Organisers of the Southern 80 ski race have announced 435 entries for next month’s event.
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This year’s event weekend will see 220 boats compete in 41 different classes based on age, boat capacity or the speed teams have been selected to ski over the weekend of racing.
Teams would travel to the twin cities of Echuca and Moama from all over Australia, including far north Queensland and Tasmania.
Media spokeswoman Debbie Golledge said teams would start rolling into the twin towns in the week before the event, hoping to get an understanding of the Murray River before racing on the weekend.
“You’ll see the town get busier from the Tuesday onward,” she said.
“There will be more boats out on the water. Lots of people will get in boats to go out and see what is happening. There will also be lots of teams out practicing on the water.”
Mrs Gollege said there had been no safety changes directly related to the race following last year’s death.
“We will be monitoring boats as they come down the river and making sure we can always see them and can contact them if they stop,” she said.
Mrs Gollage said there would be people on hand to help if there was an accident.
The Southern 80 begins on Friday 10 February.