Silverdale’s Ryan Stanford has had an amazing start to the year, after booking a place in the Australian Ski Racing Team to compete at the 2019 IWWF World Waterski Racing Championships at Vichy, France in September.
Ryan won three Australian titles in January, which saw him qualify. The next stage was the selection process for the Australian Team, consisting of six races over five months. Racing at Jindabyne in January, Robe (South Australia) in February, Botany Bay in March and Lake Mulwala (Victoria) made for a busy and tough campaign. At the end of all six races, Ryan finished first outright, securing the chance to wear the green and gold of Australia.
“Ryan has an absolutely amazing crew that have been there every step of the way to help him achieve his goal.
There is so much generosity from the ski racing community. It is a complete family sport and we highly recommend all families to give it a go. Ryan is extremely grateful to each person that has been there for him, either driving, observing, providing him with a boat, or being a support person along the way” said Sharmaen Stanford, Ryan’s mother.
With a hectic training schedule, the Year 11 student has great support from his teachers at Jamison High School. He is also studying at TAFE, attending a sport and recreation course, which involves sports coaching. Ryan can add OzTag at club level and OzTag, touch football and athletics at school level to his sporting achievements, making him one talented teenager!
“The Aussie Team have amazing athletes and crews that will ship their boats off to France, so we can go compete against other countries. The race will be tough, as it’s in a canal and something we don’t have here. Our racing in Australia is in varying waters such as a choppy dam, amazing rivers or in the ever changing swell and choppy waters of the ocean” added Sharmaen.
As we head towards September, Ryan has set himself one big goal. “My ultimate dream and goal that I have set myself is to become a World Champion in Vichy, France” he finished.
The Mulgoa Valley Gazette would like to send our best wishes to Ryan as he prepares to represent Australia later in the year.