A fast course, a brutal 100 miles, and a weekend shaped by trans-Tasman rivalry and Kiwi grit.
The Bryce Newton Memorial 100 Miler was the 51st running of the Bryce Newton 100 Miler ski race. Held at Blue Lake, the race served up everything this iconic event is known for. Fast water. Heavy engine load. Tight margins. And a field of boats that carried as much heritage as horsepower. With the sport’s founding generation watching from the banks and 1976 champions Arlo Guthrie and Ted Taiatini returning for a ceremonial lap, the stage was set for a weekend that blended nostalgia with a fiercely modern edge.
As an aside, Ted Taiatini, one of New Zealand’s great powerboat racing figures, continues to pass that legacy through his family. His granddaughters Dani and Brooklyn are now racing as well, following in the footsteps of both their father Mark and their grandfather Ted.
Racing began under settled conditions, the lake holding enough ripple to keep the crews honest without slowing the front of the fleet. The Blue Lake course is demanding at the best of times, and this year’s Bryce Newton ski race would become one of the closest in its history.
The Bryce Newton Memorial 100 MilerThe 51st Bryce Newton Memorial 100 Miler returns to Blue Lake, celebrating its 1974 origins with a special reunion between Arlo Guthrie and Ted Taiatini. Now NZ’s premier 100-mile ski race, it draws top crews and Australian entries for a fast, historic weekend. The following description is provided by NZWSRA: Historic Bryce Newton Memorial 100 Miler Celebrates 51st Running with Legendary ReunionBlue Lake, New Zealand / November 21, 2025 The Bryce Newton Memorial 100 Miler, New Zealand’s iconic water ski racing event, marks its 51st edition this year, honoring a legacy that began in 1974. The race is set to commence on November 22, 2025, starting at 1:00 PM, drawing competitors and spectators from across the country to the challenging Blue Lake course. Originally known as the Blue Lake Classic, the event has evolved from a 50-mile challenge into the nation’s longest and most prestigious endurance ski marathon. - Advertisement, article continues below -
Founded in 1974, the Blue Lake Classic initially spanned 50 miles, testing the limits of skiers and their teams, with Glenn Mundell claiming victory as the inaugural winner. In 1975, the event adopted a “two up” format, adding a layer of teamwork and strategy. By 1976, organizers extended the course to a grueling 100 miles, renaming it the 100 Mile Marathon, and shifted to a one skier per boat format. This bold expansion solidified its reputation as New Zealand’s longest and richest ski race, with a groundbreaking $500 prize—equivalent to approximately $2,850 in today’s dollars—awarded to the victors. The 1976 race etched itself into history with a triumphant win by skier Arlo Guthrie, driver Ted Taiatini, and observer Nick Harold. The team powered through the course behind Ted’s 140 hp Mercury-powered Side Winder boat, sponsored by Ted Taiatini Marine Ltd. Their victory exemplified the skill, endurance, and camaraderie that define the sport. This year’s 51st running promises a nostalgic highlight: Arlo Guthrie will return to ski a ceremonial lap of the course, with Ted Taiatini once again at the helm as driver. This reunion of legends pays tribute to the race’s origins and inspires a new generation of athletes. Adding to the excitement, two Australian race boats—Player and Pumping Dough—have stayed on in New Zealand following the Hamilton Bridge to Bridge event at the start of November, bringing international flair to the competition. “The Bryce Newton Memorial 100 Miler isn’t just a race—it’s a testament to the spirit of New Zealand water skiing,” said Nic de Mey, President of the New Zealand Water Ski Racing Association (NZWSRA). The event continues to attract top talent, offering competitors the chance to etch their names alongside pioneers like Guthrie and Taiatini. Spectators can expect high-speed action, strategic teamwork, and the raw power of world-class boats navigating the challenging Blue Lake course. - Advertisement, article continues below -
About the Bryce Newton Memorial 100 MilerEstablished in 1974 as the Blue Lake Classic, the Bryce Newton Memorial 100 Miler is New Zealand’s premier water ski endurance race. Renowned for its demanding 100-mile course and rich history, it celebrates the dedication of skiers, drivers, and observers who push the boundaries of the sport. |
A relentless 50 Miler sets the tone
The first real statement of the weekend came in the 50 Miler, where Underfed, the Cyclone Invader 21 imported from the UK many years ago, delivered a near-perfect run. Jake Alloway skied with consistency and power, while owner-driver Paul Skipper used every bit of the hull’s Kevlar-reinforced composite structure to maintain a stable, fast line. Underfed stopped the clock at 50 minutes, 17 seconds, completing all 25 laps and setting an average lap time just over the two-minute mark.
