mmg.com.au

Cohuna twins Kyanne and Mikayla Reid were waiting by the banks near Torrumbarry Weir yesterday morning, 15 minutes before competing in the 60mph expert class.

The 14-year-olds were all kitted up and awaiting the final instructions from their father and driver Brian Reid and observer Jayden Dempster.

Kyanne has skied for five years and Mikayla just one, but neither was daunted by the 80km in front of them on the eve of the race.

‘‘(I’m) not really that nervous, but it’s exciting,’’ Mikayla said.

‘‘(I’m) a bit nervous but excited at the same time,’’ Kyanne said.

‘‘(I) just want to nail the start and to remember the race and hopefully it all goes well.’’

It was Mikayla’s third race with Kyanne.

She said she was concerned about the distance but was hopeful of making it to the end without any dramas.

Kyanne was keen to remain calm and focused.

One thing the pair agreed on was having their dad as the driver.

‘‘He’s really good with the turns and he lines up the boat really well,’’ Mikayla said.

Ten minutes out from starting, Brian said his focus was getting the skiers organised.

‘‘The boat’s all ready to go, so once the girls have got their skis on and are comfortable in the boat we’ll just idle out and warm up and make sure everything’s right,’’ he said.

‘‘You always feel it (nerves). As a driver it’s more that everything’s right in the boat and we’ve got everything prepared, once we’ve got that everything’s good.’’

He said it was the atmosphere of the Southern 80 which he relished the most.

‘‘I enjoy the bends and the sights,’’ he said.

‘‘You see the crowds on the side. It puts a great atmosphere into it, rather than just going past trees and mud banks.’’

He was hopeful his daughters would clinch a podium finish after coming 16th in the 60mph social class on Saturday.

‘‘If we can pull a place it’d be awesome. That’d be the dream,’’ Reid said.

‘‘We’ve run the course plenty of times, so I’ve got a picture in my head.

‘‘There’s a couple of points on the course that you consciously want to remember. The rest of it you flow through the corners and it all feels good.’’

Unfortunately, the team was disqualified but will be better for the run come next year’s event.