Siblings target Aussies

Wanganui siblings Lily and Brent Meade brave the waters of Lake Wiritoa in preparation for the transtasman clash in the New Year. PHOTO/STEVE CAUDWELL SKI-CHAMPS-CHRONICLE

Wanganui siblings Lily and Brent Meade have been named in the New Zealand water ski team to tackle the Australians in January next year.

New Zealand Water Ski Association chairman of selectors, Kevin Firth, confirmed the brother and sister would provide their transtasman rivals with stiff competition in their respective age group events.

Their selection heralds the efforts by the pair in last season's competitions and Wanganui Water Ski Club's aim to build champions through its coaching programmes.

Wanganui president Ron Bakker said the siblings live and breath the sport and live next to Wanganui's world-class water skiing venue, Lake Wiritoa, where the entire Meade family are rarely out of the water.

For Lily Meade it will be the second time she has been selected for the under-14 team and she knows how tough the competition will be.

"The Aussies are always tough to beat as they have so many great skiers over there to help with coaching," she said.

As current New Zealand junior girls Trick champion she will also be competing in Jump and Slalom, although Trick should be her strongest event. Following winter training in Florida she heads away to Waikato for the school holidays to ski with the rest of the Kiwi team at Lake Karapiro.

Father Simon Meade said one of the major reasons for the trip to Florida was to help prepare his daughter for the upcoming events. "She has also been selected for the New Zealand Development Squad for the U-17 World Championships in the Ukraine next year," Meade senior said.

During a season of ups and downs, which included breaking the regional jump record by posting a 33.3m ripper to finish fourth at the New Zealand nationals in March, Brent Meade crashed over the same jump and was lucky to escape with just a few cuts and heavy bruising.

With Jump being his favourite, Brent is hoping to improve in time to give the Aussies some real competition in the U-17 event where the expected distances for jump will be in the high 40m range.

"I have some new 88-inch (2.2m) skis on the way from the USA and have been at the gym every day to work on my strength and fitness," he said.

The event against Australia will take place from January 24 to 27 on Lake Hood in Ashburton.