Only eight seconds behind came Joker with Mark Priestly on the rope. It was one of the tightest 50 Mile finishes seen at Blue Lake, and a sign that the weekend would not be dominated by any single boat or team. Graeme Briggs behind The Player, the well-travelled Australian entry, rounded out the top three, confirming its reputation as a boat that lifts the standard wherever it races.
Masters and 70mph titles shared around
The supporting classes kept the day moving at pace. War Machine, despite its DNF in the 50, bounced back to win the Masters category with Mark Presnall skiing a sharp and controlled 10-lap race.
The 70mph class went to Joker, with Peyton Varley skiing, confirming the team’s ability to adapt setup and strategy across very different race formats. The Varley–Priestly–Morris combination would carry this form into the 100 Miler.
The Bryce Newton ski race ends in a modern classic
When the flag dropped for the 100 Miler, it became clear early that Lucifer and Underfed would be the boats to beat. Over 50 laps, the two boats traded pace with a precision that highlighted the technical gap between the modern Phantom F2 hull and the older, heavier Invader 21—yet on the stopwatch, they could not have been closer.
Lucifer, the 2022-built Phantom F2 skied by Max Duckworth, ran a clean, measured race. With driver Stacey Mellow and observer Richard Alloway, the boat made the most of its carbon-infused construction and twin-ballast trim to hold a consistent mid-race tempo. Duckworth’s performance was unshakable, and the team worked with the confidence of a defending champion. They crossed the line first on points and secured Duckworth’s second consecutive 100 Miler title.
Underfed, which had already won the 50 Miler earlier in the day with skier Jake Alloway, returned for the 100 with Michael Whiteford skiing. Paul Skipper drove a masterclass of long-race management, pushing when needed and settling the boat when the lake chopped up. The result was astonishing: Underfed finished only 0.95 points behind Lucifer. Over 100 miles, the difference was less than a handful of seconds.
Australia’s Adam Forgacs behind The Player again proved its pedigree, finishing third overall and reinforcing the trans-Tasman rivalry that has become a defining part of the event. Nightfury, with skier Ashton Vincent, impressed with a clean fourth-place finish ahead of Big Bird, Joker, and the rest of a field that suffered an unusually high number of DNFs.
A day of attrition and endurance
Six boats failed to finish the 100 Miler, including the powerful PumpinDough, a Force hull with a twin-turbo V8 capable of speeds well beyond 120mph. Grey Matter, War Machine and Relentless were also forced out, highlighting again how demanding the long course remains.
In many ways, this is the essence of the Bryce Newton ski race. It tests not only speed but the ability of teams to protect machinery, read changing conditions, and keep a skier safe and fast for nearly two hours.
A race that connects generations
With Guthrie and Taiatini reunited on the water, and Duckworth, Alloway, and Vincent taking over at the front, this year’s event showed why Blue Lake continues to hold such a special place in New Zealand’s boating and ski-racing community. The mix of Kiwi craftsmanship, Australian horsepower, and family-run teams created a race that honoured the past while firmly looking ahead.
For now, the headlines belong to Lucifer and Underfed, two boats built over a decade apart and designed under completely different philosophies, but separated on the line by almost nothing.
A fitting finish for the 51st Bryce Newton ski race, the Bryce Newton Memorial 100 Miler.
