mmg.com.au

Ski Racing Australia has confirmed a broadcast deal and schedule which will see water ski racing broadcast on commercial free-to-air television for the first time in the sport’s long history.

Seven Network’s 7Mate channel will broadcast one-hour episodes of all three rounds of the inaugural Australian Waterski Racing Championship, which started with Redcliffe yesterday.

Geelong and Newcastle will follow at the same time on the following two Sundays.

The championship action will be followed by hour-long broadcasts of the Sydney Bridge to Bridge and the Southern 80 races, again at 12.30pm on Sunday, March 3 and 10 respectively.

Click here to read and view more of the Southern 80 action.

SRA chairman Noel Griffin said the formalising of the broadcast arrangement represented a coup for Australian ski racing.

‘‘This is the most significant television deal in the sport’s history and a huge step forward for all our participants,’’ Griffin said.

‘‘We were confident that the new Australian Championship would be an attractive proposition for television — this confirms the appeal of the sport as a whole, whether it is the elite championship competition or the river classics.

‘‘To have five hour-long broadcasts on free-to-air commercial television is a first for us and we are proud to partner with the Seven Network as we continue to grow participation and interest in the sport.’’