History-making waterski championship comes to Auckland

This marks the first time New Zealand has hosted an IWWF World Titled traditional waterski event and the first since IWWF’s separation from the FISU World University Championships program. For Kiwi watersports enthusiasts, this is an unmissable opportunity to witness world-class talent in action.

The Ultimate Towboat Experience

The competition will be towed exclusively by the world record-setting Ski Nautique, a brand with over 90 years of experience in boat building and a global leader in waterski and wakeboard towboats. In New Zealand, Nautique has been confirmed as the official towboat for NZ Wake and NZ Water-Ski events for the next three years, reinforcing its reputation for excellence.

Official Tow Boats

• Tournament & Familiarisation: Ski Nautique 6-litre with ZeroOff and ballast system
• Practice Towboat: Ski Nautique 200 6-litre

A Look at the Competition

A total of 79 athletes from 19 nations will take to the water, including former junior world champions, rising stars, and professional hopefuls. With an electric mix of talent, spectators can expect high-stakes action across all disciplines.

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Slalom Showdowns

• Women’s Division: Alexandra Garcia (USA) leads the charge, with Luisa Jaramillo (Colombia) and Daniela Kretschmer (Chile) aiming to challenge her dominance.
• Men’s Division: Nikolaus Attensam (Austria), Jaime Palomino Blanch (Mexico), and Federico Jaramillo (Colombia) will battle for top honours.

Tricks to Watch

• Women’s Division: Malaysia’s Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah will face off against Canada’s Hannah Stopnicki.
• Men’s Division: The Mexican duo of Pablo Font and Patricio Font, alongside Erick Macias (USA), are expected to put on a show.

Jumping to Great Heights

• Women’s Division: Nellie Allard (Canada), Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah (Malaysia), and Lili Steiner (Austria) are the top contenders.
• Men’s Division: Pol Duplan-Fribourg (France), Tobias Giorgis (Argentina), and Luca Rauchenwald (Austria) will push for record-breaking distances.

Overall Contenders

• Women’s Division: Lara Butlin (Australia), Aaliyah Yoong Hannifah (Malaysia), and Lili Steiner (Austria) are expected to be top contenders.
• Men’s Division: France’s Pol Duplan-Fribourg and Argentina’s Tobias Giorgis will be ones to watch.

Auckland’s stunning Orakei Basin

Nestled within sight of Auckland’s Sky Tower, the Orakei Basin provides an exceptional venue for the event. The lake features two slalom courses designed to handle Auckland’s ever-changing sub-tropical weather, along with a top-tier jump course boasting a Bemman custom stainless ramp suited to New Zealand’s marine environment.

February is the most stable weather month of the year, with average temperatures of 24°C and a lake temperature of around 22°C, making it an ideal time for watersports. The prevailing winds are typically south-westerly, with frequent north-westerly periods. To take advantage of the best conditions, the jump event is scheduled to kick off each morning.

Rules and format

The competition format consists of two rounds: a preliminary round and a final round. The top twelve skiers from the preliminary round will advance to the finals. Countries can enter up to two full teams (A and B), each consisting of a maximum of six skiers, with no more than four men or four women per team.

Event schedule

• February 25: Opening Ceremony
• February 26-28: Preliminary Rounds
• February 28: Entertainment Evening (including a show-ski performance)
• March 1-2: Finals, Medal Ceremony & Final Night Banquet

The bigger picture

The 2025 IWWF University Worlds is a milestone event that signals a new era for competitive waterskiing. Looking ahead, plans are already in motion for an expanded 2026 edition, which could see the addition of wakeboard boat, cable wakeboard, and wakesurfing disciplines.

For Kiwi boating and watersports fans, this is a rare chance to see the world’s best young skiers in action. With an event of this calibre in our own backyard, the future of waterskiing in New Zealand has never looked brighter. If you’re a watersports enthusiast, make sure you get down to Orakei Basin and witness history in the making!