Back at top of his game

Water skier Wade Bennett won the disabled class at the Southern 80 in Victoria.

Geoff Potter

The demons of an horrific high-speed water skiing accident didn’t stop Wade Bennett from cruising to victory in the disabled class at last weekend’s Southern 80 in Victoria.

Noosa’s Bennett suffered debilitating injuries in a crash 15 years ago at the same competition.

He returned to the Murray River this year and blitzed the field, finishing the 20km course in 8mins 7secs, beating his nearest competitor by 1min 20secs.

Bennett, 38, clocked a fastest speed of 167kmh and averaged just under 148kmh as he wowed the crowd with his bravery.

He said good cooperation between himself, observer Kyle Hicks and the boat’s driver helped him to the title.

“We sort of blew everyone away with the speed we were doing,” he said.

“Kyle’s my eyes and ears with the driver.

“He’s the most important part of the team.

“Especially with a race like that. He’s really got to be on the ball.”

Bennett said he felt at home being on the Echuca water again.

“It was amazing, bloody amazing,” he said.

“I was a little bit nervous with all the pressure that was on me with everyone wanting to see how I’d go.

“But it was just another day at the office for me.

“To go over 100mph (160kmh) was my whole aim with my training.

“We did it on the Friday in practice, then to do it on the Saturday as well was great.”

Bennett’s success was soured shortly after his race by the death of his good friend Tim Driver.

Driver, 43, was reported to have died on the banks of the river shortly after falling during a tandem race.

“He was around my age and we knew each other pretty well, he was a really nice bloke,” Bennett said.