Gisborne South isn’t the place you would expect to find one of Australia’s best water skiers, but it hasn’t stopped Corey Saddington reaching the world stage.
Saddington has been named in his first Australian open age waterski team to compete at the World Championships in Milan later this month.
Water ski championships are where water skiers participate in various disciplines to showcase their skills and compete for titles.
Saddington, who was set to flight out this week, said it’s a pretty exciting experience to have made that team.
“It should be good,” he said. “I represented Australia at the under-21s world championships and this the first time in the open world championships.
“This event is like the Olympics of water sports. It’s really special and has been a long time coming.
“It’s good for me to finally get selected in the team.”
Saddington said last season was one of the best seasons that he’d had on the water which included winning most improved skier in all events in Victoria.
He then had strong performances at the national titles over the Easter break to seal his spot in the Australian squad.
He finished fifth in the open jump, seventh in the open slalom and second in the over 21 tricks categories.
It came after Saddington won a medal of each colour the Victorian water ski championships in March.
Saddington said he wants to continue that form in Milan where he will compete in the salem, trick and jump categories.
“I’ve just been training hard in Darwin and was looking to get similar scores as what I was getting up there,” he said.
“Put my best foot forward. The experience at the under-21 worlds will help as well and hold me in good stead.
“It’s something that I want to hopefully do for a long time.”
Now one of the best in the country, the question is how does someone from Gisborne South take up a sport like water skiing when there’s not a lot of places to waterski in the Macedon Ranges
“I’ve been water skiing for many years,” he said. “It’s a bit of an unusual sport in the area.
“There’s water skiing at Lake Eppalock and Echuca.
“I was about 14 and wanted to do competitions and started at Bridgewater Ski Club in Bendigo.
“I started with local tournaments then state titles and then going all the way to national titles.”
