Hayden Gunn, Champion Water Skiier
If you had asked Year 9 student Hayden Gunn what Drag Ski Racing was two years ago, he probably couldn’t have told you much about it. That all changed for Hayden in January 2010 at the NZ Water Ski Racing Association Annual Ski School, held at Karapiro. Hayden competed in the Hamilton Bridge to Bridge ski race in October 2009, skiing on double skis alongside friend Ethan Wilson, from Ngaruawahia to Grantham Street and was the lucky recipient of a spot prize – a week at Ski School. That week changed Hayden’s skiing future forever. When Hayden arrived at Ski School, he was a competent skier on double skis and just learning to social ski on one ski. By the end of the week, not only could Hayden confidently single ski on a slalom ski but he had also learnt to drag ski.
Hayden participated in his first competitive ski race in Ngatea (Twin Rivers) in March 2010 and hasn’t looked back since. During this race, Hayden skied at speeds of up to 55 miles/hour. Hayden only competed in one ski race that season. The competitive season runs from August to April each year with races being held at Karapiro, Taupo, Rotorua, Birkenhead, Lake Rotoma and as far away as Wellington. Hayden has progressed a long way; now when competing he is skiing at speeds up to 70 miles/hour (112 km/hour).
Another highlight of the 2010-2011 season was skiing the Bridge to Bridge Ski Race with his father Vaughan. It was the first time either had attempted the long race, commencing in Cambridge and skiing to Taupiri and back to Grantham Street – a total of 82 kilometres.
On the 11th June 2011 Hayden attended the NZWSRA 2010-2011 Season Prizegiving and received two awards. Hayden placed second in Sub-Junior Boys (up to 13 years) with a total of 5032.76 points. Hayden also attended the Nationals in Taupo in April and after two days of close competition placed third overall in Sub-Junior Boys with 1,744.54 points.
Hayden is now in training for the 2011 Twin Rivers race (November 19) and Bridge to Bridge Ski Race (December 2-4) and will ski alongside close friend Tom Slack, who hope to be very competitive in the F5 Class (Boat Motors 200 hpw). Hayden is looking forward to another successful season which will commence in August skiing in Junior Boys (up to 16 years).
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