World ranking water ski tournament on at Lake Wiritoa in Whanganui

Waikato's Ethan McKenzie gets a feel of conditions at Lake Wiritoa ahead of this weekend's Gold Star water ski tournament in Whanganui. Photo /Lewis Gardner

A capacity field will aim to impress and climb the world and New Zealand ranking ladder at the annual Gold Star Water Skiing Tournament at Lake Wiritoa in Whanganui on Anniversary Weekend.

Hosted by the Wanganui water Ski Club, the Gold Star even features all three disciplines - jumps, slalom and tricks - with 45 individual skiers competing on Saturday and Sunday from 7.30am each morning.

Coaching director Simon Meade said the Gold Star event was a New Zealand Tournament Water Ski Association-sanctioned event and as such performances qualify for world and national rankings.

"It will also act as a warm-up for some of our New Zealand team skiers preparing for the Australia/Kiwi trans-Tasman test here in Whanganui on Lake Wiritoa starting on March 1," Meade said.

"That tournament is where the cream of both countries face off in under-14, under-17 and under-21 divisions. In the meantime, the Gold Star this weekend features a capacity field with some competing in all three disciplines and others just single events."

The field includes Meade's own daughter Lilly Meade, the current under-17 New Zealand women's overall champions and ranked No3 in the open women division.

In the lead up to the weekend tournament top New Zealand skier Alex King from Hokitika is hosting coaching sessions daily.

King is on a water skiing scholarship at Monroe University in Louisiana in the United States where he competes for his college.

"Alex is recovering from an Archilles injury at the moment and is using his time as a coach at the lake from 7.30am Monday to Friday this week," Meade said.