New Zealand has three skiers bound for Belgium this August, where the 2025 IWWF World Waterski Racing Championships will run from 23 to 31 August. The competition spans four days of high-speed racing and draws the best in the sport to Europe, with the Kiwi squad arriving carrying a mixture of youth and proven experience.
Team captain Brad Dutton leads the group, which includes junior competitors Ellison Hollands and Amos Ratuki, as well as men's F2 representative Kyle Taylor. A dedicated support crew of drivers and observers will back each skier, with teamwork and discipline central to the campaign.
At 14 years old, Ellison Hollands is already a familiar name in international waterski racing. The Tauranga skier heads into her second World Championships having finished 6th in the Junior Girls division at Gosford 2023, and her results since then have only strengthened her reputation. She claimed the Oceania Junior Girls title and finished 3rd in the Oceania Women's Open, performances that mark her as one of the most exciting young talents in the sport.
Her preparation ahead of Belgium has been thorough. "I've focused on gym training and plenty of water sessions," she says. On the water, Hollands uses a specific mental technique to stay sharp. "When I'm racing, I like to keep myself focused and locked in by singing songs in my head. It helps me believe in myself and trust the training I've done."
The 2023 Worlds taught her a lesson she has carried into this campaign. "I learned that I need to back myself before a race and really put myself first. This time, I'm planning to push harder than ever." Fellow Kiwi racer Jordan Dodwell has been a source of inspiration along the way. "Her dedication reminds me what it takes," Hollands says.
Amos Ratuki also arrives in Belgium for his second World Championships. The Hamilton skier placed 8th in the Junior Boys division at Gosford 2023, and the years since have seen him build significantly on that result. He won both the U16 and U19 Nationals titles and took out the Oceania Junior Boys crown, establishing himself as a genuine contender at the global level.
Ratuki's preparation has centred on strength, conditioning, and building mental resilience. His approach to managing race discomfort is straightforward. "I think about how the race pain isn't going to last forever," he explains. "So I just keep pushing through." His pre-race routine is equally no-nonsense: stretching, a warm-up, music in his ears, and apple sauce, electrolytes, and whatever his mother has prepared.
The 2023 Worlds sharpened his focus on racing smart. "I learned not to stop for stupid reasons because of how much time it wastes. This year, I want to keep pushing all the way."
In the men's field, Kyle Taylor lines up in the F2 division, one of the most gruelling classes in waterski racing. Backed by driver Jeff Weake and observer Gene Hollands, Taylor faces some of the sport's most experienced and fastest athletes across races lasting up to 60 minutes plus a lap. His campaign will be one of the key things to watch for supporters following along from home.
For those Kiwi fans, staying across the racing will require a willingness to set the alarm. All competition will be streamed live and free on the official Waterski Racing Europe Facebook page, identifiable by its blue tick. No other page will carry official coverage.
Racing falls on Sunday 24th, Tuesday 26th, Thursday 28th, and Saturday 30th of August. The schedule each day, given in New Zealand time, is as follows: Juniors, covering Ellison Hollands and Amos Ratuki, race at 8:30pm. The Women's Open and F2 session begins at 12:15am, with Kyle Taylor's Men's F2 race starting at 1:45am. Each division contests four races across the week, with all results combined to determine the world champions.
Belgium is no stranger to hosting this event. The country welcomed the IWWF Worlds in both 1995 and 2009 and holds a well-established place in the European waterski racing calendar. The Flemish Water Ski Federation and the Royal Belgian Water Ski Federation are both involved in staging this year's edition, which promises competitive racing in a region with deep roots in the sport. The canals and rivers of Belgium have produced memorable racing over the decades, and the international community returns with high expectations.
One logistical change has altered the original plan for the venue. The Championships had been scheduled to take place across both Viersel and Hasselt, but a blue algae problem at Viersel Water Ski Club forced authorities to suspend all water-based activity there, including skiing, jet skiing, and swimming. The entire event will now be held in Hasselt, hosted by the Royal Hasselt Yachting Club.
Across the junior and open divisions, New Zealand will have a visible presence at these Championships. Captain Brad Dutton and the full support team, which includes drivers and observers Jeff Weake, Gene Hollands, and Greg Dutton, bring the experience needed to compete at this level and will play an important role in each skier's performance across race days.
Once the Worlds are complete, the domestic season picks up pace again. The Mercer River Race is scheduled for 13 September 2025 at Mercer. Series 1 and 2 follow on 4 and 5 October 2025 at Lake Karapiro, Mighty River Domain. Series 3 takes place on 18 October 2025 at Lake Arapuni, Arapuni Landing, Arapuni Lake Rd. A Bridge Practice Day is set for 19 October 2025 on the Waikato River at Grantham St, Hamilton, with the Bridge to Bridge event on the same stretch of river running from 7 to 9 November 2025. The Bryce Newton 100 Miler at Blue Lake, Rotorua, is scheduled for 22 November 2025, and Series 4 rounds out the calendar on 6 December 2025 at Whakamaru, near Mangakino.
