Introduction
January 1, 1950
The WAWA is embarking on a long term project to capture the history of our sport in the form of photos, teams, records etc etc. This will be a significant project relying on a lot of past skiers, memories, families etc . The past two Hall of Fame events have already provided us with a look at the past with names like Max Kirwan, Fred Williams, Betty Leighton and Bev Bauman giving us a view of the old days. Two books released recently by Max and Fred have added to the history provided in the Bob Wing and the Thurlow family publications along with the great work completed by Ian Faulkner recently. The option of a book has been investigated however to keep it live and up to date it will be web based in soft copy so it can grow as we go. The Board of WAWA have seen fit to nominate Gary Humphrey (past CEO) as the official Historian for our organisation who will work with an active committee in setting up a web based History on this page listing key events, personal, Teams etc over our rich history. Gary has already in touch with many of our past greats with an interest in this matter and all have agreed to come on board as contributors to the program. To date we have Max Kirwan, Ron Fergussen, Ian Faulkner, Bob Wing Gary Barton, Gavin Brain and Fran Hynes to work with Gary in capturing this rich history. To start the process we don’t want to go too hard too quick so in the first place we need to start with World Teams, names and photo’s. If you have any old photos or Team information we would love a copy (soft or scanned preferable). If you can help contact Gary on 0428 494 359 or e-mail him at gary@awwf.com.au or PO Box 537 Albury 2640.
1953 Canada Betty Leighton & John Mumn
January 1, 1953
1953 Canada Betty Leighton & John Mumn
1957 Team Cypress Gardens Bev Bauman, Bill Grenfell, Jim Roder, John McCoy
January 1, 1957
1957 Team Cypress Gardens Bev Bauman, Bill Grenfell, Jim Roder, John McCoy
1957 Team Cypress Gardens Bev Bauman, Bill Grenfell,Jim Roder,John McCoy
January 1, 1957
1957 Team Cypress Gardens Bev Bauman, Bill Grenfell,Jim Roder,John McCoy
1959 Milan Italy Bev Bauman, Bob Birmingham,Bill McLoughlan (Manager)
January 1, 1959
1959 Milan Italy Bev Bauman, Bob Birmingham,Bill McLoughlan (Manager) Wally Morris, Ann Murray, Graham Barclay. (Bill Grenfell not showm)
1961 Long Beach USA Team Rosemary Margan, Bill McLachlan (AWSA President)
January 1, 1961
1961 Long Beach USA Team Rosemary Margan, Bill McLachlan (AWSA President) Betty Wheeler, Ron Marks, Col Birmingham, Marie McLaughlan,(Coach) Wally Morris
1963 Vichy France
January 1, 1963
Col Birmingham, Rohan Shorland, Bill Grenfell (Coach) Ron Marks Wally Morris, Peggy Caddy, Margret Calvert
1965 Surfers Paradise
January 1, 1965
Ted Hopkins (reserve) Colin Faulkner, Bill Grenfell (Coach) Ron Marks, Colin Birmingham, Margret Calvert, Peggy Caddy, Wally Morris
1967 Sherbrooke Canada
January 1, 1967
Colin Faulkner, Joe Csortan, Kaye Thurlow, May Ward, Col Birmingham, Bruce Cockburn, Keith Dore Manager.
1969 Copenhagen Denmark
January 1, 1969
Bruce Cockburn, Colin Faulkner, Kaye Thurlow, Ian Faulkner (Manager) May Ward, Joe Csortan, Graham Cockburn
Noel Forrester sets new World Barefoot speed record !!
March 1, 1970
In March 1970 Noel Forrester was the first in Australia and the World to execute and set a Barefoot World speed record. The event was witnessed and timed by members of the Australian Barefoot Committee. This record was held at Nepean River behind a SK named Caroline owned and skippered by Bill Hooper observer Ken Lingard. The record recorded was 109.5 klms per hour. Noel completed a Practice run behind a Hydro named Tortious owned by Dez Rathbone observer Ken Lingard speed approx. 164 km per hour on Sackville Strait. To observe Dez had to remove the engine cover so Ken was facing Dez Ken needed to wrap asbestos around his legs as he was straddling engine block. The following 2 weeks Noel was to attempt to break his previous record at Dargal as the ¼ mile buoys were set up however some committee members and timers were available for the attempt. Due to mechanical difficulties the attempt was cancelled. Noel Forrester 0408675850
1971 Banolas, Spain.
January 1, 1971
Ian Faulkner (Manager) Bruce Cockburn, Kaye Thurlow, Joe Csortan, Sue Fieldhouse, Graeme Cockburn,Lesley Cockburn.
