Racing kicks off at Mercer
The New Zealand water ski racing season fires up this weekend, with the Mercer River Race on Saturday 13 September 2025 marking the official start. Beginning at Mercer and running downstream to the Elbow Water Ski Club in Pukekohe before looping back, the course stretches roughly 23 kilometres each way – a fast, physical 46km challenge on the Waikato River.
First held in 2016, the Mercer River Race has already established itself as a crowd favourite. According to the New Zealand Water Ski Racing Association, the race record was set in 2016 by Messiah, with Vaughan Hyde and Bevan Turksman posting a time of 17 minutes 54 seconds. With racing action close to shore, fast straights, and spectator vantage points, the event brings fresh energy to the early-season programme.
The Long Race
The day begins with the Long Race, featuring 13 boats. Teams field skiers behind some of the sport’s best-known boats. Here you will find Messiah, back again – this time with Perry Jamieson, Kane arter, Kevin Murphy, and Michael Jamieson – trying to smash its 2016 record. Engines fire at 10:30am for the long-distance showdown.
Powerboats on the charge
At 12:30pm attention turns to the Powerboat Race, where driver-observer pairings put handling to the test. Expect fireworks. All five boats in the Powerboats race – The Player, Little Man, Traitor, Recidivist, and Agent Orange – will need to turn around after first competing in The Long Race.
Support Ski Race closes the day
The action-packed programme rounds out with the Support Ski Race at 1:30pm. Player and Little Man go again after competing in the earlier Powerboats race, while Lucifer and Hulk return to the field after The Long Race which finishes earlier in the day, and Nightmare joins Saturday’s racing for the first time.
Season ahead
The Mercer River Race will be fast, gritty, and set against the backdrop of the Waikato River, it’s the perfect way to launch another summer of speed, teamwork, and competition.
From Mercer, the season moves quickly into October with racing on Karapiro followed by Arapuni then Hamilton. November sees the Bridge to Bridge on the Waikato, and the Bryce Newton 100 Miler at Blue Lake. The calendar runs through to April 2026, with Nationals in Wellington and the Trans Tasman Challenge wrapping things up.
