The Waikato River roars back to life this weekend as the Yamaha Rollo's Marine Bridge2Bridge Waterski Classic runs from 7 to 9 November. Last year's 40th anniversary edition set an extraordinarily high bar, with Team Superman blazing through the Ngaruawahia Bridge to Grantham Street Bridge course in 15:23 during the time trial and 30:39 in the long race. The 2025 field is ready to answer that challenge with horsepower, precision, and the grit that defines this event.
October practice sessions gave competitors an early look at the course, though higher river levels meant launching from Cambridge rather than Grantham Street. With those sessions behind them, the countdown to race weekend has arrived.
Early entry announcements have already stirred considerable excitement. The Open class features some of New Zealand's most formidable machinery alongside a contingent of Australian challengers. Sapphire, skippered by Tim Pickford, lines up alongside Kevin Murphy's Messiah, Paul Collard's Pumpindough, and Russell Dick at the helm of The Player. Australia sends Underseige into the mix, while returning Kiwi outfits Relentless, Infrared, and Nforcen arrive with fresh setups, eager to test themselves against last year's record-breaking pace.
The field extends well beyond the Open class. F2, SMOC, MOC, Ladies, and U19s divisions bring a strong spread of competitors, with entries including Team Grey Matter, Slitherin, Ballz Out, Agent Orange, Big Bird, and Yamaha Racing 292 among those representing every corner of the sport.
The 2024 edition, which doubled as the event's 40th anniversary, remains the benchmark against which this year's crews will measure themselves. Team Superman claimed three wins and set two new records. Team Little Man and Relentless also rewrote their respective class records that same weekend. More than 40 boats competed on the river, with 14 Australian teams making the trip across the Tasman, turning the event into a genuine celebration of speed and trans-Tasman rivalry on the Waikato.
The 2025 edition is shaping up as a more focused affair, with a tighter entry list throwing the spotlight onto some of the most determined crews in New Zealand and Australian waterski racing.
The Bridge2Bridge has always stood for more than outright speed. The teamwork, the engineering, and the deep commitment of the people who build and drive these boats reflect the best of New Zealand's watersport culture. With Yamaha and Rollo's Marine continuing their long-standing support, the 2025 running marks an important point on the NZ Water Ski Racing Association's summer calendar and a significant lead-up test before the national finals.