1973 Bogota Columbia
January 1, 1973
Lesley Cockburn, Graeme Cockburn, Glenn Thurlow, Kaye Thurlow, Sue Fieldhouse, Bruce Cockburn, Ian Faulkner (Manager)
1975 Thorpe Park London
January 1, 1975
Ian Faulkner Coach, Jeff Tayler, Kaye Thurlow, Graeme Cockburn, Lesley Cockburn, Gary Irons, Sue Wright, Bruce Cockburn, Wayne Nicholls, Glenn Thurlow, Rob Barnett (Manager)
1977 Idroscala, Italy
January 1, 1977
Michael Neville, Gary Irons, Rob Barnett (Manager) Bruce Cockburn, Glenn Thurlow, Ian Faulkner Coach Sue Lipplegoes, Karen Bowkett, Sue Fieldhouse, Liza Scholz.
1979 Toronto Canada
January 1, 1979
Ian Faulkner Coach, Michael Neville, Gary Irons, Glenn Thurlow, Rob Barnett, (Manager) Sue Lipplegoes, Sue Fieldhouse, Karen Bowkett, Jack Ellison.
Kay Thurlow Faulkner and Colin Faulkne
January 1, 1980
1981 Thorpe Park London.
January 1, 1981
Rob Barnett Manager, Karen Neville, Geoff Carrington, Sue Fieldhouse, Peter Gwozdeki, Physio, Jack Ellison, Glenn Thurlow, Ian Faulkner Coach, Sue Lipplegoes, Michael Neville.
Bob Wing “Water skiing in Australia” 1982
January 1, 1982
1983 Gothenberg Sweden.
January 1, 1983
Geoff Carrington, Michael Neville, John Creamer Manager, Brett Wing, Peter Gwozdecki, Physio, Jack Ellison, Sue Lipplegoes, Karen Neville, Kim Neville, Glenn Thurlow, Bob Neville Coach.
1985 Toulouse France
January 1, 1985
Rob Barnett Captain, John Creamer Manager,Brett Thurley, Bruce Neville, Geoff Carrington, Karen Neville, Kim Veville, Sue Lipplegoes, Michael Neville, Glenn Thurlow.
1987 Thorpe Park London.
January 1, 1987
Geoff Carington, Jodie Skipper, Bruce Neville, Kim Neville, Michael Neville, Karen Neville, Brett Thurley, Glenn Thurlow Coach, George Birch Manager, Noel Stokes, Ian Faulkner.
First Barefoot Worlds in ACT Australia Year 1978
January 1, 1987
ACT site and crowd
1989 West Palm Beach USA
January 1, 1989
Brett Thurley, Geoff Carrington, Mick Neville, Karen Neville, Kevin Spinks Physio, Toni Neville, Bruce Neville, Jodie Skipper, George Birch Manager, Neil Ritchie, Glenn Thurlow Coach.
1991 Villach Austria.
January 1, 1991
Neil Ritchie, Brett Thurley, Toni Neville, Bruce Neville, Jodie Skipper, Karen Neville, Mick Neville, George Birch Manager.
1993 Singapore
January 1, 1993
Brett Thurley, John Levingston, Neil Ritchie, Toni Neville, Emma Sheers, Ryan Green, Bruce Neville,
1995 Roquebrunne France,
January 1, 1995
Gavin Brain John Levingston, Jason Stone, Simon Hill, Ryan Green, Russell Morris Manager, Sally Morris, Grant Barnett, Jodie Skipper, Emma Sheers.
1997 Rioneegro Columbia
January 1, 1997
Ryan Green, Russell Morris Manager, Emma Sheers, Curtis Sheers, Sall Morris, Grant Barnett, Jodie Skipper, Jason Stone, Neil Ritchie Coach.
1999 Indroscalos Italy
January 1, 1999
Bruce Neville, Joel Wing, Jodie Skipper, Chris Cockburn, Emma Sheers, Ryan Green, Toni Neville, Curtis Sheers.
1999 Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA headed by IWSF to establish the World Wakeboard Council.
January 1, 1999
1999 Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA headed by IWSF to establish the World Wakeboard Council.
