 we celebrate 40 years of Bridge to Bridge ski racing and would like to take a quick walk down memory lane to see what has gone before us and how we all have come to enjoy the event today.
There have been many changes in formats, boats, motors and other technologies but the thing with the Bridge to Bridge is that it still takes a team of 4 humans to make it all happen. I believe this is why so many people keep returning every year, even if they are not regular racers to give this iconic race another crack. One man who has competed in all 40 of these racers is Hamiltonian Allan Bedford. In 2024 he owns the black and gold Bullet 1750 called “Show No Mercy” and is very competitive in the Formula 5 200HP Class. In 1984 he was in Family class and has some great stories to tell from every year in between. Well done Allan, an outstanding achievement!
1984 – The 1st Bridge to Bridge took place. It was called the Pit Stop Bridge to Bridge and ran from Cambridge to the Pit Stop Café in Huntly. Family Class was a Jump start from the Wellington Street Beach and ran to Huntly.
1986 – The Bridge to Bridge long race was shifted to be run as we run it today from Cambridge to Taupiri and return back to Hamilton.
1988 – Rollo’s Marine and Johnson and Evinrude Outboards come on board the event as principle sponsors, a position Rollo’s Marine still hold 20 years on.
Early 1990’s – The Bridge to Bridge was dominated by a little green 1750 Bullet called “C.T.” Owned and driven by Colin Townshend, the Yamaha powered boat won the long race 3 years in a row.
1994 – The late Peter Stevenson had not long set up his beautifully prepared Mercury powered 21 Ft Bullet Twin Rig “Stinga” which won the race this year and broke the record by nearly 5 minutes.
1995 – A great battle between Mark Segedin’s new boat “Under Siege”, Greg Dutton’s Evinrude powered twin rig “Performance Marine” and Tony Ward’s jetboat “Kwik Kraft”. Eventually finishing in that order. “Under Siege” took another 25 seconds off Stinga’s record towing Danny Cropper for his first run down our river along with Craig Brown. Junior World Champ, Alex Ross from Australia also was over to ski the race.
1996 – The arrival of the boat “Warlord” into NZ. After winning nearly every classic race in Australia over the previous couple of seasons, “Warlord” towed Bevan Turksma and Kane Everett to its first NZ Bridge title – the start of a dynasty.
1997 – Novice, Masters, Social and Family all run in one race from Taupiri to Hamilton – there was 70 boats this year. This was the last year the race was run in this format.
1999-2000 – Kiwi Hot Shot Michael Davy and his Australian ski partner Reece Middlemiss won the race back to back firstly behind “French Maid” and then behind “Warlord”. The 1999 race win Michael was the youngest ever winner of the Bridge.
2002 – The year that everyone remembers as ‘The rough one.’ It was the year Australian Superclass Boat “The Axe” came to town and won every race of the weekend except the one that counts. Warlord took that one with DC and Jamie Oliver and 2nd place outright and 1st in MOC was “Sleaze”. There was some huge water and speeds were way down at the northern end of the course close to Taupiri. Was also the first year that coverage of the event was made into a TV programme for Sky Sport.
2003 – “Noizworks” another Australian Superclass boat came to our shores this time towing 2 kiwi under 19’s – Chris Holman and Brad Dutton. They were 2nd to Warlord in the Time Trial and took a fall on the day of the main race 800m out of Taupiri. “Warlord” won in a 35:03.
2004 – “Top Gun” towing Bevan Turksma and Aussie Mitch Galvin set a new race record of 33:31 that stood until 2015.
2007 – “Noizworks” returned once again towing Brad Dutton and Australian skier Cara Jochinke, but again didn’t manage to topple “Warlord” from Bridge to Bridge glory for the 9th time. The MOC, Under 19’s and F5 record all fell in a year with a huge amount of Australian competitors over for the trip.
2009 – “Force Fed” with NZ Skiers Chris Holman and Paul Mitchell outlasted the rest to win that boats one and only Bridge win.
2010 – For the first time 2 Australian boats made the trip across the Tasman – “Filthy” had extreme bad luck blowing an engine on their first practice in the river pre-event and didn’t get to race at all. “Gotta Go” driven by Adrian Heffernan towed Danny Cropper and Bevan Turksma to 2nd place falling just shy of race winner “Warlord” towing Kevin Vahtrik and Neil Rix.
2011 – The year of “The Beast” – a very young Mitchell Horan and ski partner Will Groves took a surprising victory that shocked everyone including themselves.
2013 – Yamaha powered SMOC boat “Outvoted” driven by Greg Dutton took out the time trial in giant killing performance in treacherous conditions towing Mark Luxford and Dylan Stevenson. It was calmer for the main race on Sunday which saw “Messiah” take the victory.
2015 – “Messiah” towing Vaughan Hyde and Bevan Turksma finally eclipsed the Top Gun record of 2004 after several attempts.
2016-17 – “Under Siege” went back to back – breaking “Messiah’s” 2015 record by 1 min 48 secs in 2016 and then taking a further 27 seconds off the time in 2017. Ray Ball and Jake Tegart setting a new standard.
2018 – 3rd time lucky for “Burnin” from Australia becoming the first all Australian team and boat to come and conquer our race. Travis Stone, Bernard Simpson, World Champion Ben Gulley and Codie Rigg took the race and the record in the first sub 31 minute time in 30:59.
2020 – The New Zealander’s only Bridge – Due to COVID lockdowns and international travel restrictions there were no Australian’s who were able to make it to the event – Kane Carter and Perry Jamieson got their maiden win and the legend boat “Warlord” picked up its 13th and final win before being shipped back to Australia.
2021 – First time the race was not held – due to COVID.
2023 – Probably known for the epic finish as the winning boat “Raptor” nearly threw it all away up the final straight. The boat getting out of control and Australian skier Harrison Galea coming unwrapped and skiing across the line with his hands out in front in a great recovery. Raptor was the first single rig boat to win the race since 1993.
The NZ Water Ski Racing association is super proud of the event to reach this milestone. They would like to thank all the sponsors, organisers, volunteers, competitors, boat owners and spectators over the history of the event that has made the Bridge what it is. Long may it continue to bring joy to so many people for many years to come. A special thanks to Rollo’s Marine and Yamaha Marine NZ for their unwavering support to the event and their significant contribution to the sport. Here’s to another 40 years of great racing!
