The roar returns to the Waikato this weekend as the Yamaha Rollo’s Marine Bridge2Bridge Waterski Classic gets underway from 7–9 November. Following last year’s record-breaking edition, when Team Superman tore through the Ngaruawahia Bridge to Grantham Street Bridge (Hamilton) course to set 15:23 in the time trial and 30:39 in the long race; the 2025 field promises another weekend of pure horsepower, driving precision, and sheer waterskiing grit.
Superman Wins! It All Came Down To Team Work and Absolute Sheer Determination.
After October’s practice sessions which launched from Cambridge rather than Grantham Street due to higher river levels, the countdown is on.
Early team announcements have built major buzz, featuring New Zealand’s elite and several Australian challengers.
Open-class heavyweights include Sapphire (Tim Pickford), Messiah (Kevin Murphy), Pumpindough (Paul Collard), and The Player (Russell Dick). Australia’s Underseige, alongside Kiwi favourites Relentless, Infrared, and Nforcen, return with fresh setups after last year’s record pace.
Further entries stretch across F2, SMOC, MOC, Ladies and U19s divisions—names like Team Grey Matter, Slitherin, Ballz Out, Agent Orange, Big Bird, and Yamaha Racing 292, bringing together a strong field across every class.
Looking back
The 2024 Yamaha Rollo’s Marine Bridge2Bridge marked the event’s 40th anniversary and one of its fastest editions on record. Team Superman dominated with three wins and two new records, 15:23 in the time trial and 30:39 in the long race, while Team Little Man and Relentless also claimed class records. With more than 40 boats on the water and 14 Australian teams joining the action, it was a celebration of speed, teamwork, and trans-Tasman rivalry on the Waikato River.
The 2025 edition looks to be a smaller event; with a more focused line-up this year, spotlighting some of the New Zealand (and Australia) waterskiing’s most determined crews.
The spirit of the river
More than speed, the Bridge2Bridge showcases the teamwork and engineering behind New Zealand’s watersport culture. With Yamaha and Rollo’s Marine continuing long-time support, this 2025 edition marks a vital milestone for the NZ Water Ski Racing Association’s summer calendar, and a strong test ahead of the national finals.