1999 Jean Claude Durrousseaud official as World Council Chairman by IWSF Executive Board.
January 15, 1999
1999 Jean Claude Durrousseaud official as World Council Chairman by IWSF Executive Board.
San Fancisco 2000 Team Gold
January 1, 2000
Peter Wellem,John Stekelenberg, Kelvin Weston Greene, Brett Wing, Gavin O’Mahony Kim Lampard, Bronwyn McCaskill, Debbie Pugh
2000 1st IWSF Wakeboard World Championships, Montpellier, France.
January 1, 2000
2000 1st IWSF Wakeboard World Championships, Montpellier, France.
2000 WWC elect Colin Hart as World Chairman
January 15, 2000
2000 WWC elect Colin Hart as World Chairman
2001 Recetto Italy
January 1, 2001
Kay Sheers Manager, Chris Cockburn, Emma Sheers, Grant Barnett Coach, Cathryn Humphrey, Ryan Green, Toni Neville, Bruce Neville, Curtis Sheers, Joel Wing.
2001 Wakeboard enters World Games for 1st time in Akita, Japan.
January 1, 2001
2001 Wakeboard enters World Games for 1st time in Akita, Japan.
2002 Wakeboard Worlds travels to South America for the 1st time.
January 1, 2002
2002 Wakeboard Worlds travels to South America for the 1st time.
2003 Cleremont Florida USA
January 1, 2003
Ryan Green, Curtis Sheers, Chris Cockburn, Cathryn Humphrey, Emma Sheers, Sally Morris Manager Joel Wing, Grant Barnett Coach.
2004 The Wakeboard World Cup Commences with $50,000 purse per tour stop
January 1, 2004
2004 Rider of the year commences and Philip Soven USA is voted male rider & Caroline Jansson SWE voted as female rider of the year.
2005 Tianjin China.
January 1, 2005
Ryan Green, Sall Morris, Manager, Dane Puxty, Michale Briant, Chris Cockburn, Karina Nowlan, Curtis Sheers.
2006 Neil Harris elected as World Chairman
January 1, 2006
2006 Neil Harris elected as World Chairman
2007 Linz Austria.
January 1, 2007
Ryan Green, Emma Sheers, Sally Morris Manager, Chelsea Scott, Karina Nowlan, Cathryn Humphrey, Joel Wing.
2007 Neil Harris elected as Wakeboard World Cup Chairman
January 1, 2007
IWSF recognises Wakeboard as part of the name and changes to IWWF, International Wakeboard Federation
2009 Calgary Canada
January 1, 2009
Michale Briant, Cathryn Humphrey, Joel Wing, Jacinta Carroll, Karina Nowlan, Sally Morris Manager, Tim Bradstreet.
Fred Williams
January 1, 2010
2010 Wakeboard enters the Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy for the 1st time.
January 1, 2010
2010 Wakeboard enters the Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy for the 1st time.
2011 Dubna Russia.
January 1, 2011
Ryan Green, Karina Nowlan, Jacinta Carroll, Cathryn Humphrey, Michale Briant, Sally Morris Manager Tim Bradstreet.
2011 World record number of countries 36 in total enter the Wakeboard World Championships in Milan, Italy
January 1, 2011
2011 World record number of countries 36 in total enter the Wakeboard World Championships in Milan, Italy
2013 Santiago Chile.
January 1, 2013
Sally Morris Manager, Ryan Green, Steve Moss, Nick Adamas, Josh Briant, Jacinta Carroll, Michale Briant.
Max Kirwan
January 1, 2013
History of Moomba. Ian Faulkner
January 1, 2014
2014 Tournament Teams 1953-2013 Ian Faulkner
January 1, 2014
2015 Frank Bonney
January 1, 2015
2017 Paris France
January 1, 2017
Jacinta Carroll, Joel Howley, Nicholas Adams, Josh Briant, Steph Griffiths, Bailey Christie.
2015 Boca Laguna Chapala Mexico
January 1, 2021
Jacinta Carroll, Katy Miller, Joel Howley, Nick Adams, Joel Wing, Josh Briant .
Chief Organiser Bob Wing with Prime Minister Malcom Fraser
November 11, 2021
Paul Jones, Greg Adams, Neil Tomlin…
November 11, 2021
Paul Jones, Greg Adams, Neil Tomlin, John Stekelenberg,Greeg Rees, Alan Moffat, Bronwyn McCaskill, Colleen Wilkinson, Gillian Shipp, Brett Wing.