Jetskiing: Jetski rider excels at world champs

Wain Burt

A few weeks back Wain Burt and Todd Barham were Kiwis against the rest at the world jetski championships in the United States. This weekend they compete in the Auckland Jetsports Club championship off Maraetai Beach.

Burt came second in the "expert" class (amateur) at Lake City in Arizona and Barham was fifth, with the mildly unusual backdrop of London Bridge.

Another Kiwi, Kane Cahill, was fifth in the sit-down class, which is faster but less taxing physically.

Burt, 23, from Titirangi, is just completing a degree in accountancy, an occupation he admits people find unusual for an outdoors, action-loving motor racer.

The invitation to the world champs came because he has been New Zealand stand-up riding champ for the past three years.

His family are all avid jetskiers. Dad Doug went with his son to the US well ahead of the competition to buy a new machine and oversee training.

The pair stayed in Las Vegas and Burt adapted to the switch from the Yamaha he had raced previously to a new Kawasaki model, around 310kg and putting out around 350 horsepower. They turned up at the venue early and watched the factory teams set up, which helped because he wasn't overawed.

In New Zealand the racing is a family affair and the competition friendly. In the US it is full-on, at times a contact sport as the racers rub fibreglass as they speed around the course at close to 100km/h.

The world champs was a three-race competition around 50 buoys, seven laps each or around 1m 50s. Around 20 racers front in a Monte Carlo-type running start, and it is best to get away first to get "clean" water.

Burt's mum, Melanie, and sister Beverley travelled over ahead of the race to support him. At this stage, though, he'd like to go back next year and step up to the pro-class, which remains subject to sponsorship. Despite the high cost, he won nothing other than a huge trophy.

It was so big Burt was embarrassed to carry it on the plane home, and he and his dad bought a sheet to wrap it in so he wouldn't be the focus of attention.

There is some recognition their chosen sport is not everyone's favourite.

Most jetskiing in Auckland is done around the Tuakau Bridge on the Waikato River or well out to sea off Auckland beaches.

"The Auckland councils don't like us," Burt said. "People love to hate it. I call them the fun police - you're regarded as a hoon."

It's not about to stop them.