HomeSportWaterskiingWar Machine to run both distances at Blue Lake this weekend

War Machine to run both distances at Blue Lake this weekend

War Machine arrives at Blue Lake for its first Bryce Newton 50 and 100 Milers, giving New Zealand Water Ski Racing its clearest look yet at Nic de Mey’s experimental F2 build.

Written by

The Bryce Newton 50 Miler and 100 Miler take place this Saturday, 22 November 2025. Blue Lake (Lake Tikitapu), just outside Rotorua, remains one of the most reliable venues in the country for long-distance water skiing. Its sheltered basin and consistent water state give crews a predictable racing platform. Conditions look workable, with occasional rain easing, light winds and a short settled window between a wet Friday and Sunday.

Bryce Newton 50 Miler – Entries

  • Underfed – Michael Witheford
  • The Player – Graeme Briggs
  • Lucifer – Nikita Alloway
  • Johnson Racing – Tom Slack
  • War Machine – Zoe Kennedy
  • Traitor – Kristen Dutton
  • Greymatter – Ruby Presnall
  • Nightfury – Maddy Vincent
  • Big Bird – Paige Moore

Bryce Newton 100 Miler – Entries

  • Pumpindough – Jess Spencer
  • The Player – Adam Forgacs
  • Lucifer – Max Duckworth
  • Relentless – Kyle Taylor
  • Greymatter – Logan Kennedy
  • Traitor – Amos Ratuki
  • War Machine – Sam Hopkins
  • Nightfury – Ash Vincent
  • Underfed – Jake Alloway
  • Big Bird – Cam Moore
  • Joker – Demi-Lee Morris

War Machine arrives at Blue Lake for only its second outing, following its debut at the 2025 Bridge2Bridge. The team is keen to see how the prototype performs across both distances and how the hull responds to the lake’s repeatable loads. This weekend will give the clearest indication yet of how the project is progressing.

Share this
Waterskiing

Arlo Guthrie and Ted Taiatini legacy lives on in the 2025 Bryce Newton Memorial ski race with tight ...

A fast course, a brutal 100 miles, and a weekend shaped by trans-Tasman rivalry ...
Read more
New Boat

War Machine: pushing the limits of Phantom Powerboats F2 innovation

Kiwi innovation goes full throttle with the Phantom Powerboats F2 War Machine.
Read more
Waterskiing

Mercer River Race opener delivers tough start to season

Strong winds reshaped the Mercer River Race opener, with Agent Orange winning an...
Read more

Comments

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand. Subscribe to view comments and join the conversation. Choose your plan →

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Kirsten Thomas
Kirsten Thomas
Kirsten enjoys sailing and is a passionate writer based in coastal New Zealand. Combining her two passions, she crafts vivid narratives and insightful articles about sailing adventures, sharing her experiences and knowledge with fellow enthusiasts.

Recent articles