Sport
17 February, 2025
Water skier Peter Smith elated to win Sports Star of the Year award
The 66-year-old claimed a bronze at the world champs in Spain.
Sports Star of the Year Awards
Horsham
Despite being a late starter in the sport of water skiing, Peter Smith has been presented with one of the region's most prestigious sporting honours.
He was named the Wimmera Sports Assembly's Sports Star of the Year on Friday, February 14.
"I'm absolutely elated about receiving this award, never thought it was possible," Smith said.
"To be in amongst all the other nominees is just a real thrill to me, but to win it was something else."
The 2024 calendar year was busy for Smith; the 66-year-old won the Glenn Thurlow award at the Australian Masters before he represented the country on the world stage.
Smith was one of the 20-strong Australian team that competed in the IWWF World over-35 waterski championships in Spain.
"It was especially hard for the Australians going over there because it was our winter going into summer, whereas the Americans were all at the end of their season and in good form," Smith said.
"My big ambition was just to make a final, which I did sneak into. But in the final, I managed to ski a bit better and got the bronze medal in the jump event."
While the Australian team claimed a silver medal in the team event, as it defeated the 120-strong American squad.
"For the Australian team to get the silver medal was a fantastic effort," he said.
Smith claimed three medals on his way to a second-overall finish at the national championships.
An achievement that was a long way from the time that the sport was a passion outside his time a full-time farmer.
"[I was something I enjoyed] when we had time over the summer, that was something I always wanted to do," he said.
"But obviously with harvest and that sort of thing during the skiing season, it's something I couldn't do when I was working full time."
However, Smith believes the later start in the sport is a blessing.
"Water skiing and water ski jumping are fairly physical sports, and injuries are high," he said.
"I think a lot of the ones that were very good when they were young can't do it for a long time because the injuries mount up over the years.
"So in one way, I was lucky to start late and injuries just starting to mount up now, I think that's a two-edged sword.
"At the age of 66, I believe I can still improve. I hope the younger people can say I'm not finished at 30 or anything like that. There's growth to be had all the way along."
In 2025, Smith will compete at a local event at Geelong in early March, while the Victorian state championships at Lale Naracan (March 22-23) and nationals in Port Macquarie (April 12-14) are firmly in Smith's sights